The Real Power

When polled, 21 percent of respondents voting in Kentucky’s presidential primary admitted having voted solely on race, which explains why Hillary Clinton won the contest. It must be nice to be so comfortable in your surroundings you can say “We can’t stand niggers!” Which is now the new state motto for Kentucky. I knew I felt a cool breeze that time I visited. They tried to pass it off as a tornado, but I know hate. I’ve been Black too long.

As ignorant, ass backwards, country and racist as Kentuckians may be, they are not alone. A great many people in the country feel as they do. They would never admit it, because they have to coexist with Black people on some level. Clearly, that isn’t an issue in Kentucky. I’m almost afraid to consider what happens to unwanted Negroes. I’m sure we’ll find out if the “Black” candidate is elected.

Even though he dissed my pastor, Barack Obama is still my candidate and, contrary to what everyone thinks, not because he’s Black. I promise. Truth is I don’t see him as Black, at least not in the same sense that I am. Perhaps Amanda Ripley put it best in her Time Magazine article, ” being partly African in America is still seen as being simply black and color is still a preoccupation above almost all else.”

Barack Obama is not “simply” black. Truth is the Clintons are blacker. If you don’t believe me, just watch to see who will scramble to appoint people of color to key posts as reward for delivering voters. Remember the coon show Bill Clinton brought to Washington? Hillary’s campaign gives us some indication of the kind of nonsense that might mar her administration. After all, she fired the Latina to bring on the Negress and then, miraculously, came the pastor disaster nonsense. No one can kick a Negro under the bus like another Negro. I don’t see any of that idiocy going on in Obama’s campaign.

Anyway, as I was saying, race does not make Obama my ideal candidate. If anything, he’s ideal because he doesn’t come with the race baggage that another African American might tote. I can use myself as an example.

I was born into a working class African American family. My grandparents were extremely blessed in that they were able to escape the Deep South to make their way to a northern city that still tolerates Black people, as long as they stay in their place. When I was growing up, my entire family returned to the south annually to visit kinfolk. As a result we got the chance to outwardly experience the racism and prejudice to which we were subtly subjected in the northeast. It didn’t take long to identify the similarities.

I learned early that white people were not my friends. It was a lesson taught by those entrusted with my care. It was their intention that I have no illusions about what a mean world it was for little black boys. I learned that white people were inherently bad. Some were certainly nicer than others but, given the choice, they would side with those who looked like them. I was to do the same. Of course, there were exceptions – white people who preferred the company of Blacks, however other members of their race perceived them as deficient.

Bottom Line… the race baggage carried by my Black power parents, Jim Crow grandparents, sharecropping great-grandparents and slave quartered great-great grandparents was passed down to me, contents in tact. That’s a lot to unpack and it ain’t easy. Each time I think something is disposable, another thing comes up to remind me that the climate hasn’t changed that drastically in four generations. I’m still uneasy around large groups of white people, but I am honing the ability to evaluate individuals, and not condemn a group for the actions of a few.

I was an adult before I recognized that people are people and that each race can claim an abundance of ignorance. Surely, Barack Obama learned this valuable lesson very early. Growing up in Jakarta with a white mother and Indonesian stepfather certainly lessened the stigma of Blackness. It must make a world of difference when you don’t live in a place where hatred and oppression are weaved into the culture.

Even after moving to Hawaii to live with his grandparents and attend prep school, I’m sure he continued to function in the margins of “Blackness.” I know that he branded his grandmother a bigot, but even so, she still provided for him in such a way that would make it hard to see her as a symbol of oppression and evil. I think it’s safe to assume that white people never came to represent all that is malevolent in the world. At least until he got to Harvard, one of the most white and oppressive places I’ve ever visited.

As far as I can tell, Barack Obama is still learning what it means to be Black in America, which makes him the perfect candidate. His baggage is still light. No, I’m not voting for Obama because he’s Black. I’m voting for him because his wife is, which is where the real power lies.