Barack Obama Is The Presidential Candidate Not The Black Candidate.

Tavis Smiley is a well respected African American journalist, host, and author. Smiley recently criticized Barack Obama for not attending a black summit event in the state of Louisiana. Smiley has a tendency to be loquacious, petulant, and stubborn when he doesn’t get his way.

Senator Obama’s campaign team stated he was busy but Michelle Obama could still attend the event. Tavis Smiley was unimpressed he wanted Barack Obama at the black summit so he could acquire more media attention, more publicity, and make more money.

Smiley has always acted as though he’s one of the “voices” of the African American community in the United States and that his views always matter most. Smiley’s true colours are emerging he’s a self righteous man. It is also very disconcerting that Smiley’s outburst against Senator Obama was basically Smiley pouting like a child and having a tantrum. Senator Obama is taking some criticism because Smiley claims he is snubbing him and not focusing on black issues. Senator Obama is trying to win the democratic party nomination he doesn’t have time to focus on Tavis Smiley. Smiley has an incredible ego and he is clearly a hindrance in Obama’s path to the White House.

It is obvious that Tavis Smiley obviously doesn’t get it. I have noticed the old civil rights guard don’t like Senator Obama and they feel he has to “prove” his blackness. I just think this is perfidious and just plain ludicrous. Senator Obama is a very shrewd politician he realizes he cannot become a polarizing figure such as Al Sharpton, Tavis Smiley, Andrew Young, or Jesse Jackson.

Tavis Smiley is an important member of the black media and although he is passionate about black issues he does comes across as confrontational at times. Senator Obama is the exact opposite. Senator Obama’s approach is perceptive he is aware of the fact the less inimical he is the better. Obama is all about “inclusion”he is about “change” and his less forceful approach actually engages voters across various racial groups. People don’t want to hear a candidate complain about what its like to be “black” all the time. The voters care about what a politician can “do” for “them”.

In politics the message is just as important as the image and perception. The reason Senator Obama is doing well is not because he’s some magic Negro or some house Negro. Senator Obama is succeeding because he is able to discern that although he is a black man he has to reach a larger demographic of voters. Senator Obama wouldn’t be doing so well if he just had the African American vote. Senator Obama has won in Maine, Iowa, Washington State, Hawaii, and Nebraska all these states have large white populations. Senator Obama is connecting with whites, blacks, Asians, and even Latino voters.

Senator Obama also did not attend the Jena Six march in Jena Louisiana last year either and I am glad he didn’t. Senator Clinton didn’t attend the Jena Six protest march why didn’t the black civil rights leaders complain about her? Why is Senator Obama being singled out just because he’s black? Why don’t the old black civil rights guard attack the Clintons why are they singling out Obama?

Senator Obama is in a race to make history and I think it is disgraceful and abhorrent that Tavis Smiley and the old civil rights guard are attacking Senator Obama like this. I think this also proves that some black people we are our own worst enemies. It isn’t just the Clintons, and the Republican party that are attacking Senator Obama it is also other black people.

Now of course the black race is not a monolithic group divergent points of views must exist. However, I resent the fact that Tavis Smiley, Andrew Young, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and the old black civil rights guard think they have a “right” to preach to Senator Obama. Why can’t the old civil rights guard step off? My goodness, let Barack Obama do his own thing the brother clearly knows what he is doing he doesn’t need “advice” from the old guard. Senator Obama is clearly from a different generation he’s not playing the victim card game.

Remember last year during the Jena Six march in Louisiana Jesse Jackson was infuriated that Senator Obama didn’t attend the march and claimed he’s “trying to act like he’s white.” The Occidental media had a field day with Jesse Jackson’s illogical and also self serving comments. The press love it when the black elite have public feuds. I really believe that Tavis Smiley is wrong here.

The reason the old black civil rights guard detest Senator Obama so much is because he is an independent thinker. Senator Obama is focusing on “everyone” not just black people. Senator Obama has made it clear he is a black man and he is also married to a black woman. I love the fact that Senator Obama isn’t just following the collective thinking of the old black civil rights guard. The slave mentality of the old black civil rights guard is to “support” the Clintons. Senator Obama clearly loves black people and the black race.

The great African American sociologist and writer W.E.B. Du Bois wrote in his groundbreaking book “The Souls Of Black Folk” over a century ago about “double consciousness”. The black politicians in the public sphere are cognizant of the fact the white media are carefully scrutinizing everything they say or do. The white gaze will pounce on Senator Obama and he doesn’t want this to happen. Senator Obama has been cautious but also assertive when he needs to be.

Hillary Clinton has the advantage of white skin privilege and the currency of whiteness she can attend black and white events. When Hillary Clinton attends a black event it appears that she’s trying to “gain” the support of blacks and the black vote. However, the Occidental press will manipulate the situation if Senator Obama attends a black event and claim he’s just all about “black issues”. It is important to discern the tactics of the mainstream.

Black people live in separate spheres the public and the private. Senator Obama is intelligent he understands the white lens are constantly watching him. The mainstream North American media are placing greater emphasis on Senator Obama trying to create a pathology about him and make him fearful to white voters. In society whenever a black person reaches a level of prominence the mainstream have always attempted to push the black individual back. The Clintons, and the various civil rights leaders are a part of the “system” they don’t want change to occur. Barack Obama is important he is demonstrating to young voters that people of colour can dream and hopefully smash the glass ceiling.

The Clintons and the black civil rights leaders are also not a part of the new generation they are the status quo. The old guard needs to realize their time has passed. It is a brand new day and a time for the new generation to emerge. Senator Clinton and the old black civil rights guard are fearful of Senator Obama and they are trying to find some form of “weakness” so they can attack him.

Senator Barack Obama already won the state of Louisiana he is trying to gain support across various racial demographics. The Clintons have always attempted to marginalize Senator Obama as just “the black candidate” and to strike a fear in white, Asian, and Latino voters. Senator Obama and his campaign organizers are intelligent they realize that Obama has to appear as though he isn’t just focused on “black issues” but “all issues”. Senator Obama is trying to become the first African American president in the United States history. Tavis Smiley and the old civil rights guard are a bit inimical they don’t understand the concerns of the younger black generation and Senator Obama does. It is time for Tavis Smiley to shut up and fall back!