One of the best things about having nearly 100,000 people come through our website each week is that I get such enlightening information from the community. That is part of the reason I invited readers to comment on Senator Obama as I prepare my thoughts for the upcoming BET special.
One email I received this week was from a man named Justin White, political science expert in Cleveland. I felt that his email was so insightful that I wanted everyone to learn from it:
Email from Justin White, a YBW Family Member from Cleveland, OH
A little personal background...This political process supports an hypothesis that I have submitted to students in classes for nearly 20 years while doing adjunct faculty work. Among other social science coursework, I teach social welfare policy and urban politics. Naturally, the current political culture, with respect to recent history, results in spirited discussion and interesting papers. I also speak as a brother; a baby boomer and; a resident of an almost exclusively black and not too prosperous suburb of Cleveland, Ohio.
The above mentioned hypothesis...It has been apparent to me for some time that African-Americans, for good reasons (and some not so good) do not understand the fundamental differences between electoral politics and protest politics. But, this election due to its duration and complexity, is becoming a graduate course for the community. Friends and colleagues are redefining themselves with respect to the manner in which they and other black folk should demonstrate civic participation. We are volunteering thoughts and feelings to each other unlike anything I have seen since the "rap sessions" of the early seventies.
Rather than applying the "conventional wisdom" that so frequently results in myths and derogatory conclusions, I believe we need dialogue and research that addresses the relationships between black civic/political participation and the existence (absence) of the types of institutions that engineer and support political participation. All the while remembering that African Americans are a minority people and the blueprint for these institutions generally reflects the dominant culture.
Today's political process, at least as we view the percentages of black voters who support Obama, indicates the utility of electoral politics as a factor in creating cultural bonds that offset social and economic divisions. (sounds like another hypothesis in the making)
I hope that of African American academics like yourself and Michael Dyson can assist us as we negotiate the political, cultural and social learning curves related to blacks taking on leadership responsibilities in electoral politics. This is not to place an unbearable onus on you. That would be unfair. The often amorphous, but real, "black community" must become engaged in every respect, by all forms of media to overcome the habit of ignoring its scholars. Your website is so important in that regard.
Barack Obama is living the "Jackie Robinson Syndrome" as he negotiates the dominant cultures' institutions in the absence of black institutions designed to support and strengthen him. Stokely Carmichael and Charles Hamilton forewarned us 40 plus years ago in the classic book Black Power about the need to develop political institutions that are reflective of the culture. Again, I believe there is a a basic assumption to be considered...politics, whether they be electoral, protest or those politics associated with specified public policy, can and will define culture.
Additionally, Black Power's thesis was, in some regards, old wine in new wineskins if the messages of DuBois, Garvey and some others are carefully examined.
So now that we have all been caught unprepared by the politics of today, the leadership of academicians who still have a semblance of a resonating voice, is "so welcomed". We must support you and dialogue with you just as we make every effort to do the same for and with Barack Obama. I hope Obama's organization functions so that he can be reasonably receptive. I worry because I do not see the strong black institutions required to support this idea.
Personally, I cringed twice-over at Obama's politicizing of black fatherhood just as you expressed on your website. I heartily agree with your sentiments about that. I also believe that Obama, as a politician needs the fuel for more cogent commentary and that must come from all of us...ie black educators, researchers, teachers, social workers etc.
In addition, that unfortunate commentary was an example of the need for social science to provide us all with knowledge that countervails the current diatribe that currently prevails about black folks.
Again, I highlight the merits of your website as well as Michael Dyson's book that answered Bill Cosby . I just wish I could receive your beautifully thought out sentiments directly. I will sign on again.
Very Sincerely,
Justin White
2 comments:
i am so glad he mentioned Ture and Hamilton's book which I think should be primer for anyone getting involved in politics across the board.
Brother White, it was a pleasure reading your comments. Barrack is operating with what you and scholars like yourself has left him to operate with. The black community is suffering from brain drain. So called Black scholars have emerged from the hood, some what of a hood, or no hood at all. Educated themselves, and now want to be considered for what they think , everytime a Black woman or man emerges in the political process. If you want Barrack to hear you, step outside of the walls of the comfortable Universitites and Colleges that your at and impact our communities with your efforts not your thoughts. It a damn shame that when this young brother emerged and began to kick Hillary Clinton's butt, there was no one stong set of Black Professionals or group that supported him. In fact until he won in Iowa most Black folks couldn't even pronounce his name. You would think for us to have the first candidate "Black" to really be a consideration for the Presidency that he would have gotten more support. But our elected Black officials had a vested intrest in protedting their own stuff, and our Black Scolars do what they do best think and pounce. In spite of it all he emered and is the consideration for Presidency. Stop trying to paint him with a Black agenda that you think is representive of what we feel. As a Black Folks we are very diversifited and have many needs. He may not represent what you like, but he damn sure represents what we like. Stop blocking the brother in and give him credit for doing what no other black man has done!!! If you have something to teach and or show him, this direct it to him and stop crying on this internet!!!! You make me ashamed to be a Black Women.
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