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The Daily OrangeObama capable of easing American racial tensions
By S. N. Sangmpam
Posted: 10/15/07, 9:48 PM EST Section: Opinion
A question was recently asked by some African Americans about Sen. Barack Obama: Is Obama "black?"
The answer is that he is neither "black" nor "white," but the best hope for American politics.
Referring to Obama as "black" reaffirms the "one-drop rule" inherited from slavery, according to which a person is "black" when he/she even remotely shares some genetic makeup with a person of the "black race." Obviously, the rule purposefully assigned a negative value to "black." Calling Obama "black" dignifies the odious legacy of slavery. It also ignores his mother's legacy.
Obama is an American for all the applicable reasons. But he is a special type of American. He is the offspring of the two groups in the United States that have long been closely associated with each other: Africans and Europeans.
Their extensive familiarity has bred racial discord between the two groups. Fueled by socioeconomic disparity, the discord flares up at relatively short intervals in the form of riots or other incidents. Consider here the recent rancor provoked by Don Imus' denigration of Rutgers University's female basketball players and the "Jena Six" incident in Louisiana.
No one remains unscathed as past and present relations between "blacks and whites" shape the interactions among African Americans and Jews, Latinos, Korean/Arab Americans, African/Caribbean immigrants, new European immigrants and others. Consider the often testy encounters between Korean and Arab merchants and African American neighborhoods.
Obama possesses a personal understanding of the complex racial tensions in America and in the world, the intelligence to translate that understanding into practical policies and the ability to sell policies to the masses of potential followers and adversaries.
But what policy should Obama sell? His position on current campaign policies (Iraq, healthcare, energy) does not diverge much from that of his competitors, except in the implementation.
To be original, Obama must propose a policy that reflects his unique background. The policy must fix the American mosaic by mending the fracture caused by the two groups of which he is an offspring.
Everything being equal, substandard education for African Americans/Latinos and "poor whites" is the most visible culprit that deepens the fracture. The reality in most schools is that these groups are disproportionately inefficient in academics. The academic gap morphs itself into a "status gap" in the broader society via dropouts or inarticulate high school or college graduates. It breeds resentment and frustration, further rupturing the social fabric.
Obama can be the deliverer only by bridging this nagging status gap. First, he needs to forcefully commit himself to education by creating a coherent campaign theme in which he deviates from his competitors by emphasizing that only he is better situated to bring Americans together by bridging both the academic and status gaps. Second, he needs to link the policy of educational reform to other policies (Iraq, healthcare, energy, poverty) by illustrating the importance of this change and the effect it has on broader issues.
If this is done before the 2008 Democratic primaries, Americans will support Obama as the clearest alternative of social cohesiveness. And they should.
Professor S. N. Sangmpam teaches political science and African American studies courses at Syracuse University. He can be reached at snsangm@syr.edu.
The answer is that he is neither "black" nor "white," but the best hope for American politics.
Referring to Obama as "black" reaffirms the "one-drop rule" inherited from slavery, according to which a person is "black" when he/she even remotely shares some genetic makeup with a person of the "black race." Obviously, the rule purposefully assigned a negative value to "black." Calling Obama "black" dignifies the odious legacy of slavery. It also ignores his mother's legacy.
Obama is an American for all the applicable reasons. But he is a special type of American. He is the offspring of the two groups in the United States that have long been closely associated with each other: Africans and Europeans.
Their extensive familiarity has bred racial discord between the two groups. Fueled by socioeconomic disparity, the discord flares up at relatively short intervals in the form of riots or other incidents. Consider here the recent rancor provoked by Don Imus' denigration of Rutgers University's female basketball players and the "Jena Six" incident in Louisiana.
No one remains unscathed as past and present relations between "blacks and whites" shape the interactions among African Americans and Jews, Latinos, Korean/Arab Americans, African/Caribbean immigrants, new European immigrants and others. Consider the often testy encounters between Korean and Arab merchants and African American neighborhoods.
Obama possesses a personal understanding of the complex racial tensions in America and in the world, the intelligence to translate that understanding into practical policies and the ability to sell policies to the masses of potential followers and adversaries.
But what policy should Obama sell? His position on current campaign policies (Iraq, healthcare, energy) does not diverge much from that of his competitors, except in the implementation.
To be original, Obama must propose a policy that reflects his unique background. The policy must fix the American mosaic by mending the fracture caused by the two groups of which he is an offspring.
Everything being equal, substandard education for African Americans/Latinos and "poor whites" is the most visible culprit that deepens the fracture. The reality in most schools is that these groups are disproportionately inefficient in academics. The academic gap morphs itself into a "status gap" in the broader society via dropouts or inarticulate high school or college graduates. It breeds resentment and frustration, further rupturing the social fabric.
Obama can be the deliverer only by bridging this nagging status gap. First, he needs to forcefully commit himself to education by creating a coherent campaign theme in which he deviates from his competitors by emphasizing that only he is better situated to bring Americans together by bridging both the academic and status gaps. Second, he needs to link the policy of educational reform to other policies (Iraq, healthcare, energy, poverty) by illustrating the importance of this change and the effect it has on broader issues.
If this is done before the 2008 Democratic primaries, Americans will support Obama as the clearest alternative of social cohesiveness. And they should.
Professor S. N. Sangmpam teaches political science and African American studies courses at Syracuse University. He can be reached at snsangm@syr.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
pppphhhhtttt.....
posted 10/16/07 @ 2:45 AM EST
I will bet good money that you are Obama's fluffer.
Alex
posted 10/16/07 @ 8:38 AM EST
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/
Tiger Woods
posted 10/16/07 @ 9:33 AM EST
Oh yeh! Let's have 4 long years of insane racial angst over whether Barack Hussein Osamabammayomama is "black" enough.
Shame on you Tiger Woods. Shame on YOU!
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