Black voters should vote Obama b/c he is black

hackteck · #21 (**permalink**) 10-09-2008, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Hussein Crooks

Exactly. The problem is that after the Cosby Show, Black people largely figured that Whites knew what offended us and why. As a result, the things that offended us were deemed deliberate and Whites stopped asking questions. 44 years after the Civil Rights Act, where are we? Mitt Romney singing "Who let the dogs out" during a photo op with Black high school students as a way to ingratiate himself. We need to be candid and ask questions when we have them, and accept the answers given. Newsflash, White America: Race relations aren't fair. No, it's not fair that some Blacks use the N-word around themselves and White people can't. And it's not fair that Black college students can take advantage of Affirmative Action. But for 20+ generations, life has been unfair for Blacks both in America and in Africa. The sooner White America can understand this, the sooner things will turn around.

excellent post and i totally agree with you on that issue

naturemomma · #22 (**permalink**) 10-09-2008, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Hussein Crooks

Yeah, we tried that with the N-word and the White racists just laughed at us as suburban White kids thought it was cool for everyone to use it. Best we just stigmatize it for being not only anti-Black, but anti-American. Let's not forget, more Americans died fighting in the Civil War than any other war, and that war was started under that flag.

I think you do a diservice to your ancestors when you say it was something they went through... I don't see it that way. They faught for your freedom. My ancestors were forced out, and lost. Yours rose to the occasion and faught against the powers that be. That's amazing. And many white and indians faught along side them...

You seem very positive, and really smart, and even fair in your assessments, but I would suggest rethinking that one...

And the difference between the N word and the flag is that the N word has never held any other meaning, other thn negative... It's a hateful word that doesn't actually acrticulate anything. The flag has an action, a defeat, and it represents the will of a people to rise up and fight...

I think attitudes can be changed, but it starts with our kids, and how we decide to teach them. Perpetuating the negative conentations of the flag, will only lead to racists having power in the future as well. I prefer to take that power away.

We have always taught our kids that the flag is bad and represents evil whitey. BUt what I am suggesting is to take it back. That flag represents the power of a people who said, "NO MORE", it represents your feedom, and mine, and all those before us. Children should know that flag has power, not because of the racists, but because of the African American who faught for freedom. It's a powerful image, and one that should be promoted as positive, not negative.

Joe_DFW · #23 (**permalink**) 10-09-2008, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Hussein Crooks

I'm extremely proud, but that doesn't mean I would just blindly support any Black candidate. My original candidate was Bill Richardson. If Obama came out in a tall tee, baggy jeans, gold teeth and Air Force Ones, I wouldn't support his candidacy just because we have the same skin color. Be proud, but for the right reason. I'm not proud for Obama for being Black, I'm proud of America for looking past that.

That would be funny. Yeah, if Obama came out looking like a damn pimp, of course, nobody would vote for him. It wouldn't even matter that he was educated at Harvard. It just goes to show how much appearance and stereo-types can affect a candidate's chances.

I disagree, though, that america has looked past Obama's race. I've asked myself a few times, as I'm sure many other white voters have, if I would vote for a black candidate for president even if he/she was qualified. Believe me, it wasn't easy at first. After some time and hearing what Obama had to offer, I don't think I'll have a problem at all. I think he can do it.

However, the real question we're facing is how people will react when they are inside that voting booth on Nov. 4. Will they stand by their party, or get cold feet over having a black president? I hope it's the former.

hackteck · #24 (**permalink**) 10-09-2008, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe_DFW

However, the real question we're facing is how people will react when they are inside that voting booth on Nov. 4. Will they stand by their party, or get cold feet over having a black president? I hope it's the former.

thats the fear the republicans are trying to establish, if you notice palin and mccain have totally abandoned their policy plans and issues

areyoushittin'me? · #25 (**permalink**) 10-09-2008, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe_DFW

We shouldn't turn a blind eye to race during this election. I think it has and still is playing a big role in this race. There are thousands of people who will not vote for Obama simply because he is black, as well as, thousands who will not vote for McCain simply because he is white. But, I don't think that they cancel out each other. I think we're going to have more people voting for Obama because he is black, than we'll have voting for McCain because he is white. This is clearly an Obama advantage so I say why not embrace it.

And then there are those who will simply vote for McCain because he isn't black...latest poll spread I've seen is favoring McCain by about 6 points regarding those that are voting because of skin color.

Brian Hussein Crooks · #26 (**permalink**) 10-09-2008, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by areyoushittin'me?

And then there are those who will simply vote for McCain because he isn't black...latest poll spread I've seen is favoring McCain by about 6 points regarding those that are voting because of skin color.

That poll is a little confusing. The question isn't whether or not race is an issue for that particular voter, rather if they know someone for whom race is an issue. Given that construct, an entire family of 20 that has a racist grandfather would produce 20 people who know someone for whom race is an issue. I think we may see the reverse in NC and VA. We may have White voters who say they'd never vote for a Black man and then do so on election day. Obama has become the default vote and McCain has become the vote you need to explain away.

Brian Hussein Crooks · #27 (**permalink**) 10-09-2008, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturemomma

I think you do a diservice to your ancestors when you say it was something they went through... I don't see it that way. They faught for your freedom. My ancestors were forced out, and lost. Yours rose to the occasion and faught against the powers that be. That's amazing. And many white and indians faught along side them...

You seem very positive, and really smart, and even fair in your assessments, but I would suggest rethinking that one...

And the difference between the N word and the flag is that the N word has never held any other meaning, other thn negative... It's a hateful word that doesn't actually acrticulate anything. The flag has an action, a defeat, and it represents the will of a people to rise up and fight...

I think attitudes can be changed, but it starts with our kids, and how we decide to teach them. Perpetuating the negative conentations of the flag, will only lead to racists having power in the future as well. I prefer to take that power away.

We have always taught our kids that the flag is bad and represents evil whitey. BUt what I am suggesting is to take it back. That flag represents the power of a people who said, "NO MORE", it represents your feedom, and mine, and all those before us. Children should know that flag has power, not because of the racists, but because of the African American who faught for freedom. It's a powerful image, and one that should be promoted as positive, not negative.

I understand that, but the past isn't dead and buried, the past isn't even the past yet. I can go right now to Alabama and have that flag used to make me fearful. We can't take something back if they don't want to stop using it. Again, look at the N-word. Millions of Blacks use it, but that doesn't stop millions of Whites from doing the same.

areyoushittin'me? · #28 (**permalink**) 10-09-2008, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Hussein Crooks

That poll is a little confusing. The question isn't whether or not race is an issue for that particular voter, rather if they know someone for whom race is an issue. Given that construct, an entire family of 20 that has a racist grandfather would produce 20 people who know someone for whom race is an issue. I think we may see the reverse in NC and VA. We may have White voters who say they'd never vote for a Black man and then do so on election day. Obama has become the default vote and McCain has become the vote you need to explain away.

Indeed...that was a poll I had heard about in passing, not actually read myself...thank you for the clarification.