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Re: Has obama brought the races together
I appreciate your candor. And I do think that Obama has been divisive. He leaped to a conclusion and into the Prof. Gates thing without even having the facts. Holder's DOJ refusing to hold the New Black Panthers responsible for voter intimidation in Philly is a story all by itself. And then there's that "If I had a son..." remark.
I'll admit, when he was first elected in 2008, my second silver lining was that not only was Obama black, but that it seemed his personal story would serve so well to help him counter so many destructive narratives in the african american community. Here was a man who could stand up and speak with credibility about growing up as a young black male without a father, who had married prior to having children, stayed married to a woman who (whatever else) appeared to be a dedicated and caring mother, who could stand up and talk to the black community today about the importance of raising children inside of a loving family, rather than on the streets, of the importance of fathers being their for their kids, rather than moving from one baby mamma / baby daddy to the next. Here was a Lawyer and Professor who could speak to the value of education and deride the notion that it was a "white thing", but rather a critical stepping stone out of poverty. Here was a figure universally adored within the African American community who could speak responsibly and respectfully counter the destructive influences of the Al Sharptons, the Jesse Jacksons. I figured the time spent listening to the crazy preacher was something he had done because it was helpful in Chicago Politics, rather than out of any kind of conviction.
Instead he seems to have chosen (deliberately or not) to insert himself into potentially racial situations in a way that divides. From the Police Acted Stupidly, to If I Had A Son He Would Look Like Trayvon to Eric Holders' Justice Department deciding White People Can't Have Their Civil Rights Violated So Why Protect Them.
Like so many other, it seems, I bought into a Hope that turned to ashes.
I appreciate your candor. And I do think that Obama has been divisive. He leaped to a conclusion and into the Prof. Gates thing without even having the facts. Holder's DOJ refusing to hold the New Black Panthers responsible for voter intimidation in Philly is a story all by itself. And then there's that "If I had a son..." remark.