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Should Obama Call for a New Generation of Black Leadership?
http://www.nypost.com/seven/04292008/news/regionalnews/sharpton_raps_obama_108577.htm
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/04/gingrich-wright.html
Something very interesting is going on. In the past few days, Barack Obama has been called out by Rev. Wright and Rev. Sharpton. This is a huge opportunity for him. This is his chance to stand up and not disown Rev. Wright, Rev. Sharpton, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Farrakahn, et. al. Rather, he can bring back that generational argument and point that it is time for a new generation of African American leaders to step to the forefront. He can acknowlege the importance of thier contributions while saying that it is time to stop framing everything as a race issue and to start talking about the money, corruption, and abuse of power that are the real enemies (not some boogeyman known as "whitey"). Dr. King was making that leap in the days leading up to his assasination. It is time for the new generation of leaders to fulfill that legacy. I think an agrument such as that would win him much favor within the black and white communites without disowning the African American leaders who made great contributions.
Should he take this opportunity or is it too risky?
Comments (8)
Who would you suggest as the new African American leadership? If racism still exists as Obama posits, is the old leadership irrelevent?
April 29, 2008 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
How about new leadership, period.
April 29, 2008 12:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
If he can do it with grace the way he handled his first Wright speech, then yeah, that would be a very good idea.
April 29, 2008 1:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why not follow my lead? I've only been doing that since the mid-80s when I was a teen. Of course, for anyone paying attention, you'd have noticed that the self-appointed Kings of Blackness are now rarely on TV spouting their particular brand of bullshit, except for in response to old people like the Clinton's. Most of the black analysts you see on TV (and no, HN like Shelby Steele or Juan Williams do not count) are younger, smarter and firmly rooted in the present. When Obama becomes president, I think that simple action will officially make the self-appointed Kings of Blackness obsolete forever.
I hope.
April 29, 2008 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, he should not. Barack's not running for president of black America. He's running for president of all of America.
I reject the notion that that there are 'leaders' of the black community. This is a essentially a media fabricated notion so that they can lazily report what a select few say (Sharpton, or Jackson, or Cosby, or Wright) as somehow representing some prevailing thinking of AAs.
African-Americans are no more monolithic than European-Americans. Does Bush, or Hagee, or Robertson represent some prevailing thinking of whites? Of course, not.
April 29, 2008 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
At his peril. He already is part of a new generation of Black leadership, which includes Corey Booker, Deval Patrick, etc. The best way for him to help develop such a new generation is by example. Additionally, he aims to be the leader of the entire country, so he won't be calling for a new generation of Caucasian leaders either.
During his last trip to Africa, however. he encouraged Africans to set aside corruption, tribalism and other damaaging practices endemic to the crisis there. He is having difficulty enough trying to unite the races in this country without creating a split within his Black constituency.
It beats me why he did not long ago tumble from the tightrope he walks. The forces of the Obliterator and the repugs are constantly challenging him to renounce, denounce, shun, excoriate, avoid, criticize, desert and abandon the entire South Side of Chicago. Let's not do the same.
As Wright put it, Obama is a politician (and not a preacher), and a good politician doea not go negative on his or her public.
April 29, 2008 1:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is why I asked this as a question. I think your response it an important one.
April 29, 2008 2:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Excellent points. Good discussion.
April 29, 2008 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
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