At least according to this article. Now something like this is usually leaked to the press by someone. Here I’m thinking that someone from Mayor Kilpatrick’s cabinet leaked this story to the journalist. It gets at some of the difficulties that my (helpful) critics have brought up in the wake of my last two posts on Obama. Is it possible that Obama’s race actually precludes him from making the type of aggressive moves against poverty and inequality–at least in public–that Edwards (and from what this article says, Clinton too) can make?
The concept of “deracialization” was developed by black political scientists to account for the modern wave of black elected officials. Unlike their predecessors who often ran explicitly on racial claims, they were much more likely to shy away from racial issues, and likely to shy away from policies designed explicitly to deal with racial and class based inequality. Mayor Dennis Archer of Detroit, Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly of DC, Governor L. Douglas Wilder, Representative Harold Ford, Harvey Gantt (who ran for Senate against Jesse Helms), all fit this model.
I’ve been wondering whether Obama is the newest version. He’s different than his predecessors in his background–he’s spent a significant amount of time organizing in Chicago. And he doesn’t shy away from his race at all–even though he probably could if he wanted to. He’s also different in that in at least some rhetorical contexts he does seem interested in dealing with structural issues. So those two things by themselves are enough to get his support from me in any other electoral context. And again, after the primary I would much rather work to get him elected than Clinton.
But while I think that the conversation he had with Detroit’s mayor was likely held in jest, I think Mayor Kilpatrick is right to withhold his support for Obama until he’s very clear where Obama stands. We might not have a better electoral context to deal with these issues aggressively. And if even DLC spawned Clinton is addressing these issues (where the hell the writer got this idea from isn’t clear…I’ve tripped on Obama, but can you find any issues of substance here?) then Kilpatrick’s choice shouldn’t be all that hard should it?
Dr Spence, where do Corey Booker and Adrian Fenty fit in this model? And what about Ray Nagin? I recall that when he first ran as mayor he was quite a darling of the establishment but later, during his reelection campaign, he made overt appeals to racial solidarity. I think we all can agree that competence and high ethical standards are absolute requirements of our politicians. But ever since the television became prominent in how citizens view candidates we have been making choices based on ‘likability’. Therefore someone like G.W. Bush who has every patrician signifier possible is viewed as a ‘man of the people’ because he has a drawl or drops his g’s. I’m sure I could kick it with Kirkpatrick or have a brew with W. But should I let them in office because certain personal charms they possess or that I could imagine hanging out with them in a club or we may belong to the same frat? (I’m not saying that you feel that way.)
Very nice blog, and quite a thought-provoking post.
I’ll tell ya’, if a black person wants to win an election where he/she must rely on mainstream votes, there just can’t be much talk about helping African Americans.
Obama’s “magic” is that he’s “articulate.” He’s “not like your average black.” Meaning he’s “better” than most other African Americans. Why, Obama’s almost not black at all, some think. Definitely not “too” black.
About Obama distancing himself from so many race-related promises… I’m in Chicago and have attended Obama’s church quite a bit. The pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, is about the downest, most politically insightful, most intellectual cats (originally from Philly) that you will ever meet.
From the pulpit in his megachurch called Trinity United, Rev. Wright’s every Sunday probably spends more time preaching about Sunnis, the Taliban, and backroom neo-con strategies than he does the good Lord. And this is Obama’s mentor (although they’ve had a falling out lately).
So I trust that Obama will do the right thing(s). But I doubt we’ll see him taking an early lead about initiatives benefiting minorities or the poor. He’d be smart, I believe, to let some other candidates trot out first with black initiatives, and then pull up the rear with something bigger and better. But only when the time is right. Not first, and no time soon.
Best, and thanks for letting me express. 😉
“kweenkong”
http://southsidestar.blogspot.com
kweenkong i think that you (along with dlt and em) have a point. and i hope that’s his real groove. i just can’t hold my breath. thanks for reading!! 🙂
SM:
hell no. and i’d place adrian fenty and cory booker within the new generation…what i’m calling deracialization 2.0.
I don’t think we are critics, more readers in search of information and thoughtful discussion.