It's unfortunate that Joe Biden is getting beat up over his remark that Barack Obama's appeal is that "you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy," because he's got it exactly right. So far as is known — which is hardly at all — Obama's political views are waaaay left-of-center, and he's got hardly any experience of governance. What else is there, then, but the sense that he's ... "like us," somehow?
He has an education, that is, an engaging family that he seems to enjoy, and speaks in comprehensible sentences. He is reflective, frank about his uncertainties vis-a-vis the Big Questions, comes across as a regular, agreeable sort of guy.
He is, you know... like us.
The reason for the indignation, of course, is that so much of contemporary black leadership, and so much of black culture writ large, are at pains to not be "white," to display conspicuously their rejection of assimilation into the bourgeoisie values of the white middle class. Obama's popularity undercuts the very premise of Jesse Jackson's and Al Sharpton's race-hustling enterprises: they're not unpopular with the mainstream because they're black — they're unpopular because of their out-of-step values and behavior. Obama is decidedly in-step and, though black, enjoying the rewards denied to Jackson et. al.
Obama's popularity — like Tiger Woods', Colin Powell's, Condoleezza Rice's, Edward Brooke's, Ward Connerly's, Douglas Wilder's, to name just a handful — points toward the fact that the great divide in American life isn't race after all: it is culture, though the cultural divide tends to follow racial lines.
Consider this remark about black school students who "act white," from a study recently released by the Hoover Institution: "I can also be precise about what I mean by acting white: a set of social interactions in which minority adolescents who get good grades in school enjoy less social popularity than white students who do well academically." The pressure against assimilation into the American mainstream, in other words, commences early. Ironically, this places a lot of black America, including a great many of the so-called black leaders, in practical opposition to the affirmative action initiatives they so vigorously defend.
Article comments
1 - Nancy
I came to the conclusion it was actually a cultural/class thing years ago, when in my far-off childhood a black family moved into our all-white New England neighborhood. All the grownups were tense until they realized that the new neighbors were culturally pretty much "just like them", kept up their yard, didn't put junk autos on the lawn (I think the grownups had them confused with rednecks), & liked hanging out under the trees in somebody's yard w/a cold drink after work while the kids played in the Pool Of The Day (the families took turns having everyone over for dinner in summer). It was the Italian family that moved in that created a ruckus.
2 - Zedd
Bob
He is, you know... like us.
Us who?? I live in Texas and I hear plenty of Whites who don't speak properly. Growing up in school, the dirty people were White. There was a large neighborhood of Whites who were considered "white trash" (I hate that label) by other whites nearby. I mean the type of dirty where you see the maps of dirt on the skin. Where the smell is almost unbearable.
The African Americans in my social circle are articulate and poised, etc.. My church members all 3000 of them are professionals and well, just normal people. There is no shortage of people like that. Obama is exceptional for ANY AMERICAN.
Also, there are many Senator's who speak in their dialect. They don't speak standard English. Some of the most respected Legislators, have drawls or colloquialisms that are incorrect according to the rules of standard English. I find it charming. Whether its Eastern (a la Frank) or Southern, its all wonderful. They don't get chided for it. When an African American speaks in the vernacular, its somehow a sign of something to be concerned about??? I wonder why people delude themselves about that? I wonder what purpose it serves for them??
For goodness sake BUSH is President. Lets not pretend as if we are THAT picky about diction and eloquence.
3 - Zedd
Bob
Ironically, this places a lot of black America, including a great many of the so-called black leaders, in practical opposition to the affirmative action initiatives they so vigorously defend.
What does this have to do with the topic that you are discussing?
The opposition to affirmative action is not a mainstream American value. It is a political position. Seems like you are just throwing in as much stuff about race matters as you possibly can in this piece.
... All this just because Obama's dad is African. God bless America!!
4 - moonraven
My take on Obama is that he's all foam and no coffee. With about as much social conscience as Starbucks.
He is about the furthest one could possibly get from any sort of political activism--racial, cultural or otherwise.
In the 60s, he would have been called an Uncle Tom, an Oreo--or at the most generous, a Collar Ad.
I don't see any substance--just a dedicated attempt to smile a lot and ingratiate himself with everybody.
A complete fabrication--made in the image of the media.
And just so nobody goes off and calls me a racist--again--please be advised that I wrote in Jesse Jackson for president the last time I voted (1984).
5 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Marthe,
You weren't a racist - you were a fool. Jesse Jackson was a racist.
Unfortunately the folks north of the border want folks that are all foam and no coffee. You see what kind of government they "enjoy." But on the other hand, if this black guy is so much like them (boy has he got them snowed), then they'll vote for him.
As for Biden, he should be stuck in an ice cooler and left there. I'll leave you to figure out why...
6 - sr
Joe Biden fits right in with the lib democraps because they are nothing more or nothing less and will always be schmucks. UYAH
7 - moonraven
Ruvy,
You are going to have to PROVE your claim that Jesse Jackson was/is(last time I checked he was very much alive!) a racist.
8 - moonraven
And, frankly, you are also going to have to PROVE that I am a fool.
9 - zingzing
moonraven thinks nancy voted for bush... does that prove anything?
10 - Nancy
Zing, sometimes things don't need to be proven because they have become self-evident, especially those who open their mouths & prove they're fools. We all do that, some of us far more than others, however. heh heh heh.
11 - moonraven
Now the little stalker really has a bee in her bonnet.
Her behavior of protesting and calling me names makes me more and more convinced I hit the nail on the head and she DID vote for Bush.
12 - zingzing
moonraven--believe what you will. you will anyway. the version of reality that most of us live in is a very different place than your's. (i don't mean geography.)
13 - moonraven
Christ, I certainly hope we live in very different places.
If we didn't I might be pressed to consider suicide.
14 - zingzing
ha! you have no problems with me that you don't seem to have with everyone else on this website... someone must be close to you. like... clavos?
15 - moonraven
Oh--There are other misogynist pigs on this site?
This is not a dating service.
16 - Martin Lav
"And, frankly, you are also going to have to PROVE that I am a fool."
Why?
You've already removed all doubt!
17 - zingzing
moonraven, you're more of a misogynist than i am. talk about self-loathing...
someone else said something about projection... i don't remember who... but they was right!
18 - Clavos
If we didn't I might be pressed to consider suicide.
Utinam...
19 - eric
This blog shows you white boys know nothing about black culture, I will remember that next time when some white kid in a black trench coat comes shooting and using propane bombs in my school because they were ignored after listening to KDFM and Marilyn Manson records. White American culture is a perverted and twisted culture.
20 - zingzing
jesus, eric... you're still going on about that?
you'd have a much better point if you didn't wrap it up in so much paranoia.
21 - Colin
I quite recently was a high school student, and I just happen to also be African-American! Yay!
I wonder what sorts of schools and where they found their data, because I personally, in a very diverse school, (no racial group above 40%) observed very high popularity for black students with high GPAs, in fact, the most popular African-American student in my class had a 4.0 GPA from what I knew. Of course, that's my experience.
To me, this is not about other blacks being too divisive, it's about Biden's comments and the racism behind them, and I do not say that as a pejorative, I mean that in the most respectful and sincere but honest fashion. Senator Joe Biden has been one of my favorite bloviators for the longest, but this is one line I did not appreciate. Its words, condescending and demeaning as they are, cannot be so easily dismissed as the readers here seemingly would like to have one think. "Articulate", "clean", "bright", these are words said with a dazzling shock and marvel that an African-American could even begin to define them, and that shock, that marvel is prejudicial and racist and that's what the big problem is for me at least.
I think Obama's only a little inexperienced, and I worry that's only an excuse used so people don't have to have unwavering support for him. I mean, presidents in the past have been elected with little experience, like JFK, or Dubya, so I don't see what the big deal is on that issue.
22 - JustOneMan
This blog shows you black boys know nothing about white culture, I will remember that next time when some black kid in a white tshirt comes shooting in my school because they were ignored after listening to WBLS and Niggas With Attitude records. Black American culture is a perverted and twisted culture.
hmmmmmm.....
JustOneMan