Most of what I write is about feminism, but because third-wave liberal feminism aims at more than just examining women's rights and subjugations, but also the intersections of race and requires us to fight for other social injustices, I want to touch on the latest controversy, with the National Republican Committee candidate for chairman, Chip Saltsman, sending out a song called "Barack the Magic Negro."
While our first reaction will probably be shock and anger, seeing this as an attack on our president, our party, and if we happen to be black, on our race - I can assure you that while those feelings are most natural and even justifiable, we should see this as more than that - it is an attack on our country and its hopes and dreams.
For me, this isn't about the Republican Party and the Democratic Party - the Democratic Party having found racial harmonies and acceptance, while the Republican Party gets left behind and still living in the muddled beliefs that race trumps Americanism. For me, this is about the few in America who are still trying to use race as a wedge to define us - and to divide us. This is about the few who, still grasping for an answer after a landslide of an election that saw an African-American elected president, do things that at the dawn of a new year and American leadership, is no longer acceptable.
We should be angry - we should be hell bent - but not because it is an attack on us, or our values, but an attack on a nation that, for the last eight years, has longed for change. This is an attack on a nation that, for many, since the beginning of our nation's history, has yearned for this day of racial harmonies. This is an attack on all the children who have finally learned to see their peers as Americans, rather than the color of their skin, and those who, on the first Tuesday of November, learned that their skin color no longer mattered in America, so long as they have the will and desire to work hard to achieve their dreams. This is an attack on better days in America.
This is an attack not just on the dreams of African-Americans or Asian-Americans, but all the American Dream.
But, folks, I can assure you that such attacks no longer work - and that America has moved forward - that this is not an attack from the Republican Party, but the very few still left, who cannot grasp the power of change in America. As Americans, while we still remember and remain aware of the painful racial divides the hurt us a nation, we've moved on, and any attempts to try to re-open those wounds this time, won't work. Chip Saltsman will learn that quickly.
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It's very very far from only being "a very few," and while not all racists are Republicans and not all Republicans are racists, the correlation is strong, at least at the leadership level. There's a reason that Rush Limbaugh, the source of the "Magic Negro" song, is the voice and people like Chip Saltsman and Katon Dawson are competing to be the brains of the operation. What do 1. southern states, 2. Red States and, 3. states with the strongest racially polarized voting (blacks vote one way and whites the opposite) have in common? They're mostly the same states.
Racism failed to sway the election this time, because the dynamics (Republicans have brought the country to undeniable disaster) and the seriousness of the issues at hand were unshakable. (Obama also ran a great campaign and McCain a lousy one, but that's secondary to the extreme tilt of the battlefield after 8 years of Bush.) That means we have an opportunity for racial progress, it doesn't mean the fight's been won.
you write:
'This is an attack on a nation that, for many, since the beginning of our nation's history, has yearned for this day of racial harmonies.This is an attack on all the children who have finally learned to see their peers as Americans, rather than the color of their skin, and those who, on the first Tuesday of November, learned that their skin color no longer mattered in America, so long as they have the will and desire to work hard to achieve their dreams. This is an attack on better days in America.'
i find these statements, especially the latter, perhaps a bit distasteful - is all racism gone now there's this african american guy at the top of the hierarchy? Don't think so. and what are the 'better days of america' - that one day in november?
I find your piece, by the way, more rhetorical than anything else. This is not necessarily a bad thing - I mean, if I'm hearing it I'd probably impressed by its use of Grand Concepts and Sweeping Statements. Yet it looks a bit naive, now - and its conclusion seems so too.
Sorry.
I am stunned by the title of this song. I haven't heard the song so perhaps I'm jumping the gun, but from the title alone I wonder how it's even possible that a serious contender for a leadership position in the RNC would allow themselves to be associated with it. Canada has racists aplenty, I'm sure, but I can't see any of our politicians not being run out of town on a rail after that sort of racist display.
Well. Maybe in Alberta.
I'm not very eloquent, please forgive me.
The title alone makes me want to vomit. I'm afraid of the anger that will overtake me when/if I read the lyrics.
My gauge for racism being over in this country is when such disgusting songs aren't laughed at and played on the airwaves, by any group large or small.
Maybe I am crazy to hope that day will come?
I've heard the term "Magical Negro" before, as its used to describe a certain type of stock character in fiction and isn't inherently racist. I'd never heard the song though, so I went and looked up the lyrics.
Song is sung by an Al Sharpton impersonator, to the tune of Puff the Magic Dragon:
I'm sure I'm missing a lot of the references in the song since I'm not really familiar with Al Sharpton, but the song is obviously heavily inspired by the referenced L.A. Times article.
This isn't the first time I've heard Barack Obama compared to the "Magical Negro" trope. The flaws in this are:
A) By definition, the Magical Negro is a one dimensional character on the sidelines who's sole purpose is to help the white protagonist in a movie or story. Obama isn't on the sidelines, he's front and center--he's going to be the PRESIDENT!
B) We're not in a movie, and Obama is not a stock character. He's an actual human being and human beings are complex. He's no more a "Magical Negro" than I am a "Manic Pixie Dream Girl", despite superficial resemblance to that stereotypical character.
Race is a cultural construct. Racism is still thriving in the States. We have a lot of work to do.
48 percent voted against Obama.
48 percent.
Even with the travesty that Bush's terms were, 48%.
You can't have freedom for some and call it freedom. Perhaps when sexism is eradicated other isms have a better chance of being eradicated?
In Arkansas, people would prefer children remain without family than have homosexuals as parents.
Nationally, women are still paid less than men for the same work. I wont say equal work because we work harder to get half way as far in most industries that are still dominated by men (boys club).
The stats of imprisoned African American men in this country are obscene.
And racism doesn't begin and end with African American's.
The Latino vote is growing, so we may see more Latino politicians, but, that doesn't change who is being paid unfairly for domestic work or hard labor in the country.
Racism, like sexism, is still a part of our culture. Yes, it took a blow, but, it's still here.
Do not think we can just relax and breathe a sigh of "it's over" relief just yet, we have a long way to go.
52 percent voted for Obama.
52 percent.
That's more than voted for Clinton or Bush II in the last four elections.