Race Matters--Especially In Politics

At the turn of the 20th century American scholar and intellectual, W.E.B. Du Bois stated, "that the problem of the 20th century would be the colorline." In 1994 Harvard University professor Cornel West wrote Race Matters. He reviewed the social political dynamics of race relationships in late 20th century thought. However, neither Du Bois or West envisioned a presidential season as the 2008 primary that featured the Mod Squad, a white man (McCain), white woman (Clinton), and an African-American (Obama). Interesting, this political mod squad has brought out the very best and worst in American racial attitude.

The elements of the 2008 primary is that it encouraged millions of Americans to engage in the democractic electorial process. It showed that whites in states like Iowa could look past race and color to vote for a candidate that best represented their interest. It also illustrated the progress of American woman in having one of their own mount a serious challenge for the White House. The sadness of the campaign is that it illustrated American zenophobia, religious bigotry, sexism and racism.

The first sign of American fear or zenophobia showed its ugly face when Obama went into New Hampshere after a primary win. Senator Hillary Clinton, back on her heels and desperately in need of a win used female sexism to forge a win. That is, how can anyone forget her theater-like tears in preaching her love for the United States? The act is one we all have seen when some women are in a corner and in search of sympathy or in Hillary's case--a sympathy vote.

The second line of thought was the promotion of American fear. This case was illustrated by my friend, Bill Cunningham, the radio host of the "Big Show" that is featured on 700 WLW Cincinnati. Cunningham, an entertainer with a keen eye for the political flair was featured as the warm up speaker for candidate John McCain. Cunningham, always controversial went too much over the top when he kept calling Senator Obama by his full name--Barrack Hussein Obama. The reference was to mideastern Islamic terrorist, and the candidates early education in an Muslim school. He also made reference to Obama as a student of the old Mayor Daley political machine that was known for its heavy handed manner in controlling the political and economic forces of Chicago by calling him a "hack." Bill "Full Force" Cunningham used these terms in an attempt to frighten voters away from Obama. The tactic was not much better than Griffen's early 20th century film, "Birth of a Nation;" a movie that featured Black politicians in the Reconstruction Period raping white women, eating watermelon in the Senate, and passing racial laws that gave Blacks complete control over white Americans. In conclusion, the KKK was organized to save the country. Credit to Senator McCain, who was not entertained by Cunningham, harshly repudiated the langauge and the message and offered an apology to Senator Obama.

The third line is the fact that Obama and McCain has been forced to take responsibility for religious leaders who have endorsed them. For example, Pastor John Hagee--who called the Catholic Church a "great whore," and a "false cult system," aligned himself with McCain that caused the candidate to denounce one of the most powerful ministers in the United States. Senator Obama was forced to separate himself from former pastor Jeremiah Wright who cited the U.S. government for the causes of the 9-11 attack and a host of other crimes against humanity. The issue is that evangelicals--like Hagee and theologians of Black Liberation Theology feel victimized. Thus, their words can be explosive and racial if taken out of context. But, the generic thought from critics, especially towards Obama, is that his religious ideas are connected to Wright's thoughts who will negatively influence the Black president. The same story was told of former president John Kennedy that he would be an agent for the Catholic Pope of Rome. All of this are fear tactics.

In light of all of this is the greatest culprit--racism. Of course, there were expected signs of people not wanting to vote for Obama because of his race. But, none of us could have predicted Senator Clinton using the race card by illustrating the issue that he can't be elected because he is a Black man. In some ways, Father Michael Pfleger of Chicago's St. Sabina Catholic Church was right--that Hillary thinks that she is entitled to be the democratic candidate because of her race. But another racial factor was the Latino vote.

Both McCain and Clinton understands that American Latinos do not generally vote for Black candidates. The Puerto Rican primary reflected the mainland Hispanics attitude who gave their vote to Clinton. It should also be noted, that the majority of American Latinos are culturally and socially conservatives regardless of party affiliation. Still yet, sadly--they are very anti-Black. One of the reasons for their racism is due to segregatory practices in their native nations and territories, the history of slavery throughout the Americas and the fact that Obama is the only candidate to recognize the hardship and the polorization of Afro-Latinos in the United States and abroad. The point, is that he is recognizing the bigotry that Blacks in Cuba, Brazil, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Columbia to name a few suffer from the white Latino power class.

The issue, is that race has played a role in this primary season like no other primary in our history. It has clouded real topics that are important to the nation. And again, it has placed the United States and our brand of democracy in the center of world discussion and thought. Sadly--race still matters in the United States.