Stripping Obama of His “Blackness” by Rambling Raven
By APOOO • Nov 10th, 2008 • Category: Motivational Monday •
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Stripping Obama Of His “Blackness” by Rambling Raven
I, like millions of others, basked in the glory of the election of Barack Obama as the 44th President-Elect of the United States of America. It’s been a long time coming. I cried tears of joy on November 4, 2008. I cried for my parents who thought they would never witness such a sight. I cried for the grandparents who didn’t live to see it and for the ancestors who all laid the ground work for the road that Mr.Obama rode. It seemed that on that very night the rest of America, and the world, finally got it. In one night, the struggles of a people were acknowledged, and our worth and contributions to this country were finally celebrated.
And yet, even during all the celebratory glory, a nagging question loomed for me. All I could think of for a moment or so, was how were they going to come at him next. I know that there are enough hateful people in the world who were not sentimental or amused at the very sight I found beautiful. I know they are waiting for the first misstep, the first slip of the tongue, the fist promise that appears to be broken; anything to prove that a mistake was made in choosing the nation’s first black president. Sadly it didn’t take long.
Hours after the election, blogs and editorials from across this world revealed that there are indeed plenty of petty things narrow-minded people will attack him over. I read bloggers who saw fit to dissect the fashion sense of Michele Obama, as if her choice of evening attire somehow proves that she is unacceptable to be the first lady. I came across people who believed that the new president is a Muslim ready to form a cohort with terrorists and destroy America. There were those who blogged that he hoodwinked the American public and soon the honeymoon would be over because he will be an ineffective president. I laughed at most commentaries and just shook my head at others. It amazed me how fear and change can bring forth such craziness. Yet, there was one common theme that I found within many blogs and those that felt compelled to respond to them. I realized that since the new President-Elect is the leader of the free world there are many people who want to strip him of his black heritage. They claimed that since he is mixed race and was raised by white people he shouldn’t be considered black at all. They argued that in actuality he was white socially and intellectually because of it.
It all brought back a conversation I had with a white Obama supporter months ago. The supporter believed with all her heart that he was the right man for the job. Her only regret was that the media continually called him African-American. She stated to me that he shouldn’t be labeled as such because he was anything but a “typical” African-American. He was after all: well traveled, had a multicultural upbringing, a Harvard graduate, well spoken and polished. He was so beyond her ideal of an African-American politician.
Blinking hard, and praying to God to keep my hands by my side, I had to remind her that African-American is what he identified with. He lived, worked with and for, worshipped, and married within the black community. I then had to give her a mini history lesson. I listed eloquent, educated and polished African-Americans like Martin Luther King, Shirley Chisholm and Barbara Jordan. I also had to teach her how within the black community having mixed -race parentage had never been a huge deal. Such individuals, if they chose to be identified as black, were accepted. I reminded her of Adam Clayton Powell Jr. who not only came from a family with mixed ancestry but whom all, due to skin color and hair texture, could have “passed” into white society. It was even more remarkable that the Powells didn’t integrate into white society because they lived during harsh segregated times. I stated to this woman that there have been African-Americans like this for as long as we have been in this country. There was always something about the strength; power, beauty and resilience of the race that made these people proud to be members of the community regardless of racial climate. They chose to fight the good fight along with the rest of us.
I conveyed to this supporter that it wasn’t until recently that the “one drop” rule was even challenged. And still, it didn’t matter because 99% of people classify others based upon what they look like. A man can have only one black ancestor, but if he looked black walking down the street, he will be treated as such. I told her to survey the members of the black community. We come in a variety of hair textures and skin tones because very few of us have only black ancestry. We are a rainbow of people. Yet there is a common experience that binds us, often it has been our collective treatment by white society. President Obama is no different. I stated to my new acquaintance that no matter how he was raised; he is viewed by the world as a black man. Therefore, he has experienced many of the same racial attitudes as the rest of us. This, I told her, was probably the reason that he found comfort within our community. If he was the average Joe Blow on the street she herself would see black man first, without knowing one bit about his background. And she would have formed her mind to treat him accordingly. It was then stated to this supporter that if the new president does something deemed unsavory; one of the things he will be attacked on is his blackness, no matter how much people want to separate that from him now. And with that our heated debate ended
I understand by all accounts that Obama has an exotic background. I also understand that he can not separate himself from his white ancestors any more than he can separate himself from his black ancestry. Yet, America being what it has been for so many generations has always regulated people like Obama to the African American community. Unless, that is, they could get away with “passing” physically and socially into the white community. Even that came with a unique set of social and personal ills. It’s ironic that some corners of white America think that now that he has obtained the highest office in the nation, Obama’s blackness can be shed. However, they miss the point all together. If he wanted to do that he would have been a different man to begin with. He certainly, in my opinion, would not have had such a strong black woman like Michelle standing by his side. He would not have become such a political force within and on behalf of the community, which brought him to the forefront of the political arena in the first place. No one wants to deny the new president either side of his heritage. Yet, it is because of the racial attitudes that formed this nation and became so ingrained within the fabric of it, that our new president, regardless of who raised him, identifies himself as African American. It’s almost hilarious to me. Now that one from our community has risen to such prominence, some want to begin to change centuries old rules and definitions. Not because it’s socially correct to do, but because it becomes one more reason to try and deny the diverse African American community its place in history.
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Well-stated Raven!! Bravo!
So true! I had the same mixed emotions that day, and you’re response to the white supporter was right on point. Was she taking notes? Some of us need to, maybe then they’ll see and try to change the fact that victories for our culture in America are bittersweet.
Tasha Martin´s last blog post..From Dusk to Dawn by Niambi Davis
Phenomenal post. I agree with the previous post that victories are bittersweet.
What a well written out and thoughtful post! I have to admit that it has often crossed my mind why his black heritage has gained prominence over his white heritage and you have addressed that beautifully. My husband is half Chinese, so I understand what it’s like to have two cultures in your home. He looks more white though and is treated as such. Hanging out with the Chinese side of the family is a totally different experience than hanging out with the white side. But I love it!
Natasha @ Maw Books´s last blog post..Katherine Center Wasn’t Kidding! Yummiest Soup EVER!!
Hey Natasha…I have a few Asian friends…and it’s interesting that most of them identify with white rather than black. It’s okay…we’re all still good friends.
I mean, it’s fine to me for Obama or any other b-racial child to claim both of their ancestries. To the outside world, I look and sound like an American, and I am proud to be called one. But I also come from two people who were born in West Africa. That’s every bit a part of my culture - not that I know the struggles bi-racial descendents face, just that we share some of the same core identiy issues.
For example, I’m constantly combatting the stereotype that black people don’t or won’t speak proper American English, particularly through people who read my writing or hear my voice before they see my face. IE- I sound like television reporter, so I am not one of *those* black people.
My first protest is always, American English isn’t even proper English! It’s not like we invented the language.
Second, black people helped reinvent English, and so, being part of the defining body, *however* we speak, it’s unfair to exclude any shorthand of communication as not being English, or only under the patois or Ebonics heading.
Third, I strongly resent the insinuation that doing Anything “properly” is automatically not “black” enough. So I understand exactly where you’re coming from. It’s OK with me as a black person any way that Obama chooses to identify himself, and I can’t help whatever box someone tries to put him in. But I’ll definitely defend against their poor reasoning for doing so.
Thanks once again for all the feedback. I was a little worried that I didn’t get my point across. It is the collective experiences that make us a community. And unlike some other groups we have always had folk in our community(in fact in our very families) with racially mixed backgrounds, as well as a multitude of skin-tones, hair textures and facial features. Without meaning to, Mr. Obama will make race a part of the American conversation. Perhaps, one day I will write about how some black folk don’t think he is black enough. LOL!!
Terrific post! I thought this point was especially good: “We come in a variety of hair textures and skin tones because very few of us have only black ancestry. We are a rainbow of people. Yet there is a common experience that binds us, often it has been our collective treatment by white society.” Thanks for putting all that thought into your wonderful post!
Bring it on…lol. And, as always, today’s post was another great food for thought.
Well said. He can’t allow this. We can’t allow this. We have to refuse to be marginalized or deemed not good enough or less than by way of folks making Obama anything other than African-American.
PatriciaW´s last blog post..President-Elect Barack Obama: A Great American Story
You rock! Very well stated. I wonder what Miss Ann had to say after that speech.
Dera´s last blog post..Black Republicans. Who Needs Them?
I love this. it was very well put. I have to agree with some of the other post. I get comments even from my friends. I have a friend who works in customer service at my job. She had to listen to one of my calls and she said “OMG, I am listening to your call and you sound like a white girl”. I know that it is a joke amoung my friends at work that my tone and words change when I get a call, but in a professional setting it should.
Back on Mr President(forget the elect) there is going to continue to be so much said about this man and his family. I even saw a website “impeach Obama” how do you even start such hateful crap as that before the man has even served one day. I really pray for him and his family as they go through this transition. I do not think any other 1st family will have as much fanfare getting into the White House as this family does.
BRAVO
Great column Raven.
Wonderful,
wonderful…