Chicago 2016? Obamas make Olympic Push

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UPDATE: Sorry folks. . . No Olympics for Chicago in 2016. Congrats to Rio de Janeiro
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Who does he think he is . . . The President?: Obama's impact on "masculinity" and "power" in American culture

Following up on my past article, "Oh, the Possibilities . . . Obama and Black Men," I maintain that one of the greatest impacts Obama's election will have is, at a minimum, the beginning of a redefinition of "masculinity" in America. We are talking about the juxtaposition of "power" with black skin. . . we are talking about the juxtaposition of authority with black skin.

And some people just can't handle that fact. The following op-ed gets to the point:

There are many Americans for whom the image of a well-educated, articulate, African-American man running the country simply does not fit into the worldview with which they grew up and are comfortable and familiar. When the emotions aroused by that disconcerting fact are combined with legitimate political differences, their behavior has transgressed the boundaries of civil discussion and rational debate and become something much uglier. Comparing the president to a monkey, irrationally questioning his citizenship, calling for him to be ''shipped back to Africa,'' carrying signs that call for the elimination of ''Obama, Michelle, and their ugly daughters,'' keeping kids home from school so they won't have to hear the president's speech to schoolchildren -- these are not rational responses to the important policy differences that require vigorous and thoughtful debate. These are the voices of people who are having a difficult time realizing that their assumptions about the natural order of things aren't working anymore, a realization that makes them profoundly uncomfortable. It is easier for them to respond by shouting angry insults than by researching facts and developing reasoned counter arguments. (Peyton R. Helm, president of Muhlenberg College - The Morning Call)

Make no mistake. We as a country are not accustomed to associating such power, RESPECT, and, yes, admiration with black men when it comes to "masculinity." No. Black men have been and continue to be depicted as the absolute opposite of "masculinity" . . . the antithesis to the qualities that we associate with the "hero" the "white knight" . . . the COMMANDER IN CHIEF. Indeed, black men have been the perpetual "other" to the traditional, white, imagery most often associated with responsible "masculine" leadership.

It's what I meant when I wrote:

Thank you for giving voice to the concept that black men do have a voice. Too often, society convinces us that black men have nothing to say. In fact, it seems that the only time a black man is expected to speak is if he’s on the pulpit, in a rap video, in a sports locker-room or at a court arraignment. Well, not anymore! For the next four year’s this country will have a front-row seat to black intellect. And many Americans will sit in awe as they learn that a black man can, not only speak in full sentences, but can also speak (even better, lead) on matters of war and peace, foreign and domestic policy, the economy, health care, the law . . . the list goes on and on.

And finally, thank you, Mr. President for showing young black men another option in life. My hope is that they’ll learn to see that your excellence is not rare. My hope is that you’re historic victory sparks our young black men to seek out the black lawyers, doctors, teachers and community organizers in their own neighborhoods. . . that they might learn from the entrepreneurs in their neighborhood. . . . that they might learn from the hardworking, blue collar black men that are often overlooked by society, but still find a way to take care of and provide for their families. . . that they might go to their local library and learn of the great achievements of men who look just like they do; a history rich in intelligence and leadership. (B-Serious, "Oh, the Possibilities . . . Obama and Black Men.")

It's a hard shell to crack, but it's beginning to crack nonetheless. And as Mr. Helm suggests, the shrill, whiny, paranoid incoherence of the fringe elements of our society is just another example of the fear some have at the realization that they've lost control of what they thought was theirs and only theirs to enjoy . . . the American Identity.

Perhaps that's the driving force behind those who question his citizenship or those who whine "I want my country back." It is the belief (subconscious or otherwise) that a black man in such a position of power and respect is so . . . "foreign" . . . so . . . "unAmerican."

So, why the inherent distrust? Why the presumption of malicious intent? The conspiracy theories? The threats?

It's about reification. It's the fact that history has long held that the least among us might share in the American dream so long as they could identify with the leading class. . . so long as the powerless might make concrete that which for them is the abstract concept of "power."

Such has been the cycle of the powerless and the powerful in American politics. And though social status, class and gender have always divided the haves from the have-nots, there is one common denominator that has allowed the social stratification to persist despite the lack of a tangible benefit to the latter group at the expense of the former. . . RACE. Poor whites have a history of siding against their own interest for the fear that someone else might get what they themselves never had. So, instead of coalition politics, it's easier to rant against a welfare society, fear Willie Horton, and shame the welfare queen. . .so long as the object of such contempt has black skin. For "those people," some say, are not like "us." "They" deserve to be where they are. "They" are lazy. "They" are uneducated. "They" are irresponsible. . . unlike "us" who pull ourselves up by our bootstraps.

But now????

See, reification is the concept of vicariously realizing upward mobility and success through someone else's experience. However, what throws some people for a loop is that, for the first time, our nation's understanding of success, power and leadership is being realized through a Black experience in the White House.

It's hard to live vicariously through someone else. Some might say it's unnatural. And to those who wilt at the thought of this powerful black man speaking to your children . . . for those who faint at the fact that young white children (in fact, all children) continue their ADMIRATION for the office of the presidency despite it's darker hue . . . for anyone who cringes at the idea of TRUSTING someone who neither looks like them nor shares their specific background to make such important decisions about their lives . . .

I say "Welcome to the club". Black folk have been doing it for centuries. Don't worry . . . it'll be alright!

This is not to say that all criticism of Obama is driven by race. It is not to say that all who oppose the President are racist (though, the media should do a better job at confronting those who are). However it is to say that this president is reshaping our preconceived notions of what it means to be a "man" in our society. We finally have a counterbalance. For all of the negative imagery we see, there is and will always be the counterbalancing image of this president. And this imagery . . . this daily infusion of the "other" in a position of power, challenges us as a nation to reacess our preconceived notions that have kept so many from powerful positions simply because they did not look the part or fit the script.

This is not about politics. This is not to say that racism is an exclusive trait of the left or right (it is what it is and it comes from all sides). Rather, this is about the future potential that might be realized now that young black boys and girls have seen one of their own achieve the highest, most influential . . . most powerful office in the world. And that scares the hell out of some people. Do NOT be fooled by their false bravado and belligerence.

It scares the hell out of the weak.

It scares the hell out of the vulnerable.

It scares the hell out of the ignorant.

Sorry folks, but Obama is just the beginning.

Oh, the possibilities.
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U.S. Supreme Court to address issue of race in jury composition

There's an interesting case coming out of the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. The defendant, an African-American male, was tried and convicted of murder by an all white jury. Even more, only 6% of the jury pool was African-American despite the fact that blacks comprise 18% of the city where the crime happened.

According to the Detroit Free Press, the 6th Circuit reversed the conviction on the grounds that the Kent County jury selection process systematically excluded minorities from the jury pool.

Seems to make sense, right?

Well, the Michigan Attorney General thought otherwise, prompting him to issue a challenge to the U.S. Supreme Court on the argument that the 6th Circuit overstepped its bounds as a federal authority meddling into matters of the state.

Yup . . . sounds like a "states rights" argument, which doesn't make blacks feel all warm and fuzzy inside when it comes to matters of race in America.

via The Detroit Free Press:

(by John Wisely, Free Press Staff Writer)

Robert Sedler, a constitutional law professor at Wayne State University in Detroit, said the case likely will turn more on the issue of state court rights than on the facts of Smith's case.

Sedler said that under a 1996 law, the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, federal courts hearing appeals of state court convictions are supposed to defer to state courts unless those courts engage in an unreasonable application of federal law.

There's more to the story. You can read the rest here.

Pay attention to this one.

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Obama Talks to 60 Minutes

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President Obama Presses Congress for Health Care Reform

"We did not come to fear the future. We came here to shape it."

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Parallel Frustrations: A Follow Up to "The Conversation"

In reviewing Hill Harper's new book, The Conversation, I highlighted two observations that seemed quite powerful in their relevance to the discussion:

Harper goes through great lengths to convey what black men and women are looking for in a relationship. The answers vary, but two requests, in particular, were quite poignant:

1. Black men have a desire to feel NEEDED; and
2. Black women have a desire to be TAKEN SERIOUSLY

And before the cynics attack such requests as being unearned - hold it right there! Harper does an excellent job of focusing the spotlight on successful black relationships . . . relationships that are built by men and women who don’t fit the stereotype . . . relationships that take time and cooperation to build. Harper makes it clear that these men and women are the norm, NOT the exception, and that, as such, they deserve the respect they seek.

Perhaps my interest stems from a conversation I had some years ago on the message boards of Essence.com. IF we were to strip away our false bravado and allow our vulnerabilities to come through, we might find that much of our anguish stems from a desire for validation from one another as black men and women.

I happened to have saved my post from that conversation. It deals with certain insecurities we demonstrate that stem from a long history of racial baggage and the struggle to juxtapose traditionally white standards of "success," "masculinity" and "femininity" with black skin. As you'll see, I think this sets an easy trap for black men and women to engage in flawed (if not tortured) logic. It becomes a process through which we begin to accept and internalize negative stereotypes about each other.


Here it is . . .let the conversation continue:

I've read your comments a couple of times and I'm struck by parallels that exist between black men and women. . . The following is how I see the black male/female conflict in general (sans kids, deadbeat dads, baby mama drama, etc.)….

The way I see it, black men and women both share similar levels of frustration. The difference, however, is that we tend to seek fulfillment in two different manners. Black women have a strong desire to feel APPRECIATED. Black men, on the other hand, have a strong desire to feel NEEDED. This is consistent with many of the complaints that we've seen in this discussion.

A black woman's desire for appreciation is fulfilled through reciprocation...a "real man" must reciprocate her similar tastes, drive, goals, and even professional aspirations. This is a search for empathy. A black woman demands that her man possess the ability to RELATE to what she wants out of life. This is clear cut…”either you’ve got plans for your life, or you don’t.” Thus you'll see some women assume that love can be predicated upon objective standards (this constant discussion of "standards") such as profession and education. She thinks, “This is proof/documentation that this man has been where I've been and is headed where I'm going.” “Lead, follow, or get out of the way!”

The black woman's frustration and ultimate disappointment with the black man comes when she feels that she cannot relate to him. Why? Well, she feels that he lacks the capacity to reciprocate...he lacks the degree, drive, experience, goals, etc. Even worse, he lacks the simple DESIRE to reciprocate. This is depressing. The black woman thinks, "Surely, if there is anyone who would share my drive and passion, it should be a black man." Yet it is his LACK of drive that disgusts her and plants the seed of doubt in her mind that there are any good black men.

Black men, on the other hand, ultimately want to feel NEEDED. Status is of less importance here. In fact, one might feel more "manly" if his wife/girlfriend is of a lesser status than he because that increases the chance that she will need him (an unfortunate hang-up considering the upward mobility of black women). NEED feeds the male ego like APPRECIATION feeds the female ego. We’ve all heard this before: “A man needs to feel like he’s THE MAN.”

A black man's desire to feel needed is fulfilled through SUPPORT. I am not talking about financial support, but emotional support - a support so strong, it can be called loyalty. The black man looks at the world as a constant assault. Yet he’d happily die, a soldier for the cause, if he knew he were fighting to preserve the undying loyalty of his woman. Above all, at the end of the day, he needs to know that he and his wife/girlfriend are ON THE SAME TEAM. “I need a ride or die chick!”

The black man’s frustration and ultimate disappointment with the black woman comes when he views her as competition, rather than an ally. Why? Well, he feels that she doesn’t “support” him. Yeah, she’ll “loan” a brotha $20. She’ll care for the children and help keep a home (all of this, which he foolishly overlooks). But she’ll never say that she NEEDS a man in her life. Never. More specifically, she’ll never say she NEEDS A BLACK MAN in her life. Quite the opposite, the black man is bombarded with message after message…book after book…talk show after talk show of black women ranting about their trifling, no good, deadbeat, no-job-having, poor excuse for a man. This is depressing. The black man thinks, “Surely, if there is anyone who would proclaim her need for me, it should be a black woman.” Yet, ironically, it is her bravado that disgusts him and plants the seed of doubt in his mind that there are any good black women.

Yet the parallel still exists…black men and women both searching for VALIDATION from each other (although neither side will ever admit it). Both equally stubborn, yet equally fragile in the context of their BRUISED EGOS. Most importantly, these bruised egos are fueled by an envy for what other races seemingly have. The grass always looks greener on the other side doesn’t it?

Furthermore, our definitions of masculinity and femininity are trapped in and obsessed with white traditional standards. Take the black woman’s desire for appreciation: This desire, in certain ways, is an envy for the “Cult of True Womanhood” – the traditional view of gender relationships that placed white women on a pedestal to be admired (admiration often confused for being the ultimate APPRECIATION). Of course, history tells us that this concept has its pitfalls. The Cult of True Womanhood was truly more oppressive than uplifting. However, some black women become fixated on what white women have…the IMAGE of success. She wants what the white woman has….yet everything she sees screams that she was NEVER meant to have it.

Now look at the black man’s desire to feel needed: This desire is, in many ways, an envy (a lust) for the white, alpha male concept of masculinity. It is the traditional role…man is king of his castle…father knows best, etc. No one makes a decision without his approval, not because he won’t allow them to do so, but because his input is NEEDED – valued at such a high premium so as to make things almost impossible to accomplish without his influence. He is their leader and they support him as such. Some black men become fixated with the IMAGE of support. He wants what the white man has….yet everything he sees screams that he was NEVER meant to have it.

Not surprisingly, after centuries of obsession with and submission to white standards, black men and women both flirt heavily with the notion that they can only find happiness with white mates – that there is an endemic character flaw within us as black folk that prevents us from ever realizing happiness through new standards that we create for ourselves.

Black men and women, both with similar stigmas – an almost mirrored history of negative stereotypes related to sexuality, education and HUMANITY – wanting that special validation that we’ve been trained to deny each other since we first stepped on these shores as slaves.

Just some food for thought.
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