The Black American Divide

Over the weekend, in several different settings, we were discussing Barry’s Pastor problem and some of what we found is that, among us younger black professionals, there is a lot of anger towards the older generation and a fear that Obama might lose because they can’t control their anger towards White America; an anger that we don’t share.
Obama’s Wright ties may be ‘big problem,’ some say – USATODAY.com
What’s new: Obama’s church fires back at pastor’s critics -USATODAY.com
Breitbart.com: Obama Decries Racial Rhetoric
Generation Obama? Perhaps Not. – New York Times

Men like Rev. Wright grew up in a different America; one where being black (regardless of economic station) was the primary factor in your American experience, so it makes sense that he sees things in shades of race. On the other hand, we have grown up in an America where having money is the primary factor. He grew up in a country that rejected his culture and demanded he do the same in order to be accepted. We grew up in a country where our culture is a major definer of American culture in general. His generation feels like they are “in” this country and ours feels like we “are” this country. We see racism and continue to fight it. We know America is pretty f’d up in a lot of ways, but we we love it and don’t want to hear anyone inside or outside damning it.

Many young blacks have rejected men like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton as voices because we don’t feel like we can be generalized as members of a group in need of representation. We view ourselves as individuals in a world where our priorities are unique enough to only be represented by ourselves. And even if we do seek representation, it isn’t by people who boil everything down to skin color. And yes, we understand that it is because of much of the efforts of Rev. Wright’s generation that we have the freedom to no longer be confined by our skin color, but that doesn’t absolve them (or whites of their generation) of their responsibility to evolve as the country has. It’s not too much to ask. Not all black people his age, or even older, feel that way. We all agreed that most older black people we’ve spoken to over the past 4 days are angry at Rev. Wright and do not excuse that talk as just “among friends” conversation.

Yes, some of this is just a generational disconnect that exist everywhere regardless of race. We don’t get them and they don’t appreciate that. Nothing new there. But in Rev. Wright’s words, I don’t hear perspective. I only hear racism, bitterness and hatred. Not just the words, but the angry way in which he says them. I wouldn’t want that anywhere near my president anymore than I’d want the President of Bob Jones University having the ear of W. Geez, you know I’m a Chicago girl down for Barry till the end, but the brother is already liberal enough to keep me awake at night. Then you’re gonna add this Black Panther speech from his influencers?

We all agreed we have older relatives who sound just like him and when we call them on their racism, they feel they’ve earned the right to be this way and they frankly don’t give a damn what it might cost us. The desire to express their anger is just too compelling to understand the consequences to the rest of us. And we’re supposed to just take it. We might lose a chance to have the first black president because of it. But you know, having a black president would put a wrench in that “America hates the black man” platform, so maybe they do care about the consequences. And no I am not absolving whites of their responsiblity to not lump us all under the umbrella of any one person good or bad, but that’s not what this post is about.

Just like we don’t share the views of our relatives who think that way, although we love them, none of us believe that this is how Barry views America even though he probably loves Rev. Wright. He’s older than us, but he’s still from that post-civil rights era and his American experience is more like ours. He also seems like a reasonable person to see things in just black and white. But what do we do about this rift that has been existing for a long time? If Wright’s rantings end up being the primary reason Obama tanks, the anger that already exists will only grow and its going to cost us even more.