Could an Obama presidency hurt black Americans?

#1
OrangeEmpire

OrangeEmpire

The White Debonair
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#1
Could an Obama presidency hurt black Americans? - CNN.com

That's the slogan on a popular T-shirt linking Sen. Barack Obama's presidential run to the Rev. Martin Luther King's dream of racial equality. It's one of several T-shirts -- including "Barack is my homeboy"-- that reflect African-American's euphoria over Obama's White House bid.
But there are others who warn that an Obama presidency could hurt African-Americans. They say that an Obama victory could cause white Americans to ignore entrenched racial divisions while claiming that America has reached the racial Promised Land.
Paul Street, author of the forthcoming book, "Barack Obama and the Future of American Politics," says Obama risks becoming an Oval Office version of talk-show host Oprah Winfrey. She and former Secretary of State Colin Powell are African-American figures whose popularity allows some white Americans to congratulate themselves for not being racist, he says
"They're cited as proof that racism is no longer a significant barrier to black advancement and interracial equality," says Street.
"This isn't new. Go to the 19th century and Southern aristocrats would point to a certain African-American landowner who was doing well to prove that whites are not racist."
Nick Shapiro, an Obama spokesperson, says that Obama believes that America has made tremendous progress in the past 50 years. iReport.com: Biggest challenges for black America
"However, the suggestion that somehow Senator Obama's campaign represents an easy shortcut is not realistic," Shapiro said in an e-mailed statement. "Senator Obama believes that we still have a lot of work to do, and that's not just true for the issues facing blacks or Latinos, but for women and other communities struggling to secure the basic necessities in life like jobs, housing, health care and quality education."
Are we a post-racial society?
Any suggestion that an Obama presidential victory could set back race relations may seem odd or even inappropriate. His presidential campaign has been framed by many observers as a glowing example of America's move to a "post-racial" society.
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Thoughts?
 
#8
#8
I think he could help African Americans if he would keep his message to them along the same lines of parental responsibility (too many white Americans need to be told that same message too), the only problem is they will eventually resent him for it. The truth hurts! Throw in the Jesse Jackson types out there who would consider that talking down to them and it could be a disaster for him.
 
#9
#9
interesting point, I agree that it could provide a pretty good talking point to those who use phrases like "them" when referring to to another race.
 
#16
#16
crazyguy said:
interesting point, I agree that it could provide a pretty good talking point to those who use phrases like "them" when referring to to another race.
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Do you mean my post? The post before yours? I think my post speaks for itself, the word them simply refers to the group of people mentioned in the thread topic. There is nothing derogatory implied.
 
#19
#19
KB5252 said:
Do you mean my post? The post before yours? I think my post speaks for itself, the word them simply refers to the group of people mentioned in the thread topic. There is nothing derogatory implied.
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no I was referring to joeyvol. If you read his short posts you will understand what I was saying.
 
#23
#23
joevol320 said:
both white and black have bad pasts. remember it was the africans who sold their fellow countrymen into slavery. europeans transported them, it was a team effort.
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er, it was rival tribes. kindof like the british and the french....
 
#24
#24
joevol320 said:
both white and black have bad pasts. remember it was the africans who sold their fellow countrymen into slavery. europeans transported them, it was a team effort.
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What the Africans did or do should not impact the way black people were treated when they arrived.
 
#25
#25
Fine Vol said:
What the Africans did or do should not impact the way black people were treated when they arrived.
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did they think the white guys were trying to find brides? Their African ancestors profited very much off of the trade. It's no excuse but they can't wash their hands of it either.
 
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