Co-Workers Surprised That Me As A Black Man Did Not Vote For Obama

This pass week I attended a team meeting with my co-workers from all over the country.   All of us are veteran, business oriented consultants who have fully developed ideas on politics, business and economics.

A conversation that ensued on the end of the table where I was sitting proved enlightening.  In addition to me, a Black male, there was 2 White males.  The other 4 people were - 2 men originally from Iran (they call it "Persia") and one originally from Pakistan and one from India.   Increasinging the "people of color" in my profession are from these regions rather than being African American.

We talked about a variety of subjects related to our profession.  Then the issue of Barack Obama and politics came up.  (I don't even recall what got us onto the subject)

I told the one White male that "I am a conservative".  He said "So you are a Republican, are you".  

I told him "No I am not a Republican.  My views are focused more on what I see within the Black community and what is needed to correct these issues.  My politics flow from that.  Thus there is no particular reason for me to be a Republican since my goal is not to promote Republican interests".

Then he asked "So you voted for John McCain over Barack Obama?"

I said "No.  I voted 'None of the Above'.   Barack Obama's party has dominant control over areas where Black people live in our highest concentrations.  I was not willing to give this party a national promotion when so much has been left undone at the local levels.  They effectively shift the blame to those forces that are not entrenched within these communities".

After hearing my statement that I did not vote for Barack Obama most of the other people chimed in and were surpised.

"You didn't vote for Barack Obama?"  was the general sentiment.

I fired back "Can you think of any candidate who could get 90%+ of the 'WHITE VOTE'?   What underlying motivate would have to be at play for a candidate to be able to round up the sentiments of White people who have quite a bit of ideological diversity?   Do you all figure that Black people don't have a similar diversity?"

At the time I didn't notice but the subject changed rather abruptly.    About 20 minutes later, the White guy who prompted my statements said to me "I've never seen you quite as passionate on any other subject before".

I then checked myself.  

• Was I angry when I was talking?   NO
  
• Was I defensive?  NO

I simply stated my case, focusing at the heart of the issue:  RACE and the assumed MONOLYTHIC thoughts of Black America.

I dared make the case that I as a Black man place THE BLACK CONDITION higher than I place wanting to see a Black man as president, thus I held his party more accountable than I chose to cheerlead for "the Black guy".

It is my opinion that the Democratic Party can do nothing to fail the Black Community when the community intrinsicly sees the ascent of the Democratic Party as its ticket to prosperity and power.  We are far more inclined to either look the other way at their failings of our interests OR shift the blame to the other guy as a means of coping with the issues that should be dealt with within.