Comments on: What’s Wrong with Obama’s Speeches on Race http://forbesavenue.com/2009/07/20/whats-wrong-with-obamas-speeches-on-race/ We do culture. Everything you want to know...about every thing. Tue, 01 Mar 2011 14:15:38 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Why Obama can’t be the national spokesperson on race | Forbes Avenue http://forbesavenue.com/2009/07/20/whats-wrong-with-obamas-speeches-on-race/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Why Obama can’t be the national spokesperson on race | Forbes Avenue Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:27:29 +0000 http://forbesavenue.com/?p=58#comment-12 [...] this week, tigger500 wrote a post titled “What’s wrong with Obama’s speeches on race.“  Read it.  And allow me to extend that [...] [...] this week, tigger500 wrote a post titled “What’s wrong with Obama’s speeches on race.“  Read it.  And allow me to extend that [...]

]]> By: tigger500 http://forbesavenue.com/2009/07/20/whats-wrong-with-obamas-speeches-on-race/comment-page-1/#comment-5 tigger500 Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:02:11 +0000 http://forbesavenue.com/?p=58#comment-5 And that, for me, is the problem. I think its incredibly irresponsible to do so. He should care. We all should care. Ending racism can't be about making white folks feel good. In fairness, he (like most Americans) is concerned with race relations, not anti-racism. Many people confuse the two, or rather, think that if we all get along, racism will go away or work itself out. I think this POV is fundamentally flawed and makes true anti-racism work that much harder. For a lot of white folks, what the Black president is saying is that we all have a legitimate gripe and Black people's problems aren't any different than anyone else's. Or worse, what we're seeing is that white men are gaining traction by making it seem like they are the new victims. Not being clear, honest, and direct about the unique plight of Blackness contributes to an environment that continues to privilege whiteness. And that, for me, is the problem. I think its incredibly irresponsible to do so. He should care. We all should care. Ending racism can’t be about making white folks feel good.

In fairness, he (like most Americans) is concerned with race relations, not anti-racism. Many people confuse the two, or rather, think that if we all get along, racism will go away or work itself out. I think this POV is fundamentally flawed and makes true anti-racism work that much harder. For a lot of white folks, what the Black president is saying is that we all have a legitimate gripe and Black people’s problems aren’t any different than anyone else’s. Or worse, what we’re seeing is that white men are gaining traction by making it seem like they are the new victims. Not being clear, honest, and direct about the unique plight of Blackness contributes to an environment that continues to privilege whiteness.

]]> By: griffn http://forbesavenue.com/2009/07/20/whats-wrong-with-obamas-speeches-on-race/comment-page-1/#comment-4 griffn Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:11:42 +0000 http://forbesavenue.com/?p=58#comment-4 Interesting take on Obama's race speech in Philly. I didn't get the impression he was saying that white resentment was equal to black frustration, just equally legitimate, like you said. I'd have to go back and read it again. But I will say that Obama has a knack for phrasing things so both sides hear what they want, especially on difficult issues like race and abortion. So whether he actually did intend to equate the two or not, he probably wasn't that mad if white folks walked away thinking he did. Interesting take on Obama’s race speech in Philly. I didn’t get the impression he was saying that white resentment was equal to black frustration, just equally legitimate, like you said. I’d have to go back and read it again.

But I will say that Obama has a knack for phrasing things so both sides hear what they want, especially on difficult issues like race and abortion. So whether he actually did intend to equate the two or not, he probably wasn’t that mad if white folks walked away thinking he did.

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