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August 19, 2009
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Barak and Blackness: Who Cares?
News media are in a frenzied debate about Candidate Barak Obama's blackness. There are two basic positions.
First, some blame the media for making him less authentically Black. They focus on how Obama is different from the so-called typical Black person. The press about his Harvard accomplishments, education in foreign countries, and mixed racial background all make him an all-American superstar in the vein of Tiger Woods. Some say that anyone who Whites love unconditionally will lose some points in Black communities.
Second, some take a more Pan-Africanist stance - saying that all descendants from Africa have experienced racism in the world and should be united. In that view, Barak is certainly Black (Marjorie) and deserves to be welcomed as a member of the community. There is even an online petition expressing such a community welcome, which I considered signing myself, but in the end decided against because it just does not matter.
This Black identity debate is basically a discussion of the ivory tower intellectuals (like yours truly). The only reason we have to suffer through such meaningless debate is that the campaign season has started too early. We have a full two years with nothing to say, meanwhile we crave some election news-drama 24 hours a day.
At the end of the day, I just do not think that this debate about Obama's black-authenticity matters to voters - even Blacks. Black voters do not just vote for the blackest candidate.