Just When You Thought You’d Heard It All ...
... regarding America’s racist white voters and how they’ll never elect a black president, here comes Penn Prof. John L. Jackson, Jr., the Chronicle of Higher Education’s anthroblogogist (as an anthropologist he “spends a lot of time, “he modestly tells us, “listening to people talk about their hopes and dreams, their complicated pasts, and uncharted futures”) to report that the increasing likelihood Obama will be elected is making some blacks “more — not less — cynical about how race operates in contemporary America.”
Really. I promise, I’m not making this up. Jackson continues:
Some black folks are describing the potential inauguration of this country’s first black president (no offense, Bill) as the epitome of America’s traditional version of racial prejudice and scapegoating, not its ultimate repudiation. In other words, they see it as another reason to be skeptical of America’s newfound capacity to elect a person of color to the highest office in the landHis, or “some black folks’,” argument, comes down to this:
As people follow roller-coastering stock prices and feeble attempts at an adequate governmental response, it seems ironic, at least to some, that America appears most likely to pass the executive baton to its first black presidential candidate just as the country teeters on the edge of economic collapse, which (the argument goes) will allow many Americans to blame “the black guy” for all of it, especially if things continue to get worse in 2009. “See what happens when you give a black person a country to run. They turn it into a version of Africa and its failed states.”So, America is racist if it fails to elect Obama ... and racist if it does.
You’ll have to read Jackson’s article to decide for yourself whether Jackson is nuts, the “some black folks” to whom he attentively listens are nuts, or both. In his defense (and in defense of the Chronicle’s otherwise odd decision to award him a regular platform), I suppose it could be said that the views he expresses tarnish the reputation of anthropological insight only marginally more than those expressed in his other columns that we’ve encountered here, here, here, and here.
Say What?
Until the Colts won the Super Bowl I had heard a similar argument about black head coaches being put in a position where they were guaranteed to fail. Owners were said to be conspiring to put blacks in charge of awful teams. No thought was given to the number of white coaches who also took over bad teams. I would not be at all surprised if there were people (black and white) who believe Obama is being setup to fail.
Posted by: Dennis | October 10, 2008 11:10 AM
this nonsense is a result of the fears of many black people that a black president will make people say, okay this proves there is no more racism in america. So he argues that voting for a black president is in itself evidence of racism. It's funny, but also pathetic.
It has dawned on some people that being president is not only a tough job, but that success in the part is not just due to one's will. Obama's whole campaign is based on I will give orders and it will all become good. Alot of things, most things, a president cannot control. Still, the president gets the blame for everything.
For president obama not to get the blame will be the work, the mission, of the media. It is their mission to get him elected. I don't think anyone in this country, not FDR, has ever gotten such positive coverage. It is coverage of the sort that communist or third world dictators get, yes, almost to that level. It's kind of frightening, because once the principle of media disinterest is totally thrown away, anything goes. I watch Fox News and it does not extol McCain the way the others, every tv station, every newspaper, every magazine, extol Obama. If he becomes president, does that mean there will be no way to guage his presidency, because the media will keep telling us everything is great, regardless of what is going on?
Posted by: Anita | October 10, 2008 12:36 PM
Anita writes:
>>>"I watch Fox News and it does not extol McCain the way the others, every tv station, every newspaper, every magazine, extol Obama. If he becomes president, does that mean there will be no way to guage his presidency, because the media will keep telling us everything is great, regardless of what is going on?"
No, no...you're not watching the same Fox News that I monitor from time to time.
The current President is George W. Bush (R). His approval rating is a Nixonian 24%. Yet you'd think they're carving his likeness on Mt. Rushmore if you watched Fox News the past eight years.
No matter what scandal, from Florida's 2000 Election to Spy PlaneGate to PlameGate, to abject cheerleading for the Iraq War, it's incredible the level of pro-Bush propaganda Fox News has broadcasted.
Even former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan says:
>>>"There were (FOX) commentators and pundits who were useful to the White House."
--Former Bush White House Press Secretary, Scott McClellan, Hardball, 7/24/08
And Anita, have you ever, per chance, listened to a talk radio station lately?
--Cobra
Posted by: Cobra![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.discriminations.us/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 11, 2008 2:10 PM