The Future of Black History?
"If Obama were to somehow prevail on election night, I would be OJ Simpson-acquittal shocked...The awe part wouldn't kick in until a few months later...If he actually lived aaaall the way from election night to the inauguration, I would be so awed I'd lead an anti-affirmative action protest in front of the NAACP's national headquarters." -- Sean Gonsalves
I wrote that in December 2006 and if Obama's campaign continues to roll, I just might be in front of the NAACP's Baltimore headquarters in the days following the inauguration of America's first black president.
That's if (I said IF), Obama wins -- and survives all the way to the inauguration.
I know. It's a horrible thought. Survive all the way to inauguration? But, honestly -- are you telling me it hasn't run through your mind, especially with all of these comparisons to JFK and MLK?
I wasn't even alive when John and Martin were around and I've wondered, once or twice, whether Barack should move around a lot -- maybe throw in a head-fake, here and there -- whenever he speaks in public.
Recognize: it takes courage to be in Obama's very public place. Even a soldier like Colin Powell said no to that call.
In the May 1996 issue of Ladies Home Journal (what can I say, I read a lot), Powell's wife, Alma, put into words the echo that still emanates from the Lorraine Motel balcony, 40 years after King's murder.
"You think everybody loves Colin Powell," she said. "Everybody doesn't like Colin Powell...I don't want to describe the hate mail we've gotten...A black man running for president is going to be in a dangerous position."
Not that I'm trying to divide Obamanation, as the superdelegate situation has the potential to do, but, in case you haven't noticed because of the unfolding Obamanomenom (or maybe you've just been feeling Barackward lately), this is Black History Month.
But, let's do this the left-handed way and look beyond black history to imagine the future of black history, which is to say American history. For you righties, I'll translate: Instead of thinking about historical "progress" as if it moves forward in linear fashion, let's think about history as a geometrical shape, like a circle.
Recently, among my multi-racial circle of friends, political discussion turned to the Obama effect on the future of black history. If Obama is elected, does that mean black history (in America) has come full circle?
Of course, an Obama presidency would not put an end to racism, especially the institutional kind. But it would likely mean whatever political support that remains for affirmative action and other race-conscious policies will dry up like a raisin in the sun.
So, on the one hand, Obama in the White House is not quite the same thing as making it to Martin's mountaintop. I mean, unless a person thinks African-Americans are inferior, which is the very definition of racism, you can't say were beyond "the race problem" when black folk are disproportionately in jail, out of school, unemployed and in debt. And none of that is likely to significantly change under an Obama administration -- without a mass movement behind it, as Barack has pointed out ad naseum on the campaign trail, even if the point is lost on those who criticize his hope talk.
On the other hand, an Obama presidency would definitely be a huge leap forward on several fronts, to the point where it could very well signify the Civil Rights Movement (dormant since King's death but still very much alive in our political culture), has come full circle.
And that would be a good thing because when Martin was on the mountaintop, preaching the night before his assassination, King looked to the future of American history and saw beyond the color line -- to the horizon of economic justice.
"It's all right to talk about 'long white robes over yonder,' in all of its symbolism," he said. "But ultimately people want some suits and dresses and shoes to wear down here. It's alright to talk about 'streets flowing with milk and honey,' but God has commanded us to be concerned about the slums down here, and his children who can't eat three square meals a day."
So like I was saying, if -- if -- Obama wins, and the ghosts of black history don't condemn us to repeat the Sixties, I guess I'll be in front of NAACP HQ in the days following the inauguration, holding a sign that'll read: "No to race-based affirmative action."
The other side will say: "Yes to a class-based affirmative action."
Sean Gonsalves is a syndicated columnist and assistant news editor with the Cape Cod Times. He can be reached at sgonsalves@capecodonline.com
Urgent. It's never been this bad.
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission from the outset was simple. To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It’s never been this bad out there. And it’s never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed and doing some of its best and most important work, the threats we face are intensifying. Right now, with just three days to go in our Spring Campaign, we're falling short of our make-or-break goal. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Can you make a gift right now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? There is no backup plan or rainy day fund. There is only you. —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
"If Obama were to somehow prevail on election night, I would be OJ Simpson-acquittal shocked...The awe part wouldn't kick in until a few months later...If he actually lived aaaall the way from election night to the inauguration, I would be so awed I'd lead an anti-affirmative action protest in front of the NAACP's national headquarters." -- Sean Gonsalves
I wrote that in December 2006 and if Obama's campaign continues to roll, I just might be in front of the NAACP's Baltimore headquarters in the days following the inauguration of America's first black president.
That's if (I said IF), Obama wins -- and survives all the way to the inauguration.
I know. It's a horrible thought. Survive all the way to inauguration? But, honestly -- are you telling me it hasn't run through your mind, especially with all of these comparisons to JFK and MLK?
I wasn't even alive when John and Martin were around and I've wondered, once or twice, whether Barack should move around a lot -- maybe throw in a head-fake, here and there -- whenever he speaks in public.
Recognize: it takes courage to be in Obama's very public place. Even a soldier like Colin Powell said no to that call.
In the May 1996 issue of Ladies Home Journal (what can I say, I read a lot), Powell's wife, Alma, put into words the echo that still emanates from the Lorraine Motel balcony, 40 years after King's murder.
"You think everybody loves Colin Powell," she said. "Everybody doesn't like Colin Powell...I don't want to describe the hate mail we've gotten...A black man running for president is going to be in a dangerous position."
Not that I'm trying to divide Obamanation, as the superdelegate situation has the potential to do, but, in case you haven't noticed because of the unfolding Obamanomenom (or maybe you've just been feeling Barackward lately), this is Black History Month.
But, let's do this the left-handed way and look beyond black history to imagine the future of black history, which is to say American history. For you righties, I'll translate: Instead of thinking about historical "progress" as if it moves forward in linear fashion, let's think about history as a geometrical shape, like a circle.
Recently, among my multi-racial circle of friends, political discussion turned to the Obama effect on the future of black history. If Obama is elected, does that mean black history (in America) has come full circle?
Of course, an Obama presidency would not put an end to racism, especially the institutional kind. But it would likely mean whatever political support that remains for affirmative action and other race-conscious policies will dry up like a raisin in the sun.
So, on the one hand, Obama in the White House is not quite the same thing as making it to Martin's mountaintop. I mean, unless a person thinks African-Americans are inferior, which is the very definition of racism, you can't say were beyond "the race problem" when black folk are disproportionately in jail, out of school, unemployed and in debt. And none of that is likely to significantly change under an Obama administration -- without a mass movement behind it, as Barack has pointed out ad naseum on the campaign trail, even if the point is lost on those who criticize his hope talk.
On the other hand, an Obama presidency would definitely be a huge leap forward on several fronts, to the point where it could very well signify the Civil Rights Movement (dormant since King's death but still very much alive in our political culture), has come full circle.
And that would be a good thing because when Martin was on the mountaintop, preaching the night before his assassination, King looked to the future of American history and saw beyond the color line -- to the horizon of economic justice.
"It's all right to talk about 'long white robes over yonder,' in all of its symbolism," he said. "But ultimately people want some suits and dresses and shoes to wear down here. It's alright to talk about 'streets flowing with milk and honey,' but God has commanded us to be concerned about the slums down here, and his children who can't eat three square meals a day."
So like I was saying, if -- if -- Obama wins, and the ghosts of black history don't condemn us to repeat the Sixties, I guess I'll be in front of NAACP HQ in the days following the inauguration, holding a sign that'll read: "No to race-based affirmative action."
The other side will say: "Yes to a class-based affirmative action."
Sean Gonsalves is a syndicated columnist and assistant news editor with the Cape Cod Times. He can be reached at sgonsalves@capecodonline.com
"If Obama were to somehow prevail on election night, I would be OJ Simpson-acquittal shocked...The awe part wouldn't kick in until a few months later...If he actually lived aaaall the way from election night to the inauguration, I would be so awed I'd lead an anti-affirmative action protest in front of the NAACP's national headquarters." -- Sean Gonsalves
I wrote that in December 2006 and if Obama's campaign continues to roll, I just might be in front of the NAACP's Baltimore headquarters in the days following the inauguration of America's first black president.
That's if (I said IF), Obama wins -- and survives all the way to the inauguration.
I know. It's a horrible thought. Survive all the way to inauguration? But, honestly -- are you telling me it hasn't run through your mind, especially with all of these comparisons to JFK and MLK?
I wasn't even alive when John and Martin were around and I've wondered, once or twice, whether Barack should move around a lot -- maybe throw in a head-fake, here and there -- whenever he speaks in public.
Recognize: it takes courage to be in Obama's very public place. Even a soldier like Colin Powell said no to that call.
In the May 1996 issue of Ladies Home Journal (what can I say, I read a lot), Powell's wife, Alma, put into words the echo that still emanates from the Lorraine Motel balcony, 40 years after King's murder.
"You think everybody loves Colin Powell," she said. "Everybody doesn't like Colin Powell...I don't want to describe the hate mail we've gotten...A black man running for president is going to be in a dangerous position."
Not that I'm trying to divide Obamanation, as the superdelegate situation has the potential to do, but, in case you haven't noticed because of the unfolding Obamanomenom (or maybe you've just been feeling Barackward lately), this is Black History Month.
But, let's do this the left-handed way and look beyond black history to imagine the future of black history, which is to say American history. For you righties, I'll translate: Instead of thinking about historical "progress" as if it moves forward in linear fashion, let's think about history as a geometrical shape, like a circle.
Recently, among my multi-racial circle of friends, political discussion turned to the Obama effect on the future of black history. If Obama is elected, does that mean black history (in America) has come full circle?
Of course, an Obama presidency would not put an end to racism, especially the institutional kind. But it would likely mean whatever political support that remains for affirmative action and other race-conscious policies will dry up like a raisin in the sun.
So, on the one hand, Obama in the White House is not quite the same thing as making it to Martin's mountaintop. I mean, unless a person thinks African-Americans are inferior, which is the very definition of racism, you can't say were beyond "the race problem" when black folk are disproportionately in jail, out of school, unemployed and in debt. And none of that is likely to significantly change under an Obama administration -- without a mass movement behind it, as Barack has pointed out ad naseum on the campaign trail, even if the point is lost on those who criticize his hope talk.
On the other hand, an Obama presidency would definitely be a huge leap forward on several fronts, to the point where it could very well signify the Civil Rights Movement (dormant since King's death but still very much alive in our political culture), has come full circle.
And that would be a good thing because when Martin was on the mountaintop, preaching the night before his assassination, King looked to the future of American history and saw beyond the color line -- to the horizon of economic justice.
"It's all right to talk about 'long white robes over yonder,' in all of its symbolism," he said. "But ultimately people want some suits and dresses and shoes to wear down here. It's alright to talk about 'streets flowing with milk and honey,' but God has commanded us to be concerned about the slums down here, and his children who can't eat three square meals a day."
So like I was saying, if -- if -- Obama wins, and the ghosts of black history don't condemn us to repeat the Sixties, I guess I'll be in front of NAACP HQ in the days following the inauguration, holding a sign that'll read: "No to race-based affirmative action."
The other side will say: "Yes to a class-based affirmative action."
Sean Gonsalves is a syndicated columnist and assistant news editor with the Cape Cod Times. He can be reached at sgonsalves@capecodonline.com