So, I've been avoiding this conversation with my husband because, quite frankly, it makes me angry. He supported Hillary as the nominee and has been adamantly against Obama (still not clear why) since he secured the nomination. The other day, he offered the vague explanation that Obama is not "black enough" for him. He went on to say that "black enough" means that Obama's upbringing does not relate to the typical (meaning accepted or expected) African-American experience, yada yada yada. Now, my husband is a very smart man, but this is probably the dumbest thing I have ever heard him say (and I have heard him say a lot of dumb stuff over the years). First, there is no typical African American upbringing, there is only stereotypical. Actually, my husband has more in common with Obama than he realizes so I was stunned to silence when he came with such an argument.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not about just supporting candidates because they are black. Look what happened in Newark, NJ before Corey Booker. Sharp James spent a number of years in office because the community loved him not for his policies but for his race. He was "Uncle" Sharp. He gave them nothing in return. So, one does have to have the people's best interest in mind and should have some merits. However, like it or not, Obama is the nominee and should be supported by Democratic voters. So the idea that someone (my husband) could be all gung ho about a white woman but can't bring himself to vote for a black man is really upsetting to me. Yes, he has gone so far as to say he is voting for McCain. This is an amazing time in American history no matter who is telling the story. I don't see how he can't just feel the zeal.
Then, I see the reaction to Obama's nomination acceptance speech from Julianne Malveaux (pres. Bennett College) and Cornell West (prof. Princeton) on Tavis Smiley (whew!) They were basically saying that his speech was a failure because he didn't express enough appreciation for the history that got him to this point. That he should have given more shout-outs to the African American came-befores and should have acknowledged the historical significance of the moment. Malveaux went so far as to say she was heartbroken. Although I see their point and in someways agree with it, I wonder if we are setting ourselves up for disappointment if we expect Obama to be the "black" president. Thoughts?
Wow...
All of your comments remind me of my own experiences with not being considered "black enough" or with "trying to act white". Ironically, I got it from both black and white friends. The black friends would say I was trying to be white/act white, talk white, whatever. Growing up in the south (in, of all things, a military town), I know first hand that there is a definite dividing line among blacks and whites. Not that there is jim crow going on, but there is a white side and there is a black side of town. And there is a clear difference. Even today with the influx of a lot of different ethnic groups, there is still two distinct races, at least where I grew up. In middle school, some of my white friends would say that I wasn't "really black" because of the way I spoke (I guess). Those things don't matter so much as you get older and as you meet more people at various levels of education, income, etc. I talk to all my friends pretty much the same way these days. Sometimes I use slang, sometimes I use standard. Anyways, I didn't expect this thread to go in this direction, but this is very interesting.
I can ...
...feel the pain in your voices - since, i too struggle, with that it means to be black enough. I don't, however, dismiss the voices of those who suffered or birthed into the tail end of an era when being black meant 'one black experience' on a spectrum of disregard and maltreatment from all levels of an oppressive society. Those who came, fought, even died before us ---attempting to break the barriers of the 'second-class citizen' mantra do need to be honored for whatever success we experience in the present day. I, for one, am in no place to judge what that gratitude should look like for presidential candidate Obama. bless...
What defines true "blackness"?
I was born in the Bronx and moved to Jacksonville when I was 14. Moving to the south has brought about a new way of understanding just how the north and the south differ in any areas. When I moved down here a blot of people said that I was not black enough. I wasn't familiar wit alot of the ways of talking that women down here were use to using. So they said i didn't talk black enough. lol I thought that this was very funny my accent was so strong then till ud think I was just a visiting. To this day I don't believe that the way you talk defines your blackness. I am educated I payed attention in English class for the most part so why shouldn't I speak as though I learned? I too enjoyed his speech! People should pay attention to the issues at hand and not the dialect of the candidate.ATTITUDE GYAL
What defines true "blackness"?
I was born in the Bronx and moved to Jacksonville when I was 14. Moving to the south has brought about a new way of understanding just how the north and the south differ in any areas. When I moved down here a blot of people said that I was not black enough. I wasn't familiar wit alot of the ways of talking that women down here were use to using. So they said i didn't talk black enough. lol I thought that this was very funny my accent was so strong then till ud think I was just a visiting. To this day I don't believe that the way you talk defines your blackness. I am educated I payed attention in English class for the most part so why shouldn't I speak as though I learned? I too enjoyed his speech! People should pay attention to the issues at hand and not the dialect of the candidate.ATTITUDE GYAL
2nd thought....
I think a lot of black people are created a "Crabs in a barrel" energy concerning Obama. Thye just can't truly believe or want to believe that a black man is really going to the President of the US. So they try to find a reason to discredit him or a reason to legitimize feeling negative about him
I "talk" white....
... I can relate to not being black enough. I was raised an army brat, in the most culturally diverse communities. So naturally, my friends came from everywhere and were of all kinds of races and mixes of races. While living in mostly military communities this was the norm, but whenever we lived in more civilian/racially divided areas (Hephzibah, GA. Right outside of Augusta, GA), it was a problem. I was either trying to "act" or "sound" white, even though I had few white friends. Anyway, I have also heard quite a few brothers and sisters say that they were sure about Barack Obama and didn't want to vote for him just because he is black. I say do your research, look at your life now and compare it to 8 years ago. Decide what you want your life to look like 8 years from and vote based according to that.
Obama is not just the black people's candidate, from the look of crowds at the DNC, there are a whole lot of white folks and folks of other races loving him too.Also Obama is not just a black man, although he cleary identifies as one. He was raised by white grandparents, in Hawaii of all places. How more diverse can he get.
And as far as Tavis, well he just still pissed that Obama didn't break his campaign schedule to attend the "The State of the Black Union". He really needs to come down off his high horse and realize that this campaign is bigger that just the black community.
The craziness!
Thats crazy how your husband feels but it's not the 1st time I've heard that view. I find nothing wrong with his speech; it gave me insight into his life and up bringing. I love how there was not any sparkle and other crazy add-ons. On the other hand, I dont know if I would vote for Obama if he had a sterotypical African American up bringing. i didnt have it, so truthly i wouldnt be able to relate with him if he did. I grew up in prodomatly white areas. I have black friends but none of them are the sterotypical young black adult. Honestly I wouldn't date a guy who grew up on the streets because we have nothing in common so why would I vote for a president that did? Cornell West is my fav but he can be little too out there for my liking. I know my views on most issue in black american arent the same because I dotn have to deal with them.
Oh by the way, Ive never
Oh by the way, Ive never been seen as "black enough" or as a " real black girl". So what is being "black enough"?