Booman Tribune ~ A Progressive Community

Casual Observation

by BooMan
Sun Nov 9th, 2008 at 06:57:05 PM EST

This idea that the election of Barack Obama automatically strips all black people of any and all excuses they may have for the plight of black people in our country is more than a little bit offensive. Obama is a positive role model for black people. He's also a positive role model for all children of single mothers, for children and parents of mixed race, and for every one that wasn't born with a silver spoon in their mouth.

But that's all he is...a positive role model. His mere existence doesn't wash away systemic racism and poverty and broken schools. Pundits really ought to know better.

Casual Observation | 9 comments (9 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Casual Observation (none / 0)

True, and well said.

I take exception to this bit, however:

Pundits really ought to know better.

What, in your experience, makes you think that?

there is no such thing as history. there are only historians.

by S2 on Sun Nov 9th, 2008 at 07:17:59 PM EST

You know more about... (none / 0)

"the plight of black people" than Ms. Barras?

by Ed J on Sun Nov 9th, 2008 at 07:51:26 PM EST

Re: You know more about... (none / 0)

what's that supposed to mean?

by BooMan on Sun Nov 9th, 2008 at 07:52:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: You know more about... (none / 0)

Dunno, Jonetta Rose Barras is:

http://images.google.com/images?q=Jonetta%20Rose%20Barras

so...

The greatest service which can be rendered any country is to add an useful plant to its culture -- Thomas Jefferson

by tommurphy (industrialhemp at mac dot com) on Sun Nov 9th, 2008 at 08:06:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Just that she seems to have been... (none / 0)

a black person for quite a while now.

by Ed J on Sun Nov 9th, 2008 at 08:10:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Just that she seems to have been... (none / 0)

that's fascinating.

by BooMan on Sun Nov 9th, 2008 at 08:27:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Just that she seems to have been... (none / 0)

So has Clarence Thomas, and Armstrong Williams, and Ward Connerly, and...

The Underground Railroad

by Oscar In Louisville on Sun Nov 9th, 2008 at 10:30:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Casual Observation (none / 0)

I was walking along the beach a few days ago and a mother was walking her young son (maybe seven or eight) ahead of me. The mom was white and the boy was mixed race.

The kid was doing what little kids do, jump, kick, pirouette. There was a hunk of cement and someone had stenciled a picture of Obama and the kid was excited to point it out.

And that was nice. And I would never want to downplay the benefits of a positive role model, that someone who looks like you succeeds. But there's still so much racism in so many hearts that only a fool or a media pundit would suggest that Obama's election changes much, at least in the hearts of the racists. And that's change that's needed.

by Bob In Pacifica on Sun Nov 9th, 2008 at 08:33:03 PM EST

Yeah, I admit (none / 0)

...I was caught off-guard watching Larry King the other day when they put the question to the viewers whether Obama's election means we no longer need affirmative action in the US. I don't know why I should have been surprised; I guess I just wasn't expecting to hear it from CNN first, or at least not Larry King.

The Wages of Sin is about $5.15 an Hour

by hz on Mon Nov 10th, 2008 at 02:06:55 AM EST

Casual Observation | 9 comments (9 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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