Obama: Logic and Excitement
March 23, 2007
And we loved him cause, in him we, saw some of us
He walked like ussss, talked like ussss – Jay Z
From the song, Meet the Parents
I think the excerpt above epitomizes the appeal of one, Senator and Presidential candidate, Barack Obama. It simultaneously, explains the vigor by which individuals will defend and support Senator Obama whenever he is attacked by mainstream media or leading political figures. So are people too sensitive when it comes to Obama that they can’t at the same time hold him accountable?
In some of my conversations with other Black folk, I have often heard that we must take care to be just as objective in our analysis of Obama as we are towards other candidates. And I agree with this logic up to a point. I think that it is unwise to bottle the excitement that the Obama campaign is generating. The only way that the Democrats will take the White House is if new voters are mobilized, young people, and so-called independents and right of center Republicans switch sides. But even if Obama does not win the nomination, who else do you think is capable of mobilizing these crucial groups?
Having said that, I know it seems like many people have drank the Obama Kool-Aid without knowing the flavor as it were. But that is OK. And here’s why. If we, (as activists who try to achieve positive change with as many people as possible) are really honest, we don’ think there are enough “conscious” folks who are willing to do the grassroots work that will inspire real change. In my opinion, we should think about Obama’s campaign as a way to pull people into the movement that would otherwise not be engaged.
So my fear is that in our quest to make sure that we hold Obama accountable, we miss out on tapping the groundswell of excitement that can be used for things that have nothing to do with politics. In so many ways, Presidential elections have very little to do with the actual candidate. While I agree that we should Obama accountable, we should first ask if we are holding each other accountable. When that happens, we can achieve greatness regardless of who holds the White House.
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Senator Obama
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3 Responses to “Obama: Logic and Excitement”
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I think the sensitivity here is interesting and not limited to Obama. Another example here is how people react to Bill Clinton, who is a person I like, but I still don’t understand why Black people are so in love with him. Say something bad about Bill and people act like you insulted them.
I experienced this myself when I wrote about Sharpton and Obama and people thought I was saying something bad about Obama. I think that it is anti-intellectual to give people passes, which is why I don’t give passes to white candidates or Black candidates.
B, I disagree with this statement (my emphasis added): “I know it seems like many people have drank the Obama Kool-Aid without knowing the flavor as it were. But that is OK.” I don’t think that this is responsible, regardless of the reasoning.
Thinking “about Obama’s campaign as a way to pull people into the movement that would otherwise not be engaged” is the right approach in my mind, but it does not justify blind support. The goal of the activist, “conscious” individual as you call him/her, is to get people to think, not to get people to follow.
Great comment G,
I see why you would take issue with my comment that “I know it seems like many people have drank the Obama Kool-Aid without knowing the flavor as it were. But that is OK.”
I feel like as activists, it is our responsibility to take advantage of the short attention span that Obama is sparking and politicize people to action.
I just feel like realistically, before we can create conscious and engaged individuals, we must first get their attention. And for me, if Obama is the catalyst that would make you search him on the internet and find sites like The SuperSpade, then drinking the Kool-Aid is acceptable, but only in the short-term.
Thanks G,
Taking advantage of the “short attention span” is the right approach, I agree. I just I want us to do so carefully.