Obama Vs "They'

You know the scenario folks:

Family gathering (birthday party for my cousin).

Men and women separate into their own clusters. (men watching basketball, women in the kitchen talking)

In the kitchen the women start talking about Barack Obama. I can't say they were talking "politics". They weren't. Nothing that they said could be classified as "policy discussion". It was a discussion about Obama.

Obama versus "They".

My aunt had come into town to celebrate the birthday party of her niece. As the conversation continued she was steady making references to "They"

"They did not want to see a Black man in office"

"They don't know how to handle a strong Black woman"

"They tried everything to trip him up"

"They went after him on his pastor, being a Muslim................................."

Then when she said "They were running some negative ads" I chimed in and asked "Who is they?"

My aunt replied "John McCain".

Then I asked her "Did Barack Obama run any negative campaign ads against McCain?"

She answered "Well not like THEY were trying to do against Obama. The negative stuff that Obama stated about Bush were true. Bush is the cause of all of the problems that we are having right now".

I have stated before - my task as one who dares to go against the grain is a touch one. This woman used to change my diapers. I am not able to fire off a blistering attack on her reasoning. I try hard during these situations to listen and take in the natural path of the debate when there is no constraining force present to allow Black folks to have a balanced discussion.

It comes as no surprise that many Black people use the Republican Party as their metaphor for White racism and White supremacy.

Thus of the 5 ladies who were participating in the dialogue the victory of Barack Obama in November 2008 was a victory against White supremacy.

As they continued on with their dialogue it became increasingly clear to me that theirs was a Barack Obama love fest. His qualifications were referential to those of John McCain and the Republicans. He survived their attacks and was steady and even keeled under attack. This showed his leadership.

"Oh he is going to be a successful president, he has come along at the right time", said another cousin.

"We now have an intelligent man with an honorable cabinet assisting him".

Then I sat back and thought about how to ask the big picture question that needed to be asked at the time:

"Can I ask you all a question?" I asked.
"When you have Black people constantly striving to put in elected officials that are favorable to us so that our interests can be carried out do you ever reach a point where you functionally have enough of these people in power where the community now turns from an 'asscent to power' over to saying 'Alright - you now have enough people in place to begin to deliver upon your promises. Do it or else......?"

A lot of silence and blinking eyes.

Then one of my other cousins came over to me and said "People will realize that they need to 'do for self'. They can't wait for other people to do what they need to do. I used to work in the school system in XYZ city and I saw how some people get into power and begin to emulate THEM, thinking that they can do the same thing. The people have to get out there and press them".

Then I said "But that's just it. Once they have the favorable people in power those who USED TO 'speak truth to power' are not likely to go up against a person they favor even when the results fall short just like the last guy except they protested him. At some people there is a need to shift from protest to MANAGEMENT".

Then my aunt kicked in: "Remember Wilson Goode in Philadelphia? With those Muslim people on Osage?"

"You mean the Move organization?" I asked

"Yeah those back to Africa people. Well they thought that they (I assume she was talking about White folks) could get Goode to act like they wanted him to. You see how much mess that was when he went along with them".

I returned into the other room with the fellas. There was no way that I was going to press any of them hard enough to make any difference. It doesn't matter after all any way.

After listening to this group and their focus on "the vessel" (Obama) rather than on what they want to be delivered I have concluded that it is not worth debating. If history is any reference there is no man who will occupy that seat and pass through unscathed.

I realize that they are likely to continue their defense and blame shifting throughout this particular phase.

At the end of the day, however, the Black community, having gotten past this "hurdle" will be forced to CHANGE if it is ever to obtain the actual deliverables that it wants while in the context of having favorable people presiding over their interests. Failure to learn how to MANAGE these people rather than SUPPORT these people no matter what they do (because they are fighting for you and thus ATTEMPTING /INTENTING to bring home the bacon) only allows them to grow in political power while your community continues to slide.