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The Black American Divide

March 17th, 2008
By ANGELA WINTERS

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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.



This entry was posted on Monday, March 17th, 2008 at 7:47 am and is filed under Newsweek Blogitics, Barack Obama, 2008 Elections. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Viewing 28 Comments

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    Angela oh Angela!! You hit the nail on the head so hard that it's in orbit. Many young black professionals (myself included) do feel that rift in Black America. As I mentioned in my earlier post, I'm the son of two former Black Panthers. And I have a family full of 55 to 65 year old civil rights activists. They've been "pissed off" for a long time and can't help but lash out. I understand their anger but just don't share it at that level. I've been on the arse end of racism yet it hasn't clouded my view of white folks in the slightest. I just recognize that some people "roll down bigot's lane" at times and as long as they don't turn those bigoted beliefs into HARMFUL ACTIONS, I could care less.

    David Gergen made the point on a AC360 (CNN) about white and black still not seeing the real deal about each other. And I bet many white folks don't know about the divisions in the black community. We're a complex lot.
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    Ha! We all have those folks in our family and I think a lot of white people have the equivalent in theirs. And like you said, you just don't stop loving them.

    The recent State of Black America made it clear. These generalizations just don't work anymore because, good or bad, blacks have gone the way of every other race in the country, splitting by economic lines. Poor blacks are going in one direction and middle class blacks in another. The generational thing just another split and unfortunately, this dust up is a glaring example.
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    I have defected here from Daily Kos (or should we call it Obama Kos?). I am now looking for the same kind of alternative media in the talk radio arena (one that is not unapologetically pro-Obama and anti-HRC). I have given up listening to my usual podcasts like Young Turks, Rachel Maddow, and Ed Schultz because they are clearly biased against HRC. Can anyone suggest any alternatives? I don't want to have to resort to full blown conservative radio - there must be some other options?

    Thank you.
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    Angela, Tyrone,

    I get what you're saying. I really do. But at what point does someone's off-the-wall toxicity render them as someone the community should expunge?

    Tyrone, your parents were Black Panthers. Okay, fine. This may be a little OT, but just curious, has their thinking evolved since then? Regardless, you can't pick your parents. Or your crazy uncle. You can, however, pick the organizations and people you associate with. It would be one thing if Wright used to spew inflammatory rhetoric and has moderated -- but he hasn't. It's long been a component of who he is. And for Obama to attribute so much of his spiritual development to a man who espouses such hatred and then say "oh, i denounce his ideas" is laughably CYA-ish.

    I appreciate your insights to the black community, but I don't buy it as an excuse for Obama. Maybe the average joe can get away with it, but these kinds of things have serious ramifications for politicians. Will it sink Obama? There's too many other political and time factors at play here totally unrelated to this matter to say one way or another right now. But no amount of lipstick on this pig is going to make this matter anything but a black mark (no pun intended) on Obama's quest for the White House.
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    Idiosyncat,

    I get what you're saying. I really do. But at what point does someone's off-the-wall toxicity render them as someone the community should expunge?
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    No where in my post will you see an apology for Obama. This scrutiny is justified. His words are awful and Obama heard those words and continued to go to that church. If my pastor said those things I would never go back to that church, but that doesn't mean I would desert him completely if I considered him family. I think the same would be for you if you had a relative that was racist and you call them on it every time they spout that crap, but you don't stop loving them.

    The question of expunging remains the issue for me. Our generation has been angry for a while that the older generation's obssession with race is affecting the future. To be honest, that generation has a lot of resentment towards us because we won't get on board with that stuff.

    Look at the controversy on the Hill between older black members of Congress and the younger ones like Artur Davis, Harold Ford, Jr. and others who cross the line and vote with Republican on things like taxes. They get hell for it.
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    Angela: "No where in my post will you see an apology for Obama."

    I didn't see the thrust of your piece as an apology, but I guess kinda read into the last paragraph... Maybe not. My apologies for going there.

    "I think the same would be for you if you had a relative that was racist and you call them on it every time they spout that crap, but you don't stop loving them."

    Sure. I've heard more than my share of sarcastic "schvatzah" comments from some of my older (Jewish) family members. Loved grandma just the same. But that's my grandma. If as an adult I had voluntarily joined a synagogue where the Rabbi made repeated mentions to a black conspiracy to keep down the Jews or any number of other issues that I significantly disagreed with, I couldn't have come to love that person in the first place. Therein lies the questionable judgment.

    Inter-generational and inter-affinity group conflict can be uncomfortable. I think that's something that most of us can relate to on some level. But it's a good thing. It's how we all grow as human beings.
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    Idiosyncrat,
    None of your friends have political views outside of the conventional wisdom?

    I have quite a few extremely rightwing friends that I argue with on occasion, but I would never think of ending my friendship with them over their political views.

    And besides all that, it's not unreasonable for a black person to look warily on the white establishment.
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    To me the challenge and opportunity is for the younger generations to suck up the courage and patiences to share their experience with the older generations. Likewise for the older generations to remember that they were young once and had different experiences than their parents. Wisdom is keeping the relevant old stuff while incorporating the useful new stuff.

    I am Jewish but disagree strongly with the Israeli government building in the West Bank. Eventually Israel will have to back away from that obsolete thinking.
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    Chris,

    My close friends have diverse opinions indeed. And we discuss things vigorously. But we're not talking about disagreeing about domestic/foreign policy, abortion, religion, or whether the Beatles are the greatest band living or dead to grace this fine planet (they are) here. We're talking about embracing a conspiratorial hater. Nobody fitting such a definition is a close friend or mentor of mine. But I understand these things are definitional, which I suppose says as much about me as it does about the likes of Mr. Wright...

    Nice clout score, btw :-)
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