Black Entertainment, Money, Style and Beauty Blogs - Black Voices

The Shallow Obama Birth Certificate Challenge

Lenny McAllister — 2008-12-09T11:50:00+00:00

Filed under: Elections, Barack Obama, Politics, News

Last Saturday, Black Voices' blogger Carmen Dixon posed the question, "How Many Incidents Equal a Trend?"

She brought this sentiment to the national conversation as a response to the level of crass jokes, rude comments, and outright threats that have come in the aftermath of electing the first non-White person to the presidency of the United States.

After hearing about how far the lawsuit contesting President-Elect Obama's eligibility for the White House has gone, I'm sure that Carmen was ready to count this fiasco as the latest incident that keeps the trend going.

This challenge to the status of Mr. Obama's constitutional permission to become the next president of the United States is, by most accounts, shallow at best. ...

Although conservatives can make an argument that a failure to follow such a critical piece of the Constitution opens the door for more procedural disobedience (and, perhaps, electoral dysfunction), they can not make a logical leap and say that the Constitution is a sacred document that is directly threatened by a failure to address this situation legally. Besides, one would question how sacrilegious tampering with the US Constitution must be for a conservative when he is so willing to amend it with social edicts such as the definition of marriage.

Many will say that the birth certificate legal challenge will serve as another reminder of the dirty politics that Republicans have been accused of engaging in for years. Further, some will also conclude that this is symbolic of the racism that still exists in America, saying that people would rather challenge a place of birth in court than allow a Black man to have his place in the White House.

I disagree. If anything, this latest round of misguided energy is a reflection of the failures of some to get it right - no pun intended, of course.

Although this lawsuit was originally submitted by New Jersey attorney Leo Donofrio, the fuel feeding this fire came from some conservative bloggers and hard-core politicos around the nation.

If this effort was intended to be as effective as its supporters hope - that is, effective enough to remove Barack Obama from "The Office of the President-Elect" - its origin was too late, its momentum was too slow, and its champions were too predictable.

By making this "strategy" to eliminate Mr. Obama politically a last-minute tactic to halt his impending inauguration in January, those supporting this "effort" probably also held onto the "strategy" that a charismatic politician such as Obama could not escape the bloodbath Democratic nomination process, especially considering Obama's limited time in Washington, the presence of Hillary Clinton as the Democratic front runner, and, of course, the fact that African-Americans and young people just don't come out to vote in the numbers needed to make a difference for the Obama campaign.

Oops.

They probably "misunderestimated" America's distain with Washington, a frustration level that prompted a big leap of faith on someone that, despite a lack of Washington experience, exhibited the outward traits most want in a president, even if the political philosophies and voting records don't match with their personal beliefs.

And if the general mood of America was a resounding rejection of the current tactics and arguments of anti-Obama pundits (remember, folks had already turned on the "1st Black President of the United States" - Bill Clinton - and his wife months ago for harsh words towards Obama), what made people believe that this lawsuit had a chance to be heard by the Supreme Court?

Exactly.

The Constitution isn't going to go away because of the Obama birth certificate issue. Unfortunately for some, neither is Obama himself from his path to the White House.

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Lenny McAllister is a political commentator and guest co-host for Fox News - Charlotte's morning show "Fox News Rising." His commentary can be heard every Monday morning at 6:15. His website is lennymcallister.com

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Essence Does Double Obama Tribute

Jeff Douglas — 2008-12-04T15:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Elections, Barack Obama, Politics, Michelle Obama, News

How do you choose which magazine to buy? Essence is slick. They think you might just buy both.

The magazine's double-cover 56-page Obama tribute hits the stands Dec. 12 and contains a time line of his life, never before seen photos and a profile on the Obama children. The issue also has essays and commentary from Maya Angelou, Bill Cosby, Chris Rock and Gwen Ifill.

BrownSista.com says ESSENCE.com has a behind the scenes video of the photo shoot, too.

+ GQ Names Obama Man of the Year

Click below to see nearly 50 Obama magazine covers.

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Obama's Grandmother Dies On Eve of Election

Jeff Douglas — 2008-11-03T17:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Elections, Barack Obama, News

Just hours before Election Day, Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama announced that his 86-year-old grandmother died Monday after a battle with cancer. The news comes a week after he visited Madelyn Payne Dunham in Hawaii after she fell seriously ill following a hip fracture. "She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength and humility. She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances," said Obama in a released statement with his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng. "Our debt to her is beyond measure."

Said rival candidate Sen. John McCain in a released statement with his wife Cindy: "We offer our deepest condolences to Barack Obama and his family as they grieve the loss of their beloved grandmother. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them as they remember and celebrate the life of someone who had such a profound impact in their lives."

A "small private ceremony" is to be held at a later date. The Obama family has asked that in lieu of flowers that people make a donation to "any worthy organization in search of a cure for cancer."

Please add your thoughts and comments below.

+ VIDEO: Obama Talks About His Last Visit With Grandmother

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Gentrification "Spreads the Wealth" Into Your Neighborhood

Lenny McAllister — 2008-10-31T12:14:00+00:00

Filed under: Elections, Barack Obama, News

In a political season where the phrase "spread the wealth" has become increasingly popular among the candidates, it would be great if Black America was able to share in the wealth that has accompanied the gentrification movement in urban America over the past 20 years.

I looked up the word "gentrification." The word has origins rooted in the French word genterise, roughly translated to mean "people of noble birth."

With this definition in tow, if the gentrification of urban America is the movement of people of "noble birth" (that is, middle- and upper-class professionals) into inner city communities, then gentrification is a "bad thing" if the Black community can not do two things. ...

1. Leverage the talents and resources of the "noble people" in order to create new opportunities to create Black wealth of resources (e.g., increased job opportunities, better educational avenues and accomplishments, more Black talent infusion); and

2. Become more of the "noble people" that benefit from gentrification.

Of course, the problem inhibiting this movement towards a better position for the Black community is the fact that there is movement of the Black community - namely, as many of the benefits of gentrification move in, much of the Black community often is forced to move out.

Without changing the dynamic, gentrification will remain a cyclical occurrence within the Black community where we are moved like nomads each time land values dictate a potential sound investment opportunity for developers.

So, how do we change the dynamic?

We must be involved in the voting districts that we live in, especially as urban development plans are currently made around us without us in mind. That dynamic must change. We must see to it that we are more involved in planning boards, zoning discussions, and land development proposals that exist in our communities. This will allow us to be proactive in the process rather than being reactive to discussions and decisions that occur without our input.

If we are homeowners and/or land-owners in the areas that gentrification is likely to occur, we must be wiser with our negotiations and decisions as change comes to the neighborhood.

If we decide to stay in the neighborhood, we must position ourselves to ensure that we are capable of providing valuable feedback and influence over the new developments coming into our communities. By knowing the laws, the vision of the city and/or developers, and the history of the area(s) affected, we would be better equipped to save historic areas and aspects of our communities as well as carve out niches within the new developments that we can leverage and/or influence.

If we decide to sell and leave the area, we must negotiate prices closer to the potential future land values that our land will command after new development is complete, not settle for the current value. That is the benefit of urban revitalization for investors - buy land at low values and create high-value properties afterward. As smart capitalists, we must make sure that these deals benefit us as much as possible as well. If we are going to create Black wealth as a result of gentrification/urban revitalization, we must make sure that the subsequent wealth created touches a maximum amount of people, including those that no longer live in revitalized areas.

Even if we are not homeowners and/or land-owners, we still have an opportunity to benefit from gentrification should we be forced to endure it. For example, any move by governments of cities or towns to move one set of the population out of an area for the "benefit of urban revitalization" must be politically accompanied with dedicated, premeditated focus on destination schools, crime prevention efforts, and job opportunities. Initiatives such as job fairs in the new area would allow for those affected by gentrification to have opportunities to benefit from the revitalization of the area even if they do not remain residents.

Again, this takes regular political activism at the polls and in the government meetings to make sure that the wealth created from revitalization touches everyone impacted by new urban development. By not doing this, cities and towns merely move a challenged area to another geographic location. The pattern stays cyclical.

As long as Black people continue to be highly impacted by revitalization efforts as displaced residents without strengthening their political, legislative, and economic standings to change the dynamics, "urban revitalization" will continue to be synonymous with gentrification for Black people. If so, we will continue to get the short end of the stick. Once we begin to influence these new developments at a higher level, Black communities will find that we can benefit from revitalization and, eventually, be leaders during these societal changes as well.
____________________
Lenny McAllister is the Political Guru for Fox News - Charlotte and blogs the Republican side of the election for BlackVoices. He is a frequent contributor to The Charlotte Post and The North Carolina Conservative.

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Gentrification: Is It Good or Bad for Us?

Paul Shepard — 2008-10-31T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Elections, News

In general, gentrification is good for the black community but if you add the description "respectful gentrification" to the mix, I'm definitely down with the concept.

By respectful gentrification I mean community change does not come like an invading army. I mean change that isn't rooted solely in the desire to make a quick buck - change that doesn't radically upset the racial identity of the neighborhood.

I admit I am conflicted by the question of what happens to the folks forced to move out when property values rise above their means. But overall, gentrification can bring fresh new perspectives to different groups, it can bring neighborhood improvements.

In short, it brings understanding and that is always a good thing. ...

Our president took a sovereign nation and turned it into a leaderless powder keg where century-old hostilities are played out on the streets, and foreign agitators do their best to keep the violence and instability at high levels.

So while nothing would feel better than to throw our hands up, wave goodbye to Iraq and send those soldiers to Afghanistan where they should have been deployed in greater numbers to begin with, we simply can't do it.

Not if we are going to at least try to live up to the ideals we preach around the world.

About the only intelligent strategy employed by the Bush government during the five years of fighting was the rapid deployment of personnel in the surge strategy. Overwhelming the enemy with people on the ground, as well as using covert operations to target insurgents, has reduced the level of violence and influence of militant groups.

I don't see a downside to the concept of someone with greater wealth seeking to live next door to me. I'm sure I could learn something from them and I am damn sure I will teach them about me and the community I call home.

Having spent my early years on 108th Street and 2nd Ave. in New York (Spanish Harlem) which has seen waves of gentrification over the years, I've always been puzzled by the arguments of black preservationists stuck in a time warp arguing against neighborhood change.

"The white folks are taking over Harlem," is their common refrain. Not everybody welcomed Bill Clinton when he moved there when his White House days were over.

They like to talk about the good old days when the community was all black, or all Spanish or whatever. I would ask them to be honest and ask themselves, were the old days really all that good?

When new, more affluent neighbors move in and bring their coffee shops, cafes, restaurants and other shops, the neighborhood can't help but perk up. Local people get work. People sweep up their sidewalks a little more often.

In general, community improvement nudges local people to do a little better, to step up and be part of the change.

Here in Washington D.C., the gentrification of some neighborhoods in the Petworth community near Howard University and at the city's historical black belt along 14th and U Streets NW has been startling.
An uncommon sight just a few years ago, one sees groups of young white professionals stroll along Georgia Ave. or biking to and from work.

This is not to say these changes always happen without conflict. A black friend of mine who lives blocks from the Howard University campus complains that many of his new white female neighbors don't pick up after their dogs. He is very careful to emphasize they are white.

Well enough. I'm not sure if I would make the great racial case of the century based on a few sloppy newcomers. Does it help the situation to sit and stew over it in silence?

Simply remind the new neighbors that it's illegal not to clean up after your dog and you would appreciate it if they follow the law. At least give them the chance to do the right thing.
_________________
Paul Shepard blogs the Democrat side of the election for BlackVoices. He has been a journalist for 16 years; on the national urban/minority affairs beat for The Cleveland Plain Dealer and for The AP in Washington, D.C.

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Hastening the Straight Talk Express

Lenny McAllister — 2008-10-07T16:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Elections, Barack Obama, John McCain, News

Throughout the campaign, we have heard about how Senator John McCain performs during town hall meetings, using the forum to project an image that makes him accessible, believable, and presidential.

In order to get the Straight Talk Express moving quickly back on the right track towards the White House, he is going to have to excel this evening.

Recent polls are showing that the presidency is slipping away from the McCain-Palin ticket. Unfortunately, some of the factors for this development are out of Senator McCain's control. For example, the recent economic crisis has tilted the scales of this election towards not only Senator Barack Obama, but towards all Democrats running for federal office at this time.

The pall of the Bush Administration may be a blemish against the Republican brand for a good while, time that Senator McCain just does not have. ...

He also does not have the time to deal with the Sarah Palin issue appropriately, so he will have to deal with her presence on the ticket as best as possible. Instead of the governor from Alaska bringing a fresh, exciting perspective and presence to the ticket for Republicans and undecided voters, the Palin Effect invokes very different responses from different segments of the electorate.

For conservatives, she is the Republican Obama, a relatively-unknown young politician whose rise to the top is one that has garnered excitement within the base due to her personality and traditional right-wing values. For others (in an increasing fashion), she is an unprepared second-choice candidate that is in over her head and, as a result, is best suited to play the role of attack dog since she has failed to install the confidence needed in a vice presidential candidate.

Of course, some of Arizona senator's actions have not endeared him to the undecided voting bloc, either. Although Senator McCain fared well during the first presidential debate on the September 26, nuisances such as McCain's failure to address Obama directly did not play well on television. Senator McCain came across as unnecessarily adversarial, and when coupled with the latest GOP negative attack tactics against the Obama-Biden ticket, the McCain brand risks souring the undecided voter base against it.

These factors would seem to make a McCain victory in November close to impossible, but this is not the case - yet.

Tonight's second debate will play a major factor in determining Senator McCain's election fate this fall. He does come into the debate with some glimmers of hope to utilize as he attempts to cut into the lead that Senator Obama has created over the past few weeks.

For starts, Governor Palin's performance Thursday evening during the vice presidential debate allowed her not only to salvage her own credibility among many within the GOP and conservative base, but it also provided a small opportunity for the McCain campaign to turn the page on intense focus on Palin's qualifications.

This gives Senator McCain a chance to highlight the experience gap between Senator Obama and himself. As well, with the Palin-Biden debate over, it would appear that the Palin Bounce is over: those that have become invigorated as a result of her presence on the ticket will remain that way as this point while those that reject Palin as a VP candidate will not be swayed away from that viewpoint.

With the passage of the bailout legislation, Senator McCain may have an opportunity to have the focus of the presidential discussion become more encompassing, including an in-depth discussion on foreign policy issues. Even the impact of our financial crisis on the global market may allow Senator McCain to use his years of experience in Washington as an advantage over Obama that America should choose. However, foreign policy and national defense are clearly his best bets to gain support.

For example, the recent air violation incident in Iran (depending on which country comments, it was either a business jet without US civilians on-board or a US "Falcon Fighter") threatens to bring back into focus the importance of the president as Commander in Chief. International incidents may work in McCain's favor due to his tenure in the US Senate as his status as retired military personnel. Further, any opportunity to show a break from President Bush's viewpoint or reactions in this realm (such as with Putin during the Georgia-Russia tension this summer) will give Senator McCain another chance to break his tie with the Bush White House, a move he must make (and quickly) if he is going to gain votes from disgruntled undecided voters that constitute the 75% of those polled that disapprove of the president.

The third possible advantage brings us full circle: the town hall forum format that will be used this evening. Senator Barack Obama came across too professorial in the Saddleback Forum on the Presidency, a debate-like event that seems eons ago in the political lifecycle but is the only valid instance that allowed us to contrast the Obama and McCain styles directly aside from the first debate.

If Senator Obama comes across as more professorial and less personable, he will risk alienating the undecided voters in the audience and, quite potentially, a significant portion of undecided voters exactly 4 weeks before Election Day. If McCain is able to use the same demeanor, verbiage, and arguments in Tuesday's debate that he did with Rick Warren - while attacking Obama's policy points and senatorial tenure that is littered with strong liberal partisanship - he will be able to put a dent into the Obama that, with persistence, can be overcome.

Overcoming that lead, however, starts with a performance this evening that trumps Barack Obama in the quest to not only win the debate, but to clearly look more presidential as well.

____________________
Lenny McAllister is the Political Guru for Fox News - Charlotte and blogs the Republican side of the election for BlackVoices. He is a frequent contributor to The Charlotte Post and The North Carolina Conservative.

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Barack Obama: Pictures Speak 1000 Words

Felicia Pride — 2008-07-15T17:00:00+00:00

Filed under: More Than Words, Elections, Barack Obama

By Felicia Pride

While publications like The New Yorker have been trying to capture Barack Obama's campaign visually--even if in the most grotesque ways--Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins, recently announced that it will be publishing the ultimate photographic collection that documents this incredible moment.

Obama: The Historic Campaign in Photos is slated to drop right before the November election and will illustrate his campaign from its start until now, through more than 150 color and b&w photos, reports Publishers Weekly.The photo collection will be curated by NYU professor Deb Willis who works in the university's Tisch School of the Arts Photography and Imaging. Washington Post journalist Kevin Merida will pen the book's introduction.

For all of those who have been collecting Obama magazine covers, pictures, and other memorabilia, this sounds like a must-have.

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The Faith of Barack Obama

Felicia Pride — 2008-07-03T10:00:00+00:00

Filed under: More Than Words, Elections, Barack Obama

By Felicia Pride

Are Barack Obama's religious beliefs important?

The author of the forthcoming book The Faith of Barack Obama (Thomas Nelson, July 2008) seems to think so.

Obama's religious life was the center of controversy because of his close relationship with Reverend Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., pastor at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.

Author Stephen Mansfield, who also wrote The Faith of George W. Bush, believes that as early as 2004 when Obama delivered his memorable speech to the Democratic National Convention, he was taking a stand for his faith by saying, "We worship an awesome God in the blue states."

The Faith of Barack Obama explores the presidential candidate's religious faith and how it shapes his life as a way to understand the type of leader he will be.About the book, Archbishop Desmond Tutu said, "You must read this perceptive and well written book. Then you will know why Barack Obama has such a passion for justice and equity, such a gift for filling people of different generations with a newfound hope that things can and will change for the better. His inspiration comes from his faith; he is an ardent believer. Yes, he is a Christian and proud of it."

In The Faith of Barack Obama, Mansfield is exerting the premise, "If a man's faith is sincere, then it is the most important thing about him."

Do you think Obama's faith is sincere? And if so, what does it say about the type of president he might be?

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The View, Michelle Obama, and Another Dap

Jeff Douglas — 2008-06-18T17:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Elections, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama

Appearing on The View Wednesday, Michelle Obama said Sen. Hillary Clinton is right that sexism played a role in the presidential primary campaign.

"Yes, there's always a level (of sexism). People are not used to strong women," Obama said.

The first-lady hopeful had a captive female audience, being The View and all. So the topic was on point.

She handled the show like a PRO! She opened the show with, what else? A bump! ...
"Of course I'm proud of my country," Obama told Barbara Walters, in reference to a months-old miss-quote that's still stalking her.

Check out the show above.

The Next First Lady?

Career: Obama gave up her job as a vice president at the University of Chicago Medical Center to campaign with her husband.

Charles Rex Arbogast, AP

Career: McCain is the chairman of her family's business, Hensley & Co., one of the country's largest distributors for Anheuser-Busch. She's also involved with several children's health care organizations.

Mary Altaffer, AP

Childhood and Education: Michelle Obama, 44, grew up on the South Side of Chicago. She earned her undergraduate degree from Princeton and her law degree from Harvard.

Scott Olson, Getty Images

Childhood and Education: Cindy McCain, 54, who was raised in a wealthy Phoenix family, has a master's degree in special education from the University of Southern California.

Win McNamee, Getty Images

Family: The Obamas have two daughters, Malia, 9, and Sasha, 6.

Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

Family: The McCains have four children together -- Meghan, 23, pictured above with her parents; Jack, 22; Jim, 20; and Bridget, 16. John McCain also has three children from his first marriage.

Charles Dharapak, AP

Marriage: Michelle Robinson married Barack Obama in October 1992. The couple met while working for a Chicago law firm.

Obama for America / AP

Marriage: Cindy Hensley married John McCain in May 1980. It was the second marriage for McCain, who is 18 years older than his wife.

Corbis

Style on the Trail: Obama has been known for being strong-minded and outspoken during her husband's campaign. Here, the couple bump fists before his speech on the night he earned enough delegates to claim the Democratic nomination.

Scott Olson, Getty Images

Style on the Trail: McCain "is more in the classic mold of the candidate's wife on the campaign trail," said one political scientist. She's been less likely to speak out on the trail.

Alex Wong, Getty Images

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Old BET Boss Gives His 2 Cents, Again

Faye Anderson — 2008-04-16T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Elections, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton

The Democratic presidential nomination battle is stuck on race. Former BET chairman Bob Johnson, a Hillary Clinton backer, is roiling the racial waters. Johnson told the Charlotte Observer that Geraldine Ferraro was right:

What I believe Geraldine Ferraro meant is that if you take a freshman senator from Illinois called 'Jerry Smith' and he says I'm going to run for president, would he start off with 90 percent of the black vote? And the answer is, probably not....

Geraldine Ferraro said it right. The problem is, Geraldine Ferraro is white. This campaign has such a hair-trigger on anything racial ... it is almost impossible for anybody to say anything.

Johnson, the billionaire owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, also suggested that Obama is an elitist:

I don't think he has that common -- what I call "I-want-to-go-out-and-have-a-drink-with-you - touch."

At the American Society of Newspaper Editors' panel discussion on race and the presidential campaign, Donna Brazile, Al Gore's former campaign manager, observed:

It's very important 40 years after passage of the Voting Rights Act and 88 years after women gained the right to vote, the oldest political party in the United States is about to nominate the first woman or first minority.

Brazile was asked about the impact of "Bittergate" on Obama:

Every four years we have these Harvard-educated or Yale-educated, I-know-everything- about-policy but they don't know how to relate to ordinary voters. They lack that common touch.

Obama is leading in pledged delegates, leading in popular vote, and has raised a lot of money. He's already captured the white vote, white people and white money. He was trying to let the folks in San Francisco know that these people are not voting against him because he's black.

Brazile noted that Obama is half-white. To bridge the racial divide, she said he should "stop denying people his whiteness."

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Obama's Super Saturday Stirs the Clinton Camp

Faye Anderson — 2008-02-10T11:25:00+00:00

Filed under: Elections, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton

The good times rolled for Barack Obama this weekend. Powered by black voters, Obama won the Louisiana primary with 57 percent of the vote.

Obama also rocked the Nebraska and Washington caucuses, winning both in a landslide. Obama beat Hillary Clinton two to one.

I spoke with Charles Rolland, who organized one of the 12 precincts that caucused at Washington Middle School in the Emerald City. Rolland, a former deputy mayor of Seattle and former chair of the Washington State Democrats, told me the lunchroom was "overflowing. I haven't seen this many people ever. I saw people that I've never seen at a Democratic caucus, including Republicans."

One black Republican said: "See what Obama has done."

In Washington, voters do not register by party. Caucus-goers declare their candidate preference or indicate "uncommitted" on the sign-in sheet.

Of the112 caucus-goers in Rolland's precinct, 25 percent were black and approximately 75 percent (there were a few Asians). Half were women.

Caucus-goers discussed the issues for roughly 30 minutes. Obama's supporters said that they were voting for him because of his message of "change," and the hope that he will "heal and bring the community together," and restore global respect for the U.S.

Up until two weeks ago, Rolland was neutral in the Democratic primary race. But "young people came to me and said that's not acceptable, especially for you. They expressed such passion for him that I felt compelled to support what they were supporting."

So, when it came time to stand up in the caucus, Rolland stood up for Obama. And he had plenty of company.

Obama received 99 votes compared to Clinton's 11. Of the 7 uncommitted, five switched to Obama; two remained uncommitted. "Nobody switched to Hillary."

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Obama's Super Tuesday Hype

Faye Anderson — 2008-02-07T13:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Elections, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton

So much for a "dream ticket." Barack Obama's allusion to Hillary Clinton's political baggage during his post-Super Tuesday press conference likely shattered any hope the two of them will be running mates.

At the same time, Obama said: "I have no doubt that I can get the people who vote for Senator Clinton. ... It's not clear that Senator Clinton can get all the people I'm getting." ...

Join the Election Discussion

If Obama is referring to black voters, he needs to get a grip. Black folks voted long before he hit the campaign trail. There was a record turnout in Georgia in1988 as black voters flocked to the polls to support their candidate of choice, Jesse Jackson. Black voters propelled Jackson to victory in Alabama, Delaware and Georgia. Still, in the general election, Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis received 88 percent of the black vote.

In a conference call, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said: "By winning a majority of delegates and a majority of the states, Barack Obama won an important Super Tuesday victory over Senator Clinton in the closest thing we have to a national primary. From Colorado and Utah in the west to Georgia and Alabama in the south to Senator Clinton's backyard in Connecticut, Obama showed that he can win the support of Americans of every race, gender, and political party in every region of the country."

Plouffe concluded: "That's why he's on track to win the Democratic nomination, and that's why he's the best candidate to defeat John McCain in November."

Get real. Obama was the choice of Democratic primary voters in states that no Democrat will win in the general election. States like Georgia, Alabama and Utah.

As one Black Voices community member pointed out: "Obama is an inspiration for blacks and whites. He is picking up momentum and is very presidential. However, when I review the votes, I have some concerns. He had a good night, but many of those states will be red states in a general election and that could be a set up for a Democratic disaster."

The late Ossie Davis cautioned: "It's not the man, it's the plan." The New York Times likewise editorialized against the "cult of personality."

Black voters overwhelmingly support Obama out of racial pride. But they plan to win in November.

More Elections News
+ Obama Changes The Game (maybe)
+ Black People, Super Tuesday And More Confusion
+ Super Tuesday: Campaining In Style
+ Barack Obama: New Music Video Sensation

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Obama Changes the Game (Maybe)

Faye Anderson — 2008-02-06T08:02:00+00:00

Filed under: Elections, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton

It is said that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen." The results from Super Tuesday evidence African Americans' faith that things have changed. That the country is indeed ready for a black president. But is it?

Barack Obama won primaries in his home state of Illinois, as well as Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Missouri and Utah. He also won caucuses in Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota and North Dakota.

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton won her home state of New York, as well as Arizona, Arkansas, California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

The story behind the story of Super Tuesday holds peril for Obama. In Georgia, Obama received a whopping 87 percent of the black vote. While he received twice as many white votes than he did in South Carolina, Obama does better among whites when they cast a public vote in a caucus rather than a secret ballot in the polling booth.

Obama eked out a victory in Missouri with the overwhelming support of black voters in St. Louis County, and young white voters who made up 10 percent of the electorate. Clinton beat Obama among white voters 30 and over.

In Sen. Edward Kennedy's home state of Massachusetts, Obama lost the white vote except those aged 30-44, which he split evenly with Clinton. And the Kennedy women and Oprah Winfrey notwithstanding, white women are sticking with Clinton.

As expected, there is a black-brown divide. In California, for instance, Latinos of all ages voted against Obama. In Illinois, Obama received 52 percent of the Latino vote. But as CNN commentator Roland Martin observed: "If you only win 52 percent of Latinos in your home state, you have a Latino problem."

Si, se puede! I don't think so.

If identity politics is acceptable for blacks, then it is acceptable for Latinos who mostly self-identify as white. As for white women's support for Clinton, well, what's good for the goose is good for the gander (and vice versa).

For now, it remains an open question whether the White House is "a temporary condition."

Join the Election Discussion

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Super Tuesday: Eve of Deconstruction

Faye Anderson — 2008-02-03T22:27:00+00:00

Filed under: Elections, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton

On Super Duper Tuesday, Americans will go to the polls in more than 20 states. When the votes are counted, we will know whether we are at the end of the campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination or the beginning of the end. Whenever the nomination battle ends, history will be made: a white woman or a black man will be the nominee of a major political party.

As I watched Oprah Winfrey and Caroline Kennedy at the Obama for President Rally at UCLA, I thought about Columbia Law Prof. Patricia Williams' remarks during her recent lecture at the Brooklyn Public Library. Prof. Williams, a Harvard Law grad and Barack Obama supporter, described Obama as "the perfect interracial embodiment of hope and love."

In Prof. Williams' view, Obama is "unblack." He is the embodiment of white Americans' wish for every black man. That is, "civilized by a white mother but content to marry someone else's daughter."

At the same time, whites like "Obama for what he isn't. He isn't Al Sharpton." Or Jesse Jackson. A point underscored by conservative commentator Bill Bennett who once suggested aborting every black baby in the country as a way to reduce crime.

Prof. Williams said the "Double O's" - Obama and Oprah -- are "two tokens" that are viewed as racially transcendent; they have moved beyond racial guilt and animosities. But more than two in the same room "becomes unsettling. They are no longer exceptional." Instead, they represent an "agenda."

So, for white Americans, three high-achieving blacks are the "tipping point."

In South Carolina, Oprah and Barack and Michelle Obama shared the same stage. But there, the target audience was black women. In Los Angeles, the target audience was white women.

Hmmm, is that why Obama did not attend his own rally in delegate-rich California?

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Jackson in Essence: Almost Retrospective

Madison J. Gray — 2008-01-29T10:37:00+00:00

Filed under: Elections, Barack Obama

Turns out the weekend before Super Bowl Sunday was Sen. Barack Obama's gridiron as he swept to an easy victory in the South Carolina Democratic Primary, despite the racial rhetoric, finger pointing, bickering, and Bill Clinton's big nose.

But without mentioning his endorsement of Obama last year, Rev. Jesse Jackson spoke to Essence.com at length about the election, particularly about South Kakalak, and how faaaaarrrrr away November really is (my head hurts when I think about it.).

He even takes you back to those times in the Jeri Curl days when he was winning primaries, and making Democrats say, 'umm, what just happened?' Why we don't see that as 80s nostalgia just as much as Members Only jackets, I'll never know. Here's a tidbit from the interview:

Essence.com: As somebody who was born in South Carolina, what do you think about the way African-American voters were portrayed by the media leading up to the primary? For example, they started talking about the barbershop and the beauty shop vote. Do you have any problem with the way South Carolina voters were portrayed?

J.J: No. My concern is that while focusing on the color of the vote, they were not focusing on Black issues and substance. For example, student debt-I think student loans are like a billion dollars. The disparity between Black and White student loans is alarming. The great disparities in infant mortality and life expectancy-great disparities.The income disparity... The college enrollment disparities... The largest industry in that state is no longer cotton. It's the jail-industrial complex. There's 24 state prisons in South Carolina and only one state college, South Carolina State. So we are free, but not equal. We live in one America under one flag, but there are some structural inequalities. Stop focusing so much on the color of our vote and start focusing on the substance of our situation.

Politically speaking, we've actually heard more lately about Jackson's criticisms of Obama when it comes to the election. But this turns out to be a pretty smart interview and I liked Jackson's dialogue. He manages to remind us that there is still an agenda among African Americans, that is an equally important part of the political kaleidoscope.

But at the end he says the same annoying thing that every politician says: "Politics is a contact sport."

Will someone please tell me just when the hell running for public office became equivalent to losing your bicuspids while playing hockey?

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this post said erroneously that Jackson had not made an endorsement in the 2008 election. In actuality, Jackson endorsed Obama nearly a year ago.

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Obama's Nation, Obama's State, Welcome to South Carolina

Faye Anderson — 2008-01-25T14:17:00+00:00

Filed under: Elections, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton

On the eve of the first southern Democratic presidential primary, the contest for the black vote isn't even close. African Americans overwhelmingly support Barack Obama. So earlier in the week, Hillary Clinton left for greener pastures.

Obama is barnstorming across South Carolina like he owns it. He will hold a late night rally tonight at the University of South Carolina. Jamie Foxx was spotted at the Columbia airport so he may show up to help mobilize voters.

On my flight to Columbia, I interviewed New York state Sen. Bill Perkins. Perkins said he supports Obama because the times "call for something different than politics as usual." Obama has the "experience and message that speaks to the change that people want. He can win cross different lines of division."

Although Obama has lost primaries in New Hampshire, Michigan and Nevada, Perkins dismissed any notion that Obama's Iowa victory was a fluke. "It's a race for delegates, not a race for states. The one who gets the most delegates determines who gets the nomination."

Perkins added: "We have a long way to go. This is far from over. We're only five states in a 50 state situation. When we get to New York, it'll be a different story."

I asked about Bill Clinton's role in Hillary's campaign. The former president's Harlem office is in his senate district. Perkins said: "It's unfortunate that he's taken the low road considering his stature. He's been hurting her." He pointed to a New York Daily News editorial that identifies Bill as the "source of unseemly tactics."

My taxi driver, Patrick Scott, echoed Perkins' concerns. Patrick said he's leaning towards Obama though he's also considering John Edwards. He thinks the double-teaming of Obama is "unfair. They should focus on ideas not personal attacks. It discourages folks from voting when they hear the negativity."

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