The Fighting 44s

7 Responses

#1

King4aDay

2:20 am | Jun 18, 2008

“I can’t imagine this sort of thing continuing unchanged if the leader of the free world is black.”

Funny, I certainly can.

#2

nightshade

2:32 am | Jun 18, 2008

^Yeah, true that.

#3

nightshade

2:39 am | Jun 18, 2008

(In case some random post comes up, I mean King’s comment.”

#4

blockthebox

3:03 am | Jun 18, 2008

Great report from ESPN. There’s a lot of ugliness in the world, but that Henry guy is BEAUTIFUL.

#5

Heyyu

3:28 am | Jun 18, 2008

LOL, the French. And hopefully this puts an end to the theory that Europeans are less racist than their White American counterparts.

#6

TheMac

11:35 pm | Jun 18, 2008

“hopefully this puts an end to the theory that Europeans are less racist than their White American counterparts.”

I’ve heard about Black American artists running to Europe for acceptance of their art and all that jazz (hee…jazz), but I’ve never heard anyone suggest that Europeans were culturally less bigoted than Americans. I would definitely say the opposite as someone who’s been to Europe for longish periods of time.

I’m taking a rather unpopular position…but…I think it’s kind of a lot to expect racial attitudes globally to change if Obama becomes POTUS. I mean, I know these kind of social things have a ripple effect, but I also think that it needs to be acknowledged that-

a). not all European countries have significant Black populations, and therefore don’t know how to relate to them, and 1 president isn’t really going to change that. Yes, it’s America, but it’s pretty much universally know why Black Americans are in America and how they got there, so a Black POTUS was bound to happen sooner or later;

b). countries (like Ireland, for example) treat African-Americans differently than say, their larger African populations, because they perceive them as being more “Western” in culture.

This doesn’t mean that kind of blatant racism that is shown in the video is in any way acceptable, but I also think it’s oversimplifying the matter to be like, “___ country doesn’t treat Black people well” without considering the diversity within that country and what Black cultures we’re talking about.

Secondly, yeah, I do think that people need to be held responsible for being a part of the change they’d like to see in the world. It’s very nice that Obama or whomever is inspiring people wherever, but it really seems disturbing to me that a Black person in and from a country foreign to you has the power to make you feel any way about your own blackness. It shows, IMO, a real separation from identity that someone who literally has nothing more in common with you than race can shape your sense of self.

Lastly, and I’m saying this as someone who works in politics, this entire “Obama is inspiring to Black people” narrative really feeds into the cult of personality that pervades his entire candidacy. I’m really tired of being told who and what I should find inspirational as a Black or Brown person or a woman or whatever. Regardless of how anyone feels about the man or his campaign, many people I know in ‘the business’ are about ready to snap from the ‘celebrity movement’ that is Barack Obama. I have no doubt he’d make a competent president, but I fear the American public isn’t really connecting this campaign to what the (hopeful) result will be. Presidents have to make ugly decisions (Bill Clinton’s still apologizing about Rwanda); this is not just one neverending campaign of national romance. This is what makes people in the business nervous. Are all the people out there taking about ‘changes, hopes, and dreams’ prepared for the day when POTUS Obama looks them in the face and sells them a line of politics? Or will the movement die right then and there? What will be the result of this continuous blurring between hard government and activism?

#7

jaehwan

11:42 am | Jun 19, 2008

I’ve heard about Black American artists running to Europe for acceptance of their art and all that jazz (hee…jazz), but I’ve never heard anyone suggest that Europeans were culturally less bigoted than Americans.

Have you ever read “La Putaine Respecteuse” by Jean-Paul Sartre and the subsequent critiques? Granted, it was written before the civil rights movement, but gosh, if you can throw bananas at black players during a modern day soccer game, your culture is still living before the civil rights movement.

And you’re right, it’s not to say that it’s like that everywhere in Europe. However, also keep in mind that this is the most popular sport in Europe. Where is the public outcry? (Haha…I think it’s starting now…)

I’m really tired of being told who and what I should find inspirational as a Black or Brown person or a woman or whatever. Regardless of how anyone feels about the man or his campaign, many people I know in ‘the business’ are about ready to snap from the ‘celebrity movement’ that is Barack Obama.

Good points, Mac.

I may (or may not) have said this before, but Obama is somewhat of a wild card because of that “national romance” thing you mention. Even those who worked on his campaign were wondering when he’d get down to addressing hard policy.

So I guess we know that his candidacy is generating a lot of attention around the world. If he wins, will it change people’s thoughts? It definitely will, since people will be forced to see a black man as leader of the world’s only superpower (for now, anyway). But will it change people and eradicate racism? Probably not. However, perhaps it could serve as a beacon for smaller movements though.

Another lingering question is whether or not Obama does well as President. It’s hard for him because he absolutely needs to succeed. This in itself is unfair because the same social pressures would not exist for McCain, who could be average without anyone batting an eye. But it’s the way things are.

So I’m a bit nervous too.