My People, My people…

My People, My people…

Black folks, what the hell is going on? Tavis Smiley, what’s with all the hate? In my opinion the tension that Obama is feeling around race during this election is that he is running for the president of United States not solely the president of Black folks. There is a fine line he has to walk to be electable (i.e. can’t be the scary Black man, might turn-off white voters). Even if he paid lip service to Black folks cutting issues specifically to race it wouldn’t mean anything. There are many people who talk a good game but do nothing! That’s why Clinton can be the first Black president (NAFTA, welfare reform, etc…). I am more concerned about the concrete. What have you actually done?

Let me say upfront that electoral politics will not save folks, it’s just a tool. Nor do I believe any Black politician can be “a hope to die Negro”. Politics won’t allow it. But I do believe Black folks have to expand their notion of what leadership is. That not all so called Black leaders are rhyming preachers that just march. This is not the 6o’s, it time to allow that next generation to move the issues. Our access to political power does not always have to come through white intermediaries. We have got to be smarter about that.

Let me also be clear that Obama is not some token Negro without any track record or base. I believe black folks outside of Illinois were weary because he just didn’t have the name recognition and / or they didn’t want to “throw their vote away” on someone who couldn’t win. Now that he has had great showings in Iowa / New Hampshire and has demonstrated that he can give Clinton a run for her money the masses are rallying behind him (later for the Negro establishment). At the end of the day I have way more confidence in a Black man married to a strong Black women to use the office of president to help support my issues that any textbook white liberal.

Peace!

LaVida

P.S. Below I have included a link to a commentary that Tavis Smiley did yesterday on the Tom Joyner Morning Show. It distorts statements Obama made about Ronald Reagan & does not address at all similar statements made by his white counterparts (especially Bill and Hilary Clinton). I am working on a piece right now that examines Black leadership and the role prominent African American talking heads, politicians and celebrities (including Bob Johnson, Andrew Young, Tavis Smiley, Magic Johnson, etc…) are playing during this primary election.

http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/sayitloud/smiley