This is - I think - our favorite game to play when it comes to race. Locate the racist, focus on the racist, blog and tweet the crap out of that racist, and shame that racist as much as possible. The racist shouldn't be able to carry on life as he knew it. I too hope for change in the person who took a misstep, but I think we are missing the bigger picture. We use magnifying glasses to focus on individual events rather than seeing the connections and the patterns that point to larger societal problems.
Over the last couple of months, I have begun to expect that every un-identified number that pops up on my cell phone is probably connected to a well-intentioned (most of the time) reporter wondering if I could offer my thoughts on Obama‘s mixed race identity. Asking me to comment because of my work with Swirl, they have all wondered how hot of a topic Obama has been amongst other mixed race people. Was everyone excited about it? Were people taking offense to the fact that he was identifying as an African-American man? And what does he mean for the future of mixed race people everywhere? These are just some of the questions that came up during the interviews in which I have taken part (I guess though, that I should at least mention my favorite of all, “What if Obama identified as a white man? What would people think of that?” The best rhetorical question I have heard in a while. If nothing else, these conversations surely have been entertaining).
...but, I am absolutely ecstatic about Obama winning the Democratic nomination! I'm sure that others would easily join me in saying that I never thought I would see a candidate of Obama's caliber in my time. He talks about the world in a way I have rarely heard anyone talk about, let alone a presidential candidate. He puts forth strong messages about the need for our diverse nation to come together, he inspires a wide range of citizens to care about our country, he motivates our youth to pay attention. He is amazing and genuine, and and I am absolutely inspired by him -- I think a lot of people are. I am excited to see how people will now become galvanized in order to ensure his win. Obama winning the nomination inspires hope in me -- I inherited a bit of cynacism after the painful Kerry-Bush loss, but I must say, I am shocked and pleased. I might even try to be a little less cynical about our government and its processes. ;) But only maybe.
Obama has the potential to create substantial change in the US. I wholeheartedly believe it and hope that many of you out there -- those who care about a healthy future for our country -- will work to support Barack as he fights for his seat in the White House.
At the annual cookie swap that my mom and I have in December (yesssss, I said cookie swap), her friends called me into the kitchen. Somehow, word had gotten out that I wasn't yet sure for whom I was voting. So here I was, standing in front of a group of about ten middle-class, middle-aged white women, all seemingly for Hillary. And they looked at me. "Soooooo, Jenny?! Who's it going to be? I mean, Hillary is your Wellesley sister after all!!!" Wow, trying to play the Wellesley card. Dirty and low. I took a deep breath, considered getting into it with them...but then decided not to, since my thinking wasn't yet fully formed. That, and at least 5 seriously arched eyebrows told me better. I said, "Ya knooooowwww, let's just enjoy the cookies, ok?" They let me off the hook, but I knew that this would be a tough one. A situation in which people were going to want to see whether I cared more about sexism or racism. After all, this is how people are looking at this race.
Recent Comments