Editors note: This is a guest post by a friend of mine who will be commenting here and occasionally writing a guest post under the name "Satya." She was introduced to me by one of my smartest, most talented colleagues as "my smarter, more talented sister." Unlike most of us who pontificate about Obama while remained firmly planted on our asses, Satya has actually spent the last year working for the Obama campaign.
~by Satya
Barack Obama's landmark speech on race was not the best he has given thus far. His speech at the JJ dinner in Iowa, despite reaching most people via YouTube, surpassed this week's speech, and many still continue to hail his 2004 DNC keynote address as his finest.
What was remarkable about Barack's speech this week was the content. His critics accuse him of sounding great, but being light on content. This speech was all content. He apprised white people of things they either don't know, aren't cognizant of, or combination of the two because of white privilege.
His interview after with ABC News really drove this point home when he explained to Terry Moran about how differently white and black people react to the news of major crime. He explained it to him, as I [as a person of color] have many times in a nonthreatening way, how one's initial reaction to news of the major crime is to worry that the perpetrator might be of your subculture. Barack then clearly illustrated to him the privileges of being white in America by asking him if he would ever be worried about resembling someone who had done something bad.
Jon Stewart, as always, nicely summed up Barack's big gamble now. He has treated us like adults, put forth subtleties and difficult questions for us to digest. He got his message across, despite being asked idiotic question like, "Are you a black man or an American first?"
(Funny how being black is like being Muslim...you're still not allowed to have multiple identities if you're American.)
~by Satya
Barack Obama's landmark speech on race was not the best he has given thus far. His speech at the JJ dinner in Iowa, despite reaching most people via YouTube, surpassed this week's speech, and many still continue to hail his 2004 DNC keynote address as his finest.
What was remarkable about Barack's speech this week was the content. His critics accuse him of sounding great, but being light on content. This speech was all content. He apprised white people of things they either don't know, aren't cognizant of, or combination of the two because of white privilege.
His interview after with ABC News really drove this point home when he explained to Terry Moran about how differently white and black people react to the news of major crime. He explained it to him, as I [as a person of color] have many times in a nonthreatening way, how one's initial reaction to news of the major crime is to worry that the perpetrator might be of your subculture. Barack then clearly illustrated to him the privileges of being white in America by asking him if he would ever be worried about resembling someone who had done something bad.
Jon Stewart, as always, nicely summed up Barack's big gamble now. He has treated us like adults, put forth subtleties and difficult questions for us to digest. He got his message across, despite being asked idiotic question like, "Are you a black man or an American first?"
(Funny how being black is like being Muslim...you're still not allowed to have multiple identities if you're American.)
Labels: 2008, Barack Obama, Jon Stewart, politics, race, Satya
I would like to hear more about your experiences working for Obama and if you've been around them, what the Obama's are actually like. Also, how do the campaign volunteers/staff people treat each other?
Who asked the question "Are you a black man or an American first?"
I strongly recommend Chairman Conyer's response to Obama's speech which is up at the huff po, here's a modified link so it'll fit here:
http://tiny.cc/conyers
Satya,
Quality post. You got me thinking about what my own personal favorite Obama speech is. Three that you didn't mention are the ones that followed the first three major primaries: Iowa, NH, SC. Another is his speech on faith and politics. I don't know which I'd pick, but I'm definitely looking forward to his convention acceptance. :-)
Countdown to Billy saying something inane and resentful b/c nobody is saying this sort of thing about McCain in 3...2...1...
I believe white privilege is a myth. White people already know all these things, they're just too scared of being fired or harassed for saying them.
Twenty-five years ago, before political correctness made this kind of conversation dangerous, people discussed these issues openly and freely.
There are subcultures across the country, but I am much more likely to be understood by a poor black man due to my childhood poverty than I am by a non-geek because of his lack of technical education.
"White privilege" is a victim's chant. It's time for blacks people to be winners.
Brian, btw, I noticed you using the word "tolerance" a lot in your post earlier. Remember what I quoted before--"Tolerance implies that there's something wrong with the person. Try acceptance instead."
Tom
Satya,
Thanks for the post. I'd also be interested in hearing more about your experience working for Obama and how you think it compares to working for other candidates.
The black man/American quote does not seem to accurately describe "white" america's reception of Obama. Maybe my perspective is tainted by the Obama love-fest that is the U of I, but some of his biggest supporters (especially among young people) are white. Has your experience been different?
Maybe this is misguided, but it seems to me that race has been made an issue by the media (ie the Reverend White controversy), perhaps out of disappointment by America's embrace of Obama as a viable presidential candidate (at least on the Democratic side).
Tom,
Thanks for that distinction between tolerance and acceptance. I think it's unintentionally misused far too often.
In my previous comment, it should read "(e.g. the Reverend White controversy)" not "ie."
Oops.
Tom,
Not to take the conversation too far off on a limb, but in that context I actually MEANT tolerance, not acceptance. Members of each religion obviously think members of the other religion are wrong, but they *tolerate* that wrongness, without necessarily accepting it. And that's good.
You're right, Brian. I was posting under the after-effects of anesthesia and I made more than one mistake. Sorry about that.
Tom
Anonymous, I will write more about campaigning for Barack later, but I'll say now that I've had a fantastic time doing so, met fabulous supporters, staffers, interns, and volunteers, and it's been an amazing learning experience. I've met both Barack and Michelle more than once, and I'm huge fans. Huge. I absolutely love them.
Allan, ABC's Terry Moran asked the question about black man vs. American.
Brian, good point mentioning his speeches after Iowa, NH, and SC. I also really loved his speech on March 4th. I was at the NH and SC speeches, but still I'm sticking with the Iowa JJ Dinner!
Katie, I saw the black vs. American question not driving at his supporter demographics, but questioning the self-definition of blacks in America. As for his support, both people involved in his campaign and his voters, I'm continually surprised by the breadth of the people he's reaching.
katie:
Satya was referring to working-class, blue-collar whites, which are the demographic that Obama is going after right now.
You are right that a portion of the "white" American electorate is receptive to Obama, the "U of I" being a prime example because it is filled with young university students, a demographic that Obama has largely captured already.
Also, Smart people