THE 'GOOD BLACK' EDITORIAL
There was an interesting editorial in Sunday’s New York Post entitled The ‘Good Black’, which discussed the Presidential hopes of Senator Barack Obama and White people’s perceptions of Black candidates. In an excerpt of the article, written by a White Reporter, Peter Beinhart of The New Republic, Beinhart writes about Colin Powell:
“Whites discriminated in Powell’s favor because he challenged their negative stereotypes of blacks. First, he had succeeded in a respected white institution: the military. Second, he was the child of immigrants, a man whose family history highlighted America’s opportunities, not its racism. Third, he wasn’t ideologically radical. And, fourth, he didn’t look or sound stereotypically Black.”
There’s even a quote from Colin Powell from 1995 in which he says that his appeal is partly due to the fact that he speaks “reasonably well” and that, visually, “I ain’t Black”
The editorial then goes on to discuss Senator Obama’s similar appeal to the White masses—at least for the time being—and talks about the difficulties of balancing the fine line between being acceptable to Whites AND Blacks at the same time.
The final paragraph in the editorial includes this thought:
“In a presidential campaign, Blacks must still defy white stereotypes to succeed.”
As I read this editorial, I thought about film director, Steven Spielberg, who’s throwing Senator Obama a fundraiser. Each person must pay $2,300 to attend. So, here are the questions:
--What do you think is the reason behind Senator Barack Obama’s appeal to White people?
--How do you think he will do in the Democratic primary? Do you think White masses will actually vote for him?
--Will Black voters abandon him to stand with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton?
Post a comment or send an email to blackonthejob@yahoo.com!
“Whites discriminated in Powell’s favor because he challenged their negative stereotypes of blacks. First, he had succeeded in a respected white institution: the military. Second, he was the child of immigrants, a man whose family history highlighted America’s opportunities, not its racism. Third, he wasn’t ideologically radical. And, fourth, he didn’t look or sound stereotypically Black.”
There’s even a quote from Colin Powell from 1995 in which he says that his appeal is partly due to the fact that he speaks “reasonably well” and that, visually, “I ain’t Black”
The editorial then goes on to discuss Senator Obama’s similar appeal to the White masses—at least for the time being—and talks about the difficulties of balancing the fine line between being acceptable to Whites AND Blacks at the same time.
The final paragraph in the editorial includes this thought:
“In a presidential campaign, Blacks must still defy white stereotypes to succeed.”
As I read this editorial, I thought about film director, Steven Spielberg, who’s throwing Senator Obama a fundraiser. Each person must pay $2,300 to attend. So, here are the questions:
--What do you think is the reason behind Senator Barack Obama’s appeal to White people?
--How do you think he will do in the Democratic primary? Do you think White masses will actually vote for him?
--Will Black voters abandon him to stand with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton?
Post a comment or send an email to blackonthejob@yahoo.com!
posted by S. Mary Wills at 11:17 AM
1 Comments:
We certainly do need to get much more information about him. But, it really is kind of interesting to watch half the White people fall all over themselves about him and the others attack him (and his Muslim Dad). There's never been so much love and panic bestowed on one person! And, don't get me started on Ms. Rice! I absolutely can't stand Sally Hemmings! When she refered to the President as her "husband" that was all I needed to hear. It was either a Freudian slip or the truth. How do you refer to the President as your husband, especially when you've never been married. She is such a lap dog.
Post a Comment
<< Home