Solidarity

This is also nicely done:

For the men and women of Reverend Wright’s generation, the memories of humiliation and doubt and fear have not gone away; nor has the anger and the bitterness of those years. That anger may not get expressed in public, in front of white co-workers or white friends. But it does find voice in the barbershop or around the kitchen table. At times, that anger is exploited by politicians, to gin up votes along racial lines, or to make up for a politician’s own failings ... And occasionally it finds voice in the church on Sunday morning, in the pulpit and in the pews.

... In fact, a similar anger exists within segments of the white community. Most working- and middle-class white Americans don’t feel that they have been particularly privileged by their race. Their experience is the immigrant experience – as far as they’re concerned, no one’s handed them anything, they’ve built it from scratch. They’ve worked hard all their lives, many times only to see their jobs shipped overseas or their pension dumped after a lifetime of labor. They are anxious about their futures, and feel their dreams slipping away; in an era of stagnant wages and global competition, opportunity comes to be seen as a zero sum game, in which your dreams come at my expense. So when they are told to bus their children to a school across town; when they hear that an African American is getting an advantage in landing a good job or a spot in a good college because of an injustice that they themselves never committed; when they’re told that their fears about crime in urban neighborhoods are somehow prejudiced, resentment builds over time.

... Just as black anger often proved counterproductive, so have these white resentments distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle class squeeze – a corporate culture rife with inside dealing, questionable accounting practices, and short-term greed; a Washington dominated by lobbyists and special interests; economic policies that favor the few over the many. And yet, to wish away the resentments of white Americans, to label them as misguided or even racist, without recognizing they are grounded in legitimate concerns – this too widens the racial divide, and blocks the path to understanding.

He's a smart guy, that Barack Obama. (And you can see why Paul Krugman doesn't much care for him.)

Comments

Wow. That's good stuff.

Krugman seems to have chosen sides due to his (reasonable, correct) disagreement with Obama's tactics and rhetoric on health insurance policy. He's gone overboard, obviously.

Posted by Elvis Elvisberg | March 18, 2008 11:30 AM

Where do you get that Krugman dislikes Obama a lot? Maybe he just wants him to be more progressive? Do you really think Krugman likes a lot about Hillary? I'd doubt it.

Posted by Joe Klein's conscience | March 18, 2008 11:36 AM

This guy is a con artist. Check this:

but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe.

Followed in a few paragraphs by this:

when they’re told that their fears about crime in urban neighborhoods are somehow prejudiced, resentment builds over time.

Guess what? Obama just said that his grandmother's fears about crime in urban neighborhoods are "somewhat prejudiced" just a few paragraphs back.

Slick Willy ain't got nothin' on Slick Barry.

Posted by blah | March 18, 2008 12:48 PM

Ah, backhanded, tepid compliments without any analysis of one of the most complex speeches any politician has given in the last 30 years. The conservative movement is alive and well.

Posted by How Insane Is John McCain? | March 18, 2008 12:52 PM

More bullshit from Barack:

This time we want to talk about the fact that the real problem is not that someone who doesn’t look like you might take your job; it’s that the corporation you work for will ship it overseas for nothing more than a profit.

So, let's not hate the brown skinned guy next door...let's *both* hate the brown skinned guys overseas! Yeah! Those damn foreigners taking our jobs.

This guy is a master of the smooth redirect. Like this:

For we have a choice in this country. We can accept a politics that breeds division, and conflict, and cynicism. We can tackle race only as spectacle – as we did in the OJ trial – or in the wake of tragedy, as we did in the aftermath of Katrina - or as fodder for the nightly news. We can play Reverend Wright’s sermons on every channel, every day and talk about them from now until the election, and make the only question in this campaign whether or not the American people think that I somehow believe or sympathize with his most offensive words. We can pounce on some gaffe by a Hillary supporter as evidence that she’s playing the race card, or we can speculate on whether white men will all flock to John McCain in the general election regardless of his policies.

We can do that.

But if we do, I can tell you that in the next election, we’ll be talking about some other distraction. And then another one. And then another one. And nothing will change.

That is one option. Or, at this moment, in this election, we can come together and say, “Not this time.” This time we want to talk about the crumbling schools that are stealing the future of black children and white children and Asian children and Hispanic children and Native American children. This time we want to reject the cynicism that tells us that these kids can’t learn; that those kids who don’t look like us are somebody else’s problem. The children of America are not those kids, they are our kids, and we will not let them fall behind in a 21st century economy. Not this time.

So, if we bring up the fact that Obama's pastor for 20 years believes that America deserved 9/11...we must be against the children!

(PS: note also that Obama = Bush when it comes to "no child left behind")

It is amazing that anyone falls for this claptrap. I await the day when the next shoe drops re: Rezko and Obama's past as a drug dealer. The bloom is (finally) off the rose, time for the truth to come out.

Posted by blah | March 18, 2008 12:58 PM

And Ashley said that when she was nine years old, her mother got cancer. And because she had to miss days of work, she was let go and lost her health care. They had to file for bankruptcy, and that’s when Ashley decided that she had to do something to help her mom....Now Ashley might have made a different choice. Perhaps somebody told her along the way that the source of her mother’s problems were blacks who were on welfare and too lazy to work, or Hispanics who were coming into the country illegally. But she didn’t. She sought out allies in her fight against injustice.

Of course. Forget about the fact that illegal aliens are bankrupting hospitals across California! That has *absolutely nothing* to do with the price of health care.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/14/health/14HOSP.html

"The American Hospital Association estimated that in 2000, the 24 southernmost counties from Texas to California accrued $832 million in unpaid medical care, a quarter of which was directly attributable to illegal immigrants," the Times reports. "Now, the financial pressures are spreading north into larger cities, pushing the overall unpaid bills well into the billions of dollars and straining a health care system already stretched thin by rising numbers of uninsured citizens, inadequate Medicaid payments, ballooning federal and state deficits and federal laws that allow United States border agents to wave through anyone who claims to need emergency care."

Posted by blah | March 18, 2008 1:06 PM

I grew up in one of those neighborhoods populated by angry white people and, let me tell you, the anger's not simply directed toward faceless suits in corporate suites. That's a liberal fantasy.

There's some anger of that sort, but there's also plenty directed at the white liberal elite, the Bill Bradleys and Ted Kennedys and their ilk, who have for years pandered to black anger and grievances at the expense of "white ethnics." Through affirmative action, set asides, and all other sorts of racial shakedowns or give aways, we've lost neighborhoods, lost jobs, lost out on schools and other opportunities, suffered crime, and on and on -- all while being excoriated for and caricatured as racist or privileged whites.

And many people in those neighborhoods have plenty of experience with repulsive views expressed by their own. They know how ugly that sort of thing is, how unpleasant and morally compromising it is to compromise with it, and how admirable it is to take a stand against it(and sometimes suffer consequences for it.) That is, if you pretend to be a leader rather just another member of the pack.

You can disagree with this view of things, say it's wrong, and all that -- and I'll be the first to agree with you. But it is a fact. If Obama's trying to make peace with these whites, rather than the media and that cohort, this is not going to wash.

Posted by beverelyboy | March 18, 2008 1:15 PM

So Obama wants to replace race war with class war?

I don't believe there is a "middle class squeeze." Living standards are still rising overall, and there are still lots of opportunities. There will always be people who "struggle to get by" for various reasons, but that isn't a problem that is getting any worse over time. The more serious problems are the breakdown of society in some inner cities, the two million people behind bars, and so on. I don't agree with Wright on much, but at least he identifies the problems correctly.

My fondness for Obama just went down a notch.

Posted by ed | March 18, 2008 1:47 PM

like all obama's stuff, it is very eloquent, at times beautifully emotive, but where it verges on policy it dives into nonsense:

"Just as black anger often proved counterproductive, so have these white resentments distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle class squeeze – a corporate culture rife with inside dealing, questionable accounting practices, and short-term greed; a Washington dominated by lobbyists and special interests; economic policies that favor the few over the many."

well, actually, the unfolding chaos is caused by a housing market bubble.

any fool who has been paying attention to the news over the past year knows this. obama knows this. we all know this. trying to scapegoat it on corporations, accountants, lobbyists and "the few" is demagogy that is as deliberate as it is mendacious, and as dangerous as it is unserious.

Posted by Chris | March 18, 2008 1:56 PM

blah - I hesitate to respond to your comments, but here goes. There is a big distinction between worrying about overall levels of crime and the policies designed to address it, on the one hand, and assuming that people are criminals because of their race, on the other. There is a big difference between recognizing that illegal immigration has an effect on our health care system (though I think that's exaggerated) and coming to resent or hate a racial group because of it. Obama is not a hypocrite merely because he recognizes these distinctions.

In a similar vein, this comment from Beverleyboy illustrates the fine line that Obama has to walk:

"Through affirmative action, set asides, and all other sorts of racial shakedowns or give aways, we've lost neighborhoods, lost jobs, lost out on schools and other opportunities, suffered crime, and on and on -- all while being excoriated for and caricatured as racist or privileged whites."

Blaming social problems on particular racial groups is clearly racist and can be labelled as such. Expressing concern about social problems that have racial elements is legitimate and should not be labelled racist.

But then we have a difficult middle ground, in which people implausibly blame policies like affirmative action for the decline of entire neighborhoods. It's hard not to see "affirmative action" in this context as a proxy for "blacks," particularly when the argument is accompanied by invocations of racial solidarity. Then again, a lot of people probably legitimately believe that they didn't get the job because of affirmative action, or that health care would be cheap and readily available if it weren't for illegal immigration. That this idea is wrong, and that it is peddled by racists, does not mean that everyone who believes it is a racist.

Anyway, in short, I think Obama's solution is a good one: people should be introspective and should look beyond race as the explanation for their problems. If people are willing to take this approach, then the question of whether it is racist to blame affirmative action for everything becomes irrelevant.

Posted by minderbender | March 18, 2008 2:27 PM

"Guess what? Obama just said that his grandmother's fears about crime in urban neighborhoods are "somewhat prejudiced" just a few paragraphs back.

Slick Willy ain't got nothin' on Slick Barry"

Blah,

Slick Willy got nothin about a blatant liar like you. Obama said that his grandmother was afraid of black men who passed her by in the street, not about being afraid to live in a high crime neighborhood, or being anxious around groups of black teens who appeared to be gangbangers. No, she was afraid of black men, period, even if they were dressed like a banker or a politician.

There's a difference between a rational fear of inner-city crime and automatically fearing any black man who passes you by on the street. Your failure to see this important difference is further proof that you suffer from a simplistic, bordering on autistic, mindset.

Posted by eltoro | March 18, 2008 2:27 PM

a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe

Well, we only have Obama's word for it that his grandmother actually said these things, which in any case I'm sure pale by comparison to Wrights crazy ravings.

In any case, Obama himself expressed fear of black men passing him on the street, and has uttered "racial or ethnic stereotypes". Mind you, I'm sure he regards himself as having a special dispensation.

Posted by James | March 18, 2008 2:59 PM

"In any case, Obama himself expressed fear of black men passing him on the street, and has uttered "racial or ethnic stereotypes". Mind you, I'm sure he regards himself as having a special dispensation."

No, he doesn't. Obama is well aware of his own mistakes and flaws and shortcomings. Unlike many others (such as our current President), he admits that he makes mistakes and tries to correct them.Moreover, unlike you, Obama actually tries to see things from the perspectives of others, as you saw in this speech.

He was bothered by this aspect, but he didn't forget how much his grandmother loved him. He was not casting judgment on her, and holding himself up as an example of superior morality. He simply saw for what she really was; a good loving woman with shortcomings and blind spots in how she viewed certain things, just as most grandmothers are.

Did it not occur to you why his grandmother's unthinking fear of black men passing her by in the street would bother him, especially as young biracial man coming to grips with his identity? Obama knew that he would viewed by strangers as a Black man; if his grandmother didn't know him as her own grandson, she would have been afraid of him too, regardless of whether or not Obama's own behavior toward her warranted that fear.

If I had a white grandmother who told me she was afraid of Latino men who passed her in the street, I would have a similiar reaction to Obama's.

Posted by eltoro | March 18, 2008 3:22 PM

why his grandmother's unthinking fear of black men

Is that fear so unthinking? You know what Jesse Jackson said:

http://faculty.washington.edu/agg/IATmaterials/PDFs/AT.psychinquiry.2004.pdf

“There is nothing more painful tomeat this stage inmy
life than to walk down the street and hear footsteps and
start thinking about robbery. Then look around and see
somebody White and feel relieved.”

Or Chris Rock:

"Man why you got to say that? Why you got to say that? It isn't us, it's the media. The media has distorted our image to make us look bad. Why must you come down on us like that, brother? It's not us, it's the media."

Please cut the shit. When I go to the money machine at night, I'm not looking over my shoulder for the media.

I'm looking for [redacted].

Ted Koppel never took anything from me. [Redacted] have. Do you think I've got three guns in my house because the media's outside my door trying to bust in?

"Oh shit. It's Mike Wallace. Run!"

And I'm sure you've heard the factoid that 33% of black men end up in jail at some point in their life. Guess what? They're not in there for playing patty cake.

Check out the FBI Uniform Crime Reports some time:

http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2006/data/table_43.html

Blacks are 12% of the population, yet commit the majority of the murders and robberies in the US. So not only did Obama throw his grandmother under the bus for political ambition, he made her out to be an unthinking racist...rather than someone who had the same opinions as Jesse Jackson and Chris Rock.

Posted by blah | March 18, 2008 4:35 PM

"Blacks are 12% of the population, yet commit the majority of the murders and robberies in the US. So not only did Obama throw his grandmother under the bus for political ambition, he made her out to be an unthinking racist...rather than someone who had the same opinions as Jesse Jackson and Chris Rock."

Blah,

Your comprehension and logical analysis skills are clearly faulty.

1. Obama mentioned that his grandmother was afraid of black men, period. Not black men dressed like gang members, not black men acting in a menacing way, just black men passing her by in the street. In other words, Obama himself could have passed her by wearing a suit, and if she didn't recognize him as her grandson, she would have been afraid of him. That's a far cry from the opinions of Chris Rock or Jesse Jackson.

2. While Obama did portray her as being unthinking in regards to this particular fear, he did not portray her as a bigot. She was just simply a family member he loved deeply who had flaws and shortcomings on some issues.

3. Why do I say unthinking is a correct description? She was a woman with a Black grandson and whose daughter married a Black man from Africa. So she had first hand experience with knowing that not all black men are potential criminals, yet as a reflex she was afraid of black men who passed her by in the street. Black men, period, regardless of their dress or actual behavior towards her. Knowing one thing intellectually, but acting in the opposite way because of reflex or instinct is the very definition of unthinking behavior. This doesn't make her a bad person; she just had a blind spot when it came to this particular issue.

4. This blind spot was a common failing among women of her generation, and thus can be excused on that basis, particularly since it didn't get in the way of loving her black grandson.

What's your excuse, Blah, for your unthinking bigotry? The overwhelming majority of Black people do not commmit crimes, yet you are saying it is perfectly okay to view all blacks as potential criminals, but would never regard whites in this regard, despite the fact that in that FBI report you link to, the footnotes mention that 60% of violent crimes are committed by whites. Why should whites be given the benefit of the doubt, while blacks are not, especially when most victims of violent crimes by blacks are other black people, while most victimes of violent crimes by whites are other white people?

Posted by eltoro | March 18, 2008 5:33 PM

There is a big difference between recognizing that illegal immigration has an effect on our health care system (though I think that's exaggerated) and coming to resent or hate a racial group because of it.

Why do you moonbats always accuse everyone of "hate" for having opinions different then your own? Bizarre.

News flash for you - illegal imigrants do not constitute a "racial group". They do constitute a group of criminals though.

Posted by James | March 18, 2008 7:01 PM

Obama mentioned that his grandmother was afraid of black men, period. Not black men dressed like gang members, not black men acting in a menacing way, just black men passing her by in the street.

1) We only have Obama's word for this.

2) Obama himself admitted he had the same fear of black men. As did Jesse Jackson.

3)You seem rather ill suited to cast aspersions on other peoples "comprehension and logical analysis skills".

That's a far cry from the opinions of Chris Rock or Jesse Jackson.

No, it is identical to them.

What's your excuse, Blah, for your unthinking bigotry?

What's yours, eltoro?

Posted by James | March 18, 2008 7:09 PM

James,

Obama did not say that he feared black men, period, who walked by him on the street, nor did Jesse Jackson. If fact, Jesse Jackson sprecifically mentioned that he worried if a GROUP of young black men approached in a way remininscent of GANG MEMBERS, and Obama's fear was along those lines. That's a far cry from automatically suspecting all Black men you encounter as a matter of reflex.

So, yes, your comprehension and logical analysis skills are definitely subpar. I am well-suited for this because I interpret Obama's words according to their actual, not the simplistic to the point of being autistic misinterpretation you insist on pigenholing Obama's words under.

Posted by eltoro | March 18, 2008 8:24 PM

James,

The fact that you still cannot differentiate between being worried about a group of black youths under certain contexts, and automatically and reflexing suspecting any and all black men you encounter as potential criminals proves that you are guilty of unthinking bigotry.

If Obama saw a black man who looked like Jesse Jackson or Chris Rock or even himself, he would not automatically suspect that black men of being a potential criminal. Neither would Jackson or Rock. If they saw a group of unruly black youths dressed a certain way who gave off a predatory vibe, they would be afraid.

You and Obama's grandfather on the other hand would assume that a Black man like Obama was a potential criminal, no matter how he comported himself. However, Obama's grandmother has a legitimate excuse, since such fallacious thinking was drilled into the heads of women of her generation. To her credit, she did not such allow prejudiced thought patterns prevent her from being a wonderful grandmother to Obama. She aimed to be better, but didn't always succeed.

You on the other hand, do not have a legitimate excuse; you deliberately distort facts in order to validate your deep-seated need to view black men as being criminals by default. That's what makes you an unthinking bigot who tries to smear Obama, Jackson, and Rock as being like yourself. Obama's grandmother worked to move beyond any prejudices she had; you on the other hand revel in your bigotry.

Posted by eltoro | March 18, 2008 8:40 PM

We don't actually know what Obama meant about his grandmother -- the remark about black men wasn't modified, so it doesn't say whether it applies to black men who look like doctors or ministers or Army majors, or whether it extends to elderly men and medium-sized black children. I took it as referring to adult (but probably not elderly) black men who can't be identified in any particular way -- you see them on the street in jeans, which most people wear rather often, and have no idea who they are or what they are doing.

There are plenty of people, not all white women of older generations, who assume the worst about an unidentified black man until they have more information. It doesn't have to be a lot of other information... I've seen a smile and a pleasant "hello" work wonders in tense situations. Is this racist? Well, yes. Is it understandable, especially if the person in question is on unfamiliar territory? Also yes.

One result is that a lot of black men (including plenty who are not doctors and ministers and so forth) are extremely careful about manners, and courtesy to women* in particular. This strikes me as a good thing, and it would be great if the rest of us would spend as much time thinking about how to put the people around us at ease.

As for the rest of the speech, most of it strikes me as good but rather obvious. Is Obama the first one to understand the tensions of the white working class? Clearly not. Most people have been onto this for decades. The fact that so many people take this speech as a revelation just shows how far the public debate on race has lagged behind the ideas that people actually have. Obama may help the political and media class catch up with what the rest of us have been thinking for a while, but he's hardly leading the parade.

* Note that women really do face certain risks from unfamiliar men, and so women of any race are likely to get jumpy around strange men who appear menacing. The fact that some women take this to ridiculous extremes doesn't negate the underlying concern.

Posted by M.C. | March 19, 2008 7:25 AM