Response To Obama's 'A More Perfect Union' Speech (The Buck Stops With Us)
Published: Wednesday - March 19, 2008
Words by Eddie Huang
Barack Obama Photo: Getty Images
Each American Generation has had its civil rights leaders. Our brand of American racism is unique, alive, and elusive. It pops up when you least expect and ignored when most obvious, but each generation has seen people step up and wrestle with it. Our great grandparents had Booker T. Washington, our grandparents had W.E.B. Dubois, and our parents had Martin and Malcolm. These leaders always stepped into a debate concerning whether it was time to push forward or a time to push back. But Tuesday (March 18), Obama did both and stepped in as the civil rights leader of our generation.
Washington and Dubois have always been compared and contrasted. Washington did what he had to do with what he had at the time. He encouraged African-Americans to "cast down your bucket where you are" in his famous Atlanta Compromise Speech. Like Obama, he talked about the opportunity America offered:
Cast it down in agriculture, mechanics, in commerce, in domestic service, and in the professions. And in this connection, it is well to bear in mind that whatever other sins the South may be called to bear, when it comes to business, pure and simple, it is in the South that the Negro is given a man's chance in the commercial world, and in nothing is this Exposition more eloquent than in emphasizing this chance.
He emphasized the positives and played down the negatives because blacks just didn't have the political and economic power to negotiate anything more. They were stuck in a holding pattern. Today, people look back on Washington's words and criticize him for compromising, but if you take his words in the historical context, the man fell on the sword for the rest of his community. He validated and made it alright to settle in the name of survival. Any good backpacker or explorer will tell you, food, water, and shelter first.
Then, along came Dubois who openly criticized Washington and demanded change "NOW." He also spoke openly about the plight of Black America and his feelings, which Washington was not able to express as freely. Even in Dubois' generation, he recognized twoness:
One ever feels his twoness -- an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder.
Immigrants and minorities in America, serve several masters. They have the American cultural/societal expectations, the native expectations, their personal expectations, etc. Many have several reference groups that conflict and it's very difficult to navigate and negotiate identity under these circumstances. White people or members of the dominant culture in other countries, have similar issues, but undoubtedly, I think they may even admit, it is more difficult when you're a minority or an immigrant. In Washington's case, he simply would not have survived speaking more liberally like Dubois did (and he wasn't even speaking that freely). Dubois took direct shots at the establishment and courageously identified race issues and spoke honestly:
One is astonished in the study of history at the recurrence of the idea that evil must be forgotten, distorted, skimmed over. We must not remember that Daniel Webster got drunk, but only that he was a splendid constitutional lawyer. We must forget that George Washington was a slave owner... and simply remember the things we regard as creditable and inspiring. The difficulty, of course, with this philosophy is that history loses its value as an incentive and example; it paints perfect man and noble nations, but it does not tell the truth.
In many ways, I see parallels between Dubois and Obama's Pastor Rev. Wright. Dubois was much more metered, controlled, and conscious in his speech, but he shares an anger and need for immediate change like Rev. Wright. This goes without saying, Rev. Wright is radical, he's divisive, and many things he's said are ignorant. He sees racism, he sees discrimination, he sees the American Power Structure, and he doesn't want to accept it. But, Rev. Wright is wrong to blindly attack and assume things about white people like he has previously. He makes several unfair assumptions about Hillary Clinton, 9/11, and a lot of it is hate speech. His hate speech though is different than someone like Imus, Rosie O'Donnell, or Miss Jones (Hot 97). Rev. Wright's comments stem from the roots of oppression and discrimination. There is a reason to his rhetoric, as skewed and radical as it is.
Obama's A More Perfect Union Speech
We can't just write him off, just like we can't write Geraldine Ferraro off. Both have a source of frustration for their statements and the source should be examined. As Obama said:
Even for those blacks who did make it, questions of race, and racism, continue to define their worldview in fundamental ways. For the men and women of Reverend Wright's generation, the memories of humiliation and doubt and fear have not gone away; nor has the anger and the bitterness of those years. That anger may not get expressed in public, in front of white co-workers or white friends. But, it does find voice in the barbershop or around the kitchen table. At times, that anger is exploited by politicians, to gin up votes along racial lines, or to make up for a politician's own failings.
If we want to see real change, we can't keep these feelings in the barbershop or around the kitchen table. They need to be heard, they need to be CHALLENGED, and the sources of the frustration need to be addressed. We see cases all the time now concerning the rising rates of violence even among young children and part of the problem is that we use outcasting techniques to cope. We don't address the so-called "psychos," we stigmatize them as "other," do surface level inquiries and hope it doesn't happen again. The feelings of these people who express radical views need to be taken seriously and challenged. In the interviews of the churchgoers, you see there is a deep racial and ideological divide. A lot of the Black people agree with Rev. Wright, even people of other races agree with Rev. Wright. A lot of people also agree with Geraldine Ferraro, who still stands her ground. She's no psycho, she's no racist, she has an UNPOPULAR OPINION that again, needs to be heard, and needs to be challenged. How can you expect to make progress if you dismiss by majority opinion without addressing the unpopular opinion itself.
People will say, there's a double standard in this country. The same people that wanted Ferraro kicked off the Clinton campaign, weren't as quick to dismiss Rev. Wright. Well, there's a reason. White people don't get the mulligan when it comes to racism. There is the understanding in this country that white's have the "privilege" of being white (see e.g. McIntosh, Invisible Knapsack of Privilege) and don't face as much of the frustration, discrimination, and oppression as minorities do. When minorities such as Rev. Wright engage in hate speech, it's equally wrong, they get the slap on the wrist, but usually, they get a second chance. We understand where the frustration comes from. Whites are supposed to "know better." I understand how this is difficult for many whites to swallow. Especially low-income white people who are minorities in their own particular communities. They still have many of the privileges other Whites do, but the situation is different. This is a problem because we can't continue to make blanket assumptions about race. Even if the majority of people understand and feel it is justified to hold white people to a higher standard in light of American history, it breeds animosity and prevents real social change.
Today, Obama challenged us all. He's asking minorities and whites to step back, process our experiences, and give the other side a chance. He isn't telling us to cast down our buckets or compromise, but he's saying, I hear you, I see you, but this ain't gonna work. He's pulling us back, asking us to exercise restraint in our comments and in many ways to put this election and race in context. We can't be adversarial; we need to act collaboratively. He said:
The fact is that the comments that have been made and the issues that have surfaced over the last few weeks reflect the complexities of race in this country that we've never really worked through -- a part of our union that we have yet to perfect. And if we walk away now, if we simply retreat into our respective corners, we will never be able to come together and solve challenges like health care, or education, or the need to find good jobs for every American.
We can't avoid the problem and we can't just blame the other side. There are deep seeded feelings on both sides of the fence that need to be heard, understood, and addressed. We can't continue to dismiss those we consider "other" and expect them to listen to us and vice versa (I'm not speaking from or for one side or the other here, but to all in general).
The point isn't what side Hillary or Barack stand on respectively. Hypothetically, Hillary could agree with Ferraro and Obama could agree with Wright, but in the end, your opinions are not as valuable as your actions. We all have biases and prejudices. The issue is whether we act on them. We should spend less time talking about who is or isn't racist, but instead focus on the problem itself; what can be done to change the issues we have with race in America? How can we tackle this country's unique brand of ignorance (which is unique to the history, not just slavery, but widespread immigration of many ethnicities)? Well, Obama's pushing us to listen. Speak less, listen more, and try to see the other side. Don't dismiss, don't assume, but look at statements and people as individuals and try to see the source of frustration.
This speech and further discussions on race could prove to be more important than the election and presidency itself. To me, it's okay if Barack doesn't win, if he can get us to talk. If his actions force the media and citizens of this country to exchange thoughts, opinions, and feelings about what it's like to be "Asian," "Black," "Latino," "White," etc. in America. Too often, discussions of race begin and end based on assumptions and stereotypes proliferated by talking heads. There isn't enough real discussion in our communities among different groups about the issues we have with each other. For many years, I have been opposed to racial, ideological, or political groups because they foster insular thinking and preaching to the choir. Yes, you want to build and foster support for certain groups or ideas, but you become blinded when surrounded by only those with similar opinions. We need open ended discussion with those that disagree.
The debates are a great example. In each candidate's victory or rally speeches, they sound great and everything's good to go, but that's like playing basketball against a ghost-man. Real progress and discussion happens in the debates, where differences appear and solutions need to be reached. The only problem is that in the debate situation, they are still pandering to the audience. Everyday, we have the opportunity to change the way someone views race. Your actions, whether you want them to be or not, are a reflection on your background and the characteristics you carry. It's inevitable that what you do will become a representation, large or small, of your community. Don't be afraid to address race if it comes up, don't be afraid to speak about issues if you see them, and most importantly, don't be afraid of "the other side."
I know in previous blogs and through some of our clothing (Hoodman), I am very protective of liberal thought and foreign cultures. It's a reaction because I fear cultural imperialism. The market system and globalization (whether you believe in globalization or not), put cultures at odds and force them to compete. Whoever has the most customers survives. I think this is dangerous and I speak out against it by protecting cultures that I feel are under attack. But, at the end of the day, I eat, drink, enjoy, and consume products and services from a diverse set of cultures because, I'm a New Yorker (only four years, but it's been a damn good four years). When I consume, I feel a responsibility to understand, represent, and possibly protect what it is I'm consuming. When you use, you should give back; that's just how I feel. I'm going off on a tangent here, but the point is this, we can all change. I have problems myself being overly protectionist or paranoid about capitalism and cultural imperialism, but people like Obama give you hope, as corny as that is.
The world needs spark plugs like Barack, who initiate change. He isn't the smartest guy, he's not even the most well-spoken guy (he has a weird hitch in his delivery and has awkward word choice at times), but he has vision and the ability to empathize. He sees the other side, he puts himself in that position, and he is willing to admit flaws and find common ground. Solutions aren't perfect. People on both sides have to give something up, but you need mediators like Obama who can get the conversation going. All these civil rights leaders, legislators, civil rights laws, etc., what is the point? Providing the framework for the real work to go on in the communities between individuals. At some point, the buck stops with us. Racial problems aren't going to solve themselves.
Legislation isn't going to solve the problem. Obama isn't going to solve the problem. It's each and every one of us making the effort to see, understand, and empathize with what we view as "other" to really be the United States of America we always talk about. It takes more than just Ashley Baia and an "elderly black man," it takes a f---ing village, people!
This column was written by Eddie Huang, founder of Hoodman clothing. Visit him at Hoodman.tv.
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