One of my colleagues (Adolph Reed) called Obama’s speech The Philadelphia Compromise, tying it to Booker T. Washington’s Atlanta Compromise. One of my friends argued that he gave a “placating speech.”
I’d like to see Reed’s reasoning in full.
But I could make the claim that just like Washington, Obama purposely ignored the contemporary structural problems that have us in the situation we’re in now. And in talking about “race” rather than “racism” and “understanding” as opposed to “politics” he moves us towards “unity” rather than structural change.
When I heard Obama’s speech yesterday I felt it was the best campaign speech I’ve heard delivered. I still think it represents a powerful template upon which other candidates can build upon. But when I read this interview it gave me pause.
What I don’t like about Obama and Harold Ford and other black candidates who seek high office and have to rely on white voters to do so, is the way they every now and then throw black people under the bus. I remember when Harold Ford made it a point to criticize the move towards Ebonics in Oakland without prompting AND without seeking to understand the nuts and bolts of the issue.
When Obama mentions his distaste for the “black community’s” behavior in the OJ verdict, unprompted, it upset me. You’d be hard pressed to find a case that concludes in a guilty verdict where the police are caught redhanded lying on the stand. Obama, unprompted, was either saying he disagreed with the verdict black jurors rendered or with the elation some black people evinced when they heard the verdict.
In either case this places him on the wrong side of the law. The wrong side of history. The wrong side of white supremacy.He’s got a tough road ahead, granted. And I appreciated the way he made the interviewer realize how looking for white analogues to Wright’s speech are simply impossible. But my high is now gone. And while I’m not quite back to square one, I’m closer than I was at 1pm yesterday.
so if i understand you correctly, obama no longer represents your idea of an an ideal candidate. so the search will continue. in the meantime, isn’t it safe to say, all things considered, that obama’s still got the best approach for a new, more powerful/effective kind of politics?
Is he, on balance, really that similar to the alternatives?
nope. and that speech was a monster. taken in combination with the interview though i read it (and him) stepping off the tight rope, if that makes sense.
So I was acting out with a vengeance y’day at Cobb’s. You know how I think “friction” sharpens the mind and makes it work better. Here’s my two cents this morning.
Words can hurt and words can heal. Solomon , a very wise man said that “…death and life are in the power of the tougue and those that love will eat the truth thereof…” . Another wise man James said “…Even so the tongue is a little member , and boasteth great things.Behold,how great a matter a little fire kindleth!”.
May we learn to be slow to speak, quick to hear and as far as possible , as Paul said follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see GOD. Remmber the words of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, “…Blessed are the peacemakers. …” .Errol Smythe.
Election 2008 and Olympic 2008.Rules and broken rules.Who gets the Gold medal and who gets the Presidency?
One speaks of the political arena and the other speaks of the sports arena.
Clouds of Tibetan unrest hang over Olympic 2008, will it affect performance of Olympic athletes? Time will tell. History will reveal the hidden truths of broken dreams.
Election 2008 is on track . But the mudslinging of petty politics must stop. Bread and butter issues are more important. Long America and God Bless America.
America will choose a leader of honesty, integrity, sincerity,firm but not weak, morally upright with political savvy that stands for truth and is not afraid to apologise for past mistakes and is prepared to listen to good sound advice of concerned Americans and has the best interest of all Americans at heart. Long live America and God Bless America. Errol Smythe.
No. The way it looks now, the voters will choose the President that the ignorant among us deserve. And that president won’t have the traits you describe.
A joint Clinton-Obama or Obama -Clinton ticket is not a good idea. Let the people vote Florida and Michigan vote. They can split the voting expenses in Florida and Michigan. Errol Smythe.
florida and michigan don’t have a shot. they violated the rules and it is too late to go back on them.
And God forbid a political party or politician ever change its mind.
The Obama Speech–Coming Back to Earth – the question at hand is can the brother be given an opportunity to prove himself true or do we dismiss the situtation that confines the brother ability to show his inner heart. A warrior, when in Rome is mindful of the Romans and careful in his speech. That saying, “slow to speak”, does not mean one must not speak, but wisdom must be guide what is spoken. All brothers who worked in the master’s house were not toms. If Barrak get in and accomplish one thing for our people, then our support would not be in vain. Remember, somewhere wisdom says, “all things worked together for the good, for them that love, and are called according to the purpose of love.” Love that Brother and allow all things to work together.
Bond
The Obama Speech–Coming Back to Earth http://t.co/dVU4IG0l