We’ve (Almost) Arrived!!!
June 6, 2008
Written by The Celebrity
(Pictured: Controversial Israeli political cartoon)
In case you were under a rock this week, you should know by now that US Senator Barack Obama clinched the Democratic nomination for president. I, like some other oh, (currently) 18 million or so, supporters sat in sheer jubilance and awe as he was finally able to lay claim to this protracted primary contest against the usually unbeatable and formidable Clinton juggernaut machine. Although this is not the ultimate prize of obtaining the White House, this historic feat is nonetheless completely exhilarating and satisfying. Yet, I am somewhat saddened…
As Barack’s speech in Minnesota faded to black, I reflected upon what his accomplishment was beginning to mean: We’ve (almost) arrived. Why does that sadden me? Because, if and/or when Barack becomes Mr. President, I, along with most of my fellow brethren will no longer have any excuses. Don’t get me wrong, clearly there will remain most if not all of the current institutional, structural, downright inherent forms of racism that have weighed us down like an anchor since we were drug over here some 400 years ago. Still, a Barack presidency (hell, even his nomination) will now serve as a clear sign for most that we have now overcome all of those issues because there is just no way America is racist since we’ve (almost) elected a black president.
Well isn’t that what you (people) want? To not have those challenges and barriers in place anymore? Of course!! The concern though is that this can and will be used to ignore the ongoing ills that persist and infect black Americans. Liberal elites, staunch conservatives, working-class whites and the like will continue to point to his presidency as a barometer on race relations in America. Again, don’t get me wrong!! I want this more than anybody (besides maybe Barack himself, ha ha) but I refuse to let this be the side door to give injustices and structural problems an easy way out of the picture.
I believe it is incumbent upon us to keep the pressing issues upfront and not allow this (one) Herculean (ongoing) accomplishment to be used to sweep race and other problems under the rug. I dare not use statistics to illustrate my point as they are used so much nowadays that they don’t have the effect that they should.
However, keep the bottles poppin’ and let’s prepare for cookouts on the front lawn of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave (don’t act like you not ready for Michelle and Barack to throw down on grill). But as we continue to celebrate and push towards the ultimate prize, I caution us to not let this historic ride be used to say we’ve (almost) arrived.
Parliament Funkadelic - Chocolate City
That song will be running through my head all day now.
Nice post, sir! Keep ‘em coming. “Gainin’ on ya!!”
(picture don’t offend me, reminds me of another George Clinton song “Paint The White House Black” - i understand the controversy though)
Ain’t gone lie, the title of this post looks like it’s on some ole BULL-ish, but sadly enough, i think there’s alot of truth in this. We’re constantly told that “we needa stop complaining so much” because we now have “equal” educational access, “equal” access to health care, “equal” pay, “equal” this, “equal” that.
I’m not the type to take comfort in and use the long history of deprivation and discrimination and make that my excuse for not being the best I can be. But when I get feedback from job recruiters that tell me the that the employer was worried that I “wouldn’t fit in” because I might be “too militant” or “not accepting to their personal belief systems” or “there’s a big class difference that may impede the work efficiency dynamic within the team”, I am reminded that we still have a long ass way to go.
And although Obama’s accomplishment is monumental (i predict he’s gonna get a coin down the road, did you SEE that profile shot?), moFo’s’ll still use it as “proof” that America is “equal”. Sadly enough, there’s a huge difference between a ceiling being shattered…err.. punctured, and everyone being on an “equal” playing field. Cats just don’t seem to get that….
In a country that revolves on the turns of perceptual,emotional,intellectual,& legal technicalities cloaked in so-called Christian Conservative Values,I’m wont to get
overly excited about Barack’s initial accomplishment.The thing that bothers me
most is the fact that Barack is NOT–technically speaking—African-American in
the same vein as Jessie Jackson or Al Sharpton.Neither is Colin Powell!So,tech-
nically speaking,we have YET to have a REAL “African-American Man” brought in-to the “inner circle” of govt. at The Highest White House level.
It has historically been : Caucasian male & female,then African-American female
& male.Now,it’s Caucasian male & female;African-American female,ANY other ethnic female or male,&, lastly, the Afrcian-American male! This means that Con-die represents the lifting up of the African-American female AHEAD of the African-
American male,because both Colin & Barack represent only the appearance of
being an African-American male! Their historic family roots are NOT those of one
DIRECTLY descendant from the loins of those victimized by The Monstrosity of Chattel Slavery of AmeriKKKa!
Both Jessie & Al are hardpressed to explain exactly WHY they aren’t as excited a-
bout Barack winning the Democratic nomination as the mass of African-Ameri-
cans appear to be!But this is WHY! They both understand the continued subtle displacement of the African-American male in AmeriKKKan societal dynamics,
but stand LEVERAGED against ANY voicing of such!
The African-American male continues to be the greatest threat to Caucasian male dominance in the socio-economic-political arenas!While being a Christian
preacher,minister,reverend,pastor,or priest has long been held to be the high-
est calling,career,or vocation for the African-American male,it’s this Pretty Lie that
has contributed MOST to OUR self-destruction!
Those who would elevate ANY group or individual to a position of DIVINITY above their OWN are PSYCHOLOGICALLY defeated as well as PSYCHICALLY devasta-
ted & doomed to societal subjugation by the very group or individual believed to be “more divine” than SELF—w/o ANY necessary effort on the subjugators part! This is the “backdoor” phenomena Dr.Carter G.Woodson speaks of in “The Mis-Education of the Negro”!It’s an automatic UNCONSCIOUS DEFERENCE to those
deemed to be “more divine” than SELF!
Those who would struggle w/the concept of “African-American Progress” in racist
AmeriKKKan society tend to be those who did NOT participate in ANY efforts to de
stroy the existing Status Quo of the past 400+ yrs in AmeriKKKa!They tend to be
those who walked into situations already created by others—who were all too of-
ten the LAST to reap ANY benefits from their FRONTLINE efforts!
Such is the case w/Barack! He would be rewarded w/benefits that rightly belong
to Jessie & Al for being the soldiers they have been for some 2 generations in The War for OUR treatment as HUMAN BEINGS,first & far most,& First Class Citizens,secondly —in-spite of ANY leverage used to quiet them today!
He or she who’s unable to recognize the sophisticated subtleties of displace-ment that subjugate them to the bottom of the socio-economic-political ladder are
suscpetible & vulnerable to the ARTIFICIALLY-created ILLUSIONS of PROGRESS
that have plagued US as a PEOPLE during our 400+ yrs. of sojourn in this Ameri-
KKKan “SPIRITUAL” wilderness!
“AmeriKKKans (translated “Caucasians”)will do the right thing after they have tri-
ed everything else”,said Winston Churchill!Unless one is Historically mis-educat
ed,one knows the truth of this statement as an ongoing,unceasing,consistent oc-
curence of societal dynamics at ALL levels of being & doing!
Yeh…You see Free312, this is a key problem. An advancement for an African-American anywhere is an advancement for African-Americans everywhere. Despite Barack Obama being the African American by definition, separating him from the “traditional” African-American community because his ancestors did not go through the same suffrage as did yours is just as self-destructive as the points you presented.
Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and the numerous heroes of the Civil Rights movement then and now, have paved the way for all of us in this present time. We all reap the benefits of their sacrifices. That is the whole purpose of fighting for future generations, so that one day, people WILL take their rights for granted.
Ignoring the achievements of another who is viewed (and treated) the same way by the general public is a big FAIL for that community. Nice try, but you should probably check Mr/ Obama’s public records and accomplishments, he’s much more of a leader in today’s world than Mr. Jackson and Sharpton have been in recent years.