Does anyone doubt that Barack is a viable, mainstream, clean, articulate presidential candidate? No, not after today. He has announced in February, Black History Month. C-SPAN began its program morning by televising live “State of the Black Union” on Saturday, February 10, 2007. It was interrupted to cover Barack Obama’s formal announcement in Springfield, Illinois that he is running for president.
Too Early For This?
Amidst a sea of white faces in front of the old state capital building, Barack recounted his arrival in Illinois, via Chicago, two decades ago: penniless, friendless, and without family ties. He took a job as a community organizer, then left to study law at Harvard. He returned to Chicago and the rest is history. Then, to great applause, he announced his presidential candidacy.
Jesse Jackson (his son is in Congress) thought that Barack should have made his announcement at the State of the Union forum, instead of in Springfield, Illinois. This begs the question: Will Barack be philosophically black enough? His ethnic background aside, he can be black. But he must choose it, and not let the media direct it. The media has already pushed many candidates into what political pundits have categorically observed is “way too early” to begin the campaign trail. What are the ramifications of starting so early? They are many, one being that the expense will grow exponentially for those who begin campaigning this early. This is the value of name recognition. It not only attracts the dollars but pays for itself by opening doors that would otherwise be closed to less well-known candidates.
Barack spoke of “taking back government” immediately after his announcement. He touted his record in this regard and his role in ethical reform. Here are a few sound bytes from his speech today: “Let us transform this nation ... let’s recruit a new army of teachers … and give them better pay ... lift up the middle class again … and end poverty in America ... let’s be the generation that finally ends the tyranny of war … a stronger military … destroy weapons…” Finally, a short quote from “the tall gangly lawyer” Lincoln to end his speech. He has cast himself in the mold of Abraham Lincoln — good luck with that.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Aku
While I can not answer this question to any degree of certainty, It is safe to say Obama's cultural experience is probably somewhat different than most African-Americans, being the son of of an African immigrant, having a white mother, spending a chunk of his childhood in Indonesia, etc. Is he culturally black enough? Who knows.
2 - moonraven
No.
He's not.
And that's not the only thing wrong with him.
He's capuccini mix out of the jar--a molded plastic media toy. No ideas, no vision (except of himself in the Oval Office)--and the bitterly logical conclusion of media as entertainment and star spotting rather than information.
I don't know if he's Fluffy or Puffy.
And I don't even care.
3 - Aku
Wow, MR I actually agree with you. When I hear BO (no pun intended) speak, it seems like streams of well spoken platitudes with no substance.
4 - William Tregoning
How will Hilary play the race card? A Black running is her nightmare. She will not the only minority in the race.
Can Barak Win?
Poor Hillary! What is she going to do with Bill?
You want cutting edge commentary with a Seriously Warped perspective?
Then visit the newest blog to hit the Internet
5 - moonraven
She won't have to do anything with Bill.
Supposedly he has a new (Canadian) girlfriend....
6 - Zedd
MR
I don't know what you consider Fluff (which is what I think you mean by fluffy/puffy, however I am convinced that you haven't listen to Obama.
You may have heard an interview that was full of Fluff because of the questions that were being asked but he is a very insightful person.
Now a person who is moved by grand and emotional notions like revolution and overthrow will most likely not find "substance" in him. If you seek an emotional jolt, you wont like him. However, what you will find is a deliberate and wisen gentlemen in a way that is uncharacteristic of an American man of his generation.
Also, I think it is Blacks that need to decide if he is Black enough.
7 - Zedd
Heloise
I think that Barak has chosen to be black. Not only did he marry a black woman, but he married a dark sister. His work in the AA community was also by choice.
He was not just any Harvard school grad but he was the President of the Harvard Law Review (first Black..). He was highly sought after by the top firms but he made alternative choices which benefited the Black community (in other words he was affective).
As you well know, within the Black middle class there is a distancing from the inner city. Most people that I know, don't go to the "hood" and actually don't even know what "the hood" is like any more. There is a complete disconnect. The question would be, are THEY "Black enough"? Whatever that means in today's world.
What will be important is his face. My children will see him in that position and their vision of potential will change. White children who will be in HR or hold decision making positions will see Black people differently. A part of this sick legacy will be erased.
8 - Joe
...but he is a very insightful person.
So's my Grandma but I don't want her to be president either. Neither of them have enough history in office. Barack needs another decade or so of public service, be it honorable or full of hookers and blow, and then he can take his shot.
9 - Heloise
Yes, he does have a checklist of things that black people do. If that were the criterion that would make me really black too! I mean I am black, and love black people, and work in the inner city. But the rest of my life is really, well, white. That is all by choice. But not completely. I am working in the inner city because I could not get a job in corporate America.
If you look at his photo, I will post it with a comparison, you will see that he had a really big nose. He looked really more black than he does now. Did he not get offers?
Guess what? If he graduated in the early 1990s like I did then it was the WORSE year for college grads. What you don't know is how many opportunities HE did not have.
It was slim picking in those Reagan years and just before Clinton became president. I've known black lawyers who didn't get jobs for years after graduation.
Heloise
10 - Heloise
Did you read his book? He had a long love affair with a white woman. He might have married her. But he took her somewhere a play or something that was black. She was horrified and said she couldn't be black. They broke up. He decided to be black after that point.
Yes, he married a black woman, good start. It was just before then that I figure he had his nose fixed. I was also married to a black man, lived in Hyde Park, involved in Chicago politics. Our paths probably did cross, but he would have already been married and so was not hanging out on what we called "the set." Which was made up of all the cool and beautiful people who followed the hip jazz musicians from AACM.
He is black but just not the real thing.
I am going to find a political group in my area to energize.
Heloise
11 - Richard Thompson
Interesting article. I do not believe that Obama has to choose to be anything. The whole point of his campaign is about the ability to be who you are despite society's desire to categorize you.
You may want to revisit the video of Obama's speech. He spoke before a pretty diverse audience. Don't allow the camera's limitations to deceive you into believing that only white people were there.
If Obama's "blackness" becomes an issue, it will be because we, black folks, turned it into one. I watched "The State of the Black Union" and I was upset at the contention that Obama should have announced his candidacy there. Such crabs in a barrell. I mean, NAACP's Bruce Gordon made a strong point about the need for leadership being more than just about personalities, but Cornell West, among others, voice criticism about Obama's absence. Why should have been there? To validate their egos? But I digress.
Smiley's "Union" isn't really reflective of Black America. What it is is a "intra-class" war waiting to happen.
12 - Terry
Can you tell from the outside how committed a man is or will be?
One thing I really like seeing is Obama's committment to his family. I hope he keeps Michele close to him in whatever office he holds. She will keep him humble and sensitive to the pulse of black and other oppressed people.
13 - Richard Thompson
From the AP: Hours after U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) announced plans to seek his party's nomination for President, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley endorsed the freshman senator's campaign for the White House.
"I am excited," Daley said. "Of course, I'm endorsing Sen. Obama. He has made that decision and I think this is an exciting time for the country. It brings a new voice in regards to what is taking place far too long in Washington D.C., the lack of moving the agenda forward in regard to the quality of life for the people of America."
14 - Aku
"You may have heard an interview that was full of Fluff because of the questions that were being asked but he is a very insightful person."
I remember one speech he gave on religion when he said something like "Religious people need to realize that people do not agree with them." Yes very insightful, if by insightful you mean one who states self evident truths. BO deals in platitudes. His mantle of wisdom comes from packaging these platitudes in ways new or interesting to the listener. Thus, his substance is not very different from any politician, but his delivery is A+.
But I could be wrong, cite for me something he has said that you think is insightful, because I have not heard anything like that from him.
15 - Heloise
Oh, we have a turn around in the Daley camp. Why then did Barack NOT announce in Chicago? THere are lots of black folks in CHicago who could have come to his rally?
THis is BRAND new. So will they be endorsing their friend Hillary too? Guess what Hillary messed up. She left her Chicago roots and moved to New York. That may be a reason that Daley will dump Hillary.
If you are from Chicago, you know that it has now become a sanctuary city for illegal immigrants. I am so digusted with what Daley has done to Chicago I can barely stand to visit.
Daley got boxed into a corner...hah...good for him he did the right thing. The first word out on this was that HE WOULD NOT back Barack.
Heloise
16 - Heloise
I've not heard anything of substance from Barack. And his not announcing in Chicago makes me think that he is somewhat afraid of seeing a sea of black faces in front of him.
Listen, don't underestimate the black vote. We could frickin put the man in office if we have the political will to do it and if the Florida republicans don't steal the democratic black vote like they did before.
Sure whites will vote for him. But to allow him to be one-dimensional and not answer the tough questions is only doing a disservice to him.
JFK had to answer the "Catholic question." He did put it to rest. He won by the skin of his big teeth, but he won. Many say thanks to Richard Daley and the mob. But regardless, he won. He remained a Catholic and it was really never brought up again, except in political cartoons.
Politics is my religion. But the politicians are not gods.
Heloise
17 - Heloise
Did you see what that ugly Gwen Ifil said this morning on George's show? She said that his blackness should not be brought up. Huh? She is barely American. Her parents were not born here either. She is mostly African too, like most black west indies people. I wish she would take a slow leaky boat back there. But no chance of that. The white media has made her a media spokesperson. Does this woman speak for black people? Hell no....
I wish the media would not put so-called blacks like her in top shows. It makes me sick.
She should know about not wanting to be identified as being black...ha.
Heloise
18 - Heloise
Richard I disagree, Smiley is representative of more blacks than you might think. Especially those who were activists. And those activists are the silent ones who helped to get the vote and get blacks into office in the first place.
He should think about and thank all the blacks who went before him. Halle Berry (biracial also) did this. Remember white folks love those damn biracials. Look how they stole props from India Arie when Alicia Keys came along?
My kids happen to look like biracials and people ask the all the time if they are biracial or which of your parents is white? It is mostly white people who seem fascinated by it. Blacks never ask them such dumb questions.
SO The question of RACE is for WHITE people, not black people. We are testing the waters. Is that okay with you....just kidding.
Thanks
Heloise
19 - Dave Nalle
Ifil isn't actually ugly, and Washington Week in Review is hardly a 'top show' even among sunday morning talk shows - it's like 5th out of 6. It beats out that one that's all women, and that's about it.
What surprises me about the Obama candidacy is the bizarrely negative, even racist reaction from black Americans. All of a sudden they're bending over backwards to make sure no one calls them 'african americans' to differentiate themselves from americans whose parents or grandparents came from Africa.
Dave
20 - Tedd
Heloise,
Lots of Whites have really big noses. Whats with you and the nose thing. That is so out dated.
I am black and I don't have a big nose. My nose is small compared to most Whites.
People have augmentations to make themselves look better. Not to look like a certain race. He has narrow features. IF he had a wide nose, I'm sure it didn't fit his face. Whites have nose jobs all of the time. Are they trying to look more White?? Thats just silly.
Also, I don't really understand what you mean about living White. That is just bizarre. If you identify the inner city with Blackness then you are confused. You do realise that most Blacks just arrived in the city only one or two generations ago.
I also do work in the inner city (by choice). I have VERY LITTLE in common with those people. There is an essence that I totally get there is also an understanding and respect that I have for those people that others who are not Black may not have because of a lack of understanding of the nuance, but realistically, have most things in common with the thousands of middle class and affluent Blacks in my church, and in my neighborhood.
I live in a predominently White neigborhood. We are lucky to have a lot of Asians and a variety of other nationalities too. I love the diversity. I don't look at my life as having a race. Its just my life and my experiences.
I don't think that Whites look at trailer parks as the REAL White life.
I don't understand your comments.
21 - Tedd
Aku:
You do realise that in this climate, at least for the past 20yrs, religious people have been pandered to. Politicians rarely tell them to step aside and mind their own business. Obama's statement was brave and necessary in order for us to move on and get to the business of running a country. It takes guts and insight to say what is not popular so that the work of the country can be carried out. It sounded to me like he was removing the FLUFF and paving the way for real governance. Insight doesn't have to be profound it only has to be directed and progressive.
22 - moonraven
It doesn't matter, really, what color he is.
He still has no substance. I don't trust folks who are trying to please everybody--whether to get elected to a public office, or for some other agenda.
23 - moonraven
Another question that has to be raised is whether folks will really hop on his bandwagon after having been burnt by an Aunt Jemima (the vicious "Condolences" Rice) and an Uncle Tom (the deceptive Colin Powell).
May not be the right moment for an African American.
24 - Heloise
Nose augmentation is not a crime. Yes, whites and blacks do do it all the time. And no they are not trying to be black or white. I just like facts that's all.
I guess you don't have any black relatives who live as white then? There is a difference and would take too long to explain now. Not saying they do it completely out of choice, some were forced into living so.
Heloise
25 - Richard Thompson
I was about to say that I can't believe that pure inaneness of some ofthe comments, but I really can.
Maybe, if it was summer, then you would have been able to see more of the black people in the crowd in Springfield. And speaking of that, you really should listen to his speech and he says plain as day why he choose there.
It's not a slight to Chicago, and Obama is hardly afraid to speak to his people. But the really telling thing about this whole president experience will be -- it will be just how crabby black folks can be with no real reason at all.