Recently, NPR’s Talk of the Nation hosted a great conversation about race and politics, specifically blacks and the presidency. The set up: “For the first time in history two black candidates, President Barack Obama and Herman Cain, may run against each other for the presidency. As it did three years ago, discussions of race and racism continue to play out around both campaigns.”
Host Neal Conan opened the conversation with the following statement followed by asking callers how does the rise of Herman Cain change the question of politics and race:
“Three years ago, Barack Obama changed the conversation about race and politics; now, Herman Cain changes it again. … Many liberals question Cain’s knowledge, intelligence and qualifications. Cornell West even said Cain should get off the symbolic crack pipe. Some conservatives say liberals are threatened by an uppity black who dares to leave the liberal plantation. Cain himself says his fellow African-Americans have been brainwashed by the Democratic Party.”
I didn’t call in. I’m a blogger, so here’s my thoughts about it.
In thinking about Neal Conan’s question, I believe its important to first revisit how Barack Obama changed the question of race and politics. I do so as a means of establishing a barometer to then follow-up with Cain’s rise in the conservative political world.
A pivotal moment began in October 2004 when then Senator Obama gave his electrifying speech as keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention. What I, and apparently a lot of other people, experienced in hearing his speech was real hope and don’t give up. More important, that speech planted a seed in me (and others) that took me beyond race and centered on the value that only we as humans can create. My immediate thought without thinking about Obama being black was here is the next president.
Obama, the person, instilled in hundreds of thousands, including some of the most unlikely people, a new sense of hope and possibility of what we, as a collective body, can become; can accomplish on a national and global level. He reminded us of what it meant to be American and quenched our thirst for a moment for a path to be free from the almost dictatorial reign and disastrous economic policies of the former administration.
Obama launched and ran his campaign built on the above. Some people questioned whether a black person could win the presidency in a country still struggling with racism. Obama reached into our hearts and relit the flame of our own empowerment through an unprecedented grassroots campaign and he won. Despite an entire political party determined to disparage him in every way to defeat him during his presidency, his record of achievement stands fast. His ability to do all of this enabled him to cause a change in race and politics on a global level that is historic.
What Obama’s presidency says to me is: who I am is first, namely, my character, integrity and diverse abilities and talent; my race need not apply. It causes one to embrace him for who he is, including, and not in spite of, his blackness. And that equals change to race and politics that permeates the universe.
Herman Cain’s rise (high poll numbers, money and support from conservatives) isn’t the kind of “rise” that changes much of anything. I don’t say that just because I’m a Democrat. I say that because Cain hasn’t shared a vision for America other than his implausible “999 plan,” an immigration policy consisting of an electrified fence that has a sign on it saying, “It will kill you,” and a highly unconventional campaign with few campaign staff and much whimsy. It seems to be more about gimmickry than a vision for lifting America out of our economic woes better than the current administration.
In addition, Cain consistently displays a lack of knowledge about domestic and foreign matters while offering the mistaken notion that being successful in a private business setting is enough experience to effectively govern a country.
Put all of this together and it does not measure up to someone who can bridge across political and ideological barriers that is necessary to cause a change in race and politics.
Nevertheless, Republicans are supporting Cain thus far, which begs the question what value is derived from it. None, because it’s not about value. The mission of Republicans is to defeat President Obama in 2012 by any means necessary. In this instance, Cain’s black skin is just another means to an end for Republicans; a strategic political, maneuver that is a cornerstone of institutionalized racism here and around the world. He’s accepted as something useful and not being embraced in any meaningful way by Republicans. To consider Cain being used by Republicans to oust a Democrat as an element of change in race and politics would be a gross insult to us all.
Besides, Cain’s rise and the possibility of Republicans confirming him as their presidential — or vice presidential — nominee may be short-lived considering his sexual harassment allegations debacle.
In sum, it’s not enough to be a black conservative to cause a change to the question of race and politics. Ironically, this requires so much more than the color of one’s skin.
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Now he says, God told him to run. So did Rick Perry and Michelle Bachman and Newt Gingrich. Wow! We don’t want their religion, we want jobs and a working economy.
Well thought out post. I also voted for President Obama and not just because we’re both African American. It makes me upset when people automatically assume that because I’m black, I’m going to vote for the black guy. I will voe for him because he’s the only one trying to do something about our bad economy. I’ve been out of work for over a year.
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