Obama Kin Owned Slaves -- The Push to Create a Wedge Between Obama and Black Voters!

Okay, so the whole “let’s get Blacks to distance themselves from Barack Obama” campaign is kicking up another notch.

The Baltimore Sun and New York Post have both reported that Senator Barack Obama’s GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT grandfather and his GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT grandmother owned two slaves each.

Now, most of us know that Senator Obama is the son of a Kenyan father and White, southern mother. It’s her ancestors that owned the slaves. But, you have to ask yourself why this information is being released and why was this information released just prior to Senator Obama delivering a major speech in Selma, Alabama to commemorate the 1965 voting rights act and the march in Alabama dubbed “Bloody Sunday”?

Let’s put this into perspective. The main and only legitimate criticism that’s been raised about Senator Obama is that he doesn’t have a ton of experience because he is relatively new to politics.

The other criticisms have been related to Senator Obama’s father being Muslim and that Senator Obama isn’t “Black enough.” We’ve even heard the vulgar term of “Halfrican” being used to describe the White perception that the senator isn’t Black enough for the rest of us Negroes. These types of criticisms do not seem to have been initiated in the Black community. Instead, they come—more often than not—from Whites in the media, particularly Republican conservative journalists, pundits, etc., who are clearly afraid of Senator Obama’s candidacy for President of the United States.

Now, we hear the so-called shocking tale of how Senator Obama’s white kin owned slaves. This, to me, is consistent with what you might expect to find if you conducted a study of many White families in America. There would be a history and finding of slave ownership in many families.

Many Blacks have slave masters’ blood in our veins. How could we not, considering the rampant rapes that took place over the centuries of slavery? Despite that, the issue that some Whites are attempting to create with this story of slave ownership is that Blacks should dislike Senator Obama and should not support him because he has slave master’s blood in his veins from the wrong side of the equation.

But, the fact of the matter is, you don’t choose your bloodline or relatives. Senator Obama did not choose to be descended from slave owners on his maternal side. And, when you consider his life, his words, and his actions (at least what I have learned so far), this seems to be a proud Black man, with a beautiful Black family.

I mean, I even saw a news story in which Senator Obama was condemned by a White anchor because his church “excluded Whites” and promoted a “Black agenda” of positive action for Black families and communities. Now, we’re to believe that he’s somehow aligned with a pro-slavery belief system because of his ancestry alone.

This is just a reminder that you have to question who’s telling you what and what they want you to do with the information. This information wasn’t pushed to provide any insight into Senator Obama because it provides nothing that’s truly meaningful, from my perspective. This information doesn’t say that Senator Obama used to cry himself to sleep at night because he was half African and he hated his facial features. This information is, again, about something that is not in the senator’s control. This information is not about reporting news, it’s designed to shape and change perceptions—to intentionally influence readers. Yes, the news is often very subjective and not objective. However, let’s see how subjective the news is for Senator Obama, as his campaign marches on.

For the record: Senator Obama’s campaign says, “…it is a true measure of progress that the descendant of a slave owner would come to marry a student from Kenya and produce a son who would grow up to be a candidate for President of the United States.” (Source: NY Post, Saturday, March 3, 2007, Obama’s kin once owned slaves, Post Wire Service)

BLOGGER NOTE: At this time, I have not chosen a candidate to support for President. I’m just very interested in seeing the way information is manipulated and I look forward to seeing how all candidates approach Senator Obama, who is already being dubbed “The First Legitimate Black Candidate for President.” I want to see what similarities exist with the way the senator is criticized and analyzed compared to how many Blacks are criticized and analyzed by Whites. I have no doubts there will be overlaps. We’ve already seen the “not enough experience” issue being used against the senator. Not having enough experience is often used against Blacks in the workplace, yet it’s often not a handicap that prevents Whites from excelling on the job and in other venues. How many Blacks have trained White new hires only to see those Whites promoted within months—including into management jobs? These are the issues that intrigue me. Therefore…

the story will continue…