Posted on 06/14/2009 4:32:36 PM PDT by LA Woman3
The realization recently hit: I voted for Barack Obama because of his skin color.
For a thoughtful, responsible voter, the admission was mildly jarring. Not that I regret having done it. I couldn’t be more proud.
I’ve never based my vote on superficial matters. I voted on the mandate, never the man (or woman).
Now I must admit that I mainly voted for Obama because he is black, like me.
This is not to say I didn’t like what he articulated for our sagging economy, our schools and for organizing the chaos of the Iraq war. But I have to admit that Obama’s race was important. He represents symbolic change in how our society perceives people like me.
The widespread image of black culture in America is discouraging. A Stanford University study last year found that 40 percent of white Americans polled held at least partly negative views about us.
Given a choice of positive and negative adjectives to describe blacks, 29 percent said “complaining” applied. Twenty percent said “violent.” Thirteen percent said “lazy.” Eleven percent said “irresponsible.”
And I certainly do not believe that most whites are racists. Rather, images of blacks in the mainstream media condition people of all colors to think, if not the worst, then certainly not the best about us.
Blacks don’t always help dispel these images. Examine our own culture and pop culture: Crayons in fist, we often draw, and then salute, a socially crippling caricature.
And so: Blacks make up roughly 11 percent of the population, but in the prison population they’re more than 44 percent.
Nationally, 93 percent of black men murdered annually will die at the hands of another black man. And more than 70 percent of black children are born out of wedlock.
Obama’s presidency can change so much.
Growing up in Tyler, I was nerdy. Worse, I wasn’t coordinated enough to succeed in where most African-Americans in my community got recognized: sports.
My dream? Not to be a pro jock but to be president. It sounded outrageous as to draw laughs. “You’re crazy,” my stepfather retorted. “America is never going to elect a black man president.”
For whites, Obama’s historic achievement occasions for them a chance to see and experience a side of black culture that runs counter to stereotypes. For blacks, it gives us a chance to rewrite our collective narrative.
I’m not so naïve as to think this president is the elixir to cure America’s race problems. I’m acutely aware of those who still face the deep-cutting sword of systematic oppression.
So I temper my hopes. But those hopes are now realistic — and largely because of this historic election. It officially has placed America on a path to fulfill and protect the boldest assertion of our founding principles, “That all men are created equal.”
That is why I voted for Barack Obama. It may seem superficial, vain, even pathetic. But it is change that I believe in.
Chris Scott, a 2004 graduate of Baylor University and a former candidate for the Waco city council, is pursuing a Master’s of Divinity degree at Princeton Theological Seminary.
Chris Scott may not be ready to toss away his victim group crutches, but give him some credit for noticing that he is using them. Very few identity-politics liberals will permit themselves to understand that.
You voted to put an antiamerican marxist in the white house simply because he is black. I guess he does represent a symbolic change in how our society perceives people like you. I think you are emotional, raciest, and frankly evil. Did I mention stupid? I sure have changed my mind about how I perceive people like you.
Better he had voted for the 'best man'; (allowing there was one; and I think there was; albeit by degrees; but critical ones.)
Agree, this is an honest man; and think he is getting closer. . .to the truth of Obama. I hope this is the case; and I suspect there are many others out coming to similar terms. Can hope, anyway. . .
“Now I must admit that I mainly voted for Obama because he is black, like me.”
And in other breaking news: Night dark, Sun hot, rain wet.
This might be a good time for Mr. Scott to receive a few Thomas Sowell books as presents.
He is trying to use a big word, but doesnt know what it means.
lol. . .and yes, for sure. That said; when I am in a book store; and see Thomas Sowell; sitting on a 'back shelf'; pull it out and discreetly put on the best sellers shelf; or even 'staff recommendations'. . .or place it in 'new arrivals'. ..anywhere up front/lol. (Keeps pretty busy during 'Black History Month' as well/lol. . .a quiet - and careful. . .activism, if you will/;^)
Base your hope for change on your OWN merits and giving back to your country and not on what your country is obligated/must give to YOU.
You want recognition; you want respect; you want equal treatment like every other culture and race here. Earn it damn it. Earn it earnestly; earn it diligently; and not through gov’t goodwill or arm twisting of citizens or affirmative maneuvers and handouts.
Gov't can provide stuff for you, but it can NEVER ENFORCE respect for you.
Where is it hard for you to see this?
I always leave my old copies of the Washington Times where others can read them, open to the pages I want them to read. It's not much, but it's better than nothing.
BTW, thanks for indebting the next couple of generations just so you could say you voted for someone who tans better than most white people. This is just the first as I'm sure there will be MANY more things we'll be "thanking" you obama voters for.
What you said would have been heard and understood and practiced by the Black people of the 50’s and 60’s.
They’re all dead now.
Based on what I see, todays Blacks have no idea what you just said, except that it is racist somehow.
How dare you?
Indeed! These mucked up legacies of the 60's generation!
Chris believes needs to believe Nobama is his the best hope for him and a race of people in the US. But doubt is creeping in. So, he takes a big bite out of denial sandwich. That little taste makes it easier for him to eat the rest of the sandwich, because he is beginning to see the implications of the Nobama presidency.
It’s not going to get any better for Chris, and probably will be worse for him, and his fellows.
You betcha!!! Its race first with him, IMO, and that may finally make all those liberal white libtards realize that they are in bed with the same type of person they supposedly hate. Wishful thinking there, but if I click my heels three times, yada, yada, yada, the Koolaid may wear off.
So this man might think that simply having someone with black skin sitting in the White House will change the lives of most black people for the better. I think he will be sorely disappointed, because I don't think That One gives a hoot in hell about his fellow blacks.
If you look at Planned Parenthood, most of their "clinics" are in minority neighborhoods. According to the Guttmacher Institute (propaganda wing of PP) black women have 37% of all abortions, white women 34%. That means eleven percent of the population has well over 1/3rd of the abortions. Black women have more total abortions and a significantly higher percentage compared to their percentage of the total population.
Or Thomas Sowell, or Walter E. Williams.
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