Is Senator Barack Obama An Uppity Black Man?
Senator Barack Obama recently made a comment at an event in San Francisco about “bitterness” in the lower classes. Hillary Clinton John McCain, and the news media jumped on Senator Obama. First off, just look at Barack Obama he is a very attractive black man he’s tall, he’s fit, he’s wonderful. The press and Senator Obama’s enemies are now trying to brand him as the uppity educated Negro that is too distant from the masses.
Senator Obama is not W.E.B. Du Bois. If you want to read about a black elitist please read the works of W.E.B. Du Bois. Visit the local public library or bookstore and you will be shocked at the hypocrisy of W.E.B. Du Bois.
W.E.B. Du Bois was a snob he also wrote about the “talented tenth” which is the upper crust black elite. Du Bois view was only the “talented tenth” were the “only suitable “leaders” for the black race. Although W.E.B. Du Bois is very important because he founded the NAACP he also was very prejudiced against poorer people. Some scholars believe Du Bois appropriated aspects of white culture in relation to class and privilege.
Senator Obama appeals to me because I think he is so inspiring due to his hard work and determination. Now of course, Senator Obama is a gorgeous black man but he’s also a very intelligent black man. I admire Senator Obama a great deal because he is demonstrating to young blacks we can have dreams and we should strive for our dreams. Why can’t young blacks believe we can shatter the glass ceiling? The pernicious attitude of the mainstream media is that young blacks we should “stay in our place” at the back of the bus. The question remains when will it ever be the right time to advance forward in society? Well some people need to understand this is the year 2008 not the year 1955. We have a right to demand more for ourselves in terms of advancing our lives and political careers.
Senator Obama’s presence has made an incredible difference to me in so many ways. The racist tactics of the Clintons, Gloria Steinem, Geraldine Ferraro and other Democrats are a true eye opener. People complain about the Republicans but it is clear Democrats have no respect for black voters. It is time for black voters to explore new political options.
The media have always tried to frame Senator Obama as this “uppity black man” that is too distant from the masses. It is true that Senator Obama is very educated but so are the Clintons. Do people want political leaders that aren’t educated, that didn’t work hard for success? The double standards and the hypocrisy is incredible.
It is interesting that Senator Hillary Clinton and John McCain are slamming Barack calling him “bitter”. I just think its interesting the Clintons are incredibly well educated, very rich more rich then Senator Obama. Hillary Clinton used to be on the board for Walmart. The Clintons are America’s political aristocracy.
Gayblackcanada 
Hey Orville,
I definitely agree with your assessment of the media’s portrayal of Obama as an “uppity negro”.
BUT with that said, all that ah stuff you said about Du Bois has seriously got my right eye twitching no. just. NO.
msg too short.
@Jason, thanks for the response. I would like to read your response if or when you have the time to discuss W.E.B. Du Bois and the educated Negro theory.
I was trying to contain my thoughts ’cause I didn’t want to go into a mini-rant but my beef is this:
I know that a lot of the stuff written about Du Bois focuses on the “talented tenth” and the whole notion of the “educated negro theory” and Du Bois as an “elitist” (dem’s fightin words!!!) etc. but what people tend to forget (or ignore) is the fact that Du Bois himself many years later over the course of his work, activism, and encounters w/ state oppression came to see the theory for what it was/is -fundamentally flawed
so I’m just gonna channel Joyce James:
“Not only marginalized black militants reasserted the mask of Du Bois as the patriarch of elite race leadership considered the vehicle for black liberation. Today many references to and representations of Du Bois disregard his evolving radicalization of agency. Some of the most unlikely places for a Talented Tenth fetish are located in the literature of cultural studies, critical race theory, feminism, black postmodernism, and Afrocentrism. Such writing excises Du Bois’s democratic radicalism and his conviction that those with the least to lose, and therefore the most to gain, are most likely to provide exemplary leadership in liberation struggles.”
http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/45a/426.html
Also the whole “Du Bois is very important because he founded the NAACP” just doesn’t cut it. it goes WAY beyond the NAACP he’s one of the founding father’s of Pan-Africanism -nuff said.
anyhow sorry for the rant, as you can see I’m definitely a fan of Du Bois and his works he’s one of all time favourites his work has had a profound affect on me and the way I think about race/racial politics, racism, and Africana philosophy 😀
^^^That should say Joy James -at least I thought it did -sorry
@Jason I think its great that you are knowledgeable about black liberation. It is interesting your views on W.E.B. Du Bois because in my black studies courses the information I read about him tends to be negative. I guess a more balanced understanding of W.E.B. Du Bois is important he was involved with a lot of sociological work and his book “The Souls Of Black Folk” is an important text about the reconstruction era and post slavery period in America.
it didn’t really *click* for me until I got into his work I was somewhat indifferent a first and I can relate to the seeing someone negative or diluted portals of him and his work and I love “Souls Of Black Folk” because I can feel and relate to impact of his work on so many levels…
but this is an interesting topic because it I think it really does connect to the larger point you make about how often black folks struggle with stereotypical, or one dimensional portrayals in the media, in the public sphere and popular culture in general (re: Obama) and how hard it is for us to define and claim our identities or just relate to each other it seems like pubic won’t give us the opportunity to grow or to be multi-dimensional human beings so if we fuck up or say the “wrong thing” in public we just end up filling out whatever stereotype happens to be in play at the moment…
@Jason, I agree the mainstream media will attack Senator Obama about anything and everything. Barack Obama is amazing because he is a black man that has a dream and the liberal white elite want to smash his dream anyway they can. They don’t want a black USA president they want things to remain the same.
I don’t think Barack is so “distant” for the masses at all I think he’s in a tough position. It seems no matter what this brother does the white American elite and media really don’t want to see a black president. Next, you have the white feminists such as Geraldine Ferraro and Gloria Steinem trying to say gender trumps race.
Next, you have the black elite such as Tavis Smiley getting all mad because Barack didn’t attend his black conference event in Louisiana. I mean the brother can’t seem to win! Everyone is pulling at him at all sides and all directions. I honestly don’t know how Barack does it? How does he deal with the anger and the frustration? Its got to be tough with everyone trying to categorize him and frame him in a certain way.
I think it is ludicrous the way the media let Hillary Clinton off the hook. Hillary Clinton is a part of the American elite but she’s never judged as harshly as Senator Obama is.
tell me about it -I think the liberal white elite is imploding at the idea I’ve also noticed a trend where some white liberals, progressives or whatever have dubbed Obama as a “sell out” or the’re just above it all -seems really disingenuous to me since Obama can’t quite conform to the white liberal political model cause there just sooooooo “beyond” him. whatever.
Next, you have the white feminists such as Geraldine Ferraro and Gloria Steinem trying to say gender trumps race.
so true
ETA
cause the sate universal white womanhood is predicated on hillary occupying the oval office!!!
“The bottom line is white feminists want a white woman in the white house.”
yes, it’s clear that those “sisters” emphasis on the ERs are doin’ it for themselves!
it’s funny seeing news networks like CNN and the CBC going into black hair salons asking black women whether “gender trumps race”? like these networks really care about what black women (and black folk) think beyond a sound bite -they want to know whether black women will stand by their men or stand up for (white)womankind, apparently this seems to be the most significant choice black women will face in this election and maybe in their lives?! please.
I cosign with you about black feminists/ woc thinkers, writers and the way they comprehensively and brilliantly are able to connect so called “feminist” issues with a racial and class analysis and thanks for bringing up the book I will definitely check it out!
@Jason “cause the sate universal white womanhood is predicated on hillary occupying the oval office!!!” LOL!
I mean seriously, some white feminists are playing the gender divide game it’s all about divide and conquer strategy. Again, what have some white feminists ever done for black women and black people anyway except attempt to marginalize us? It’s the classic white female victimhood all the while some white feminists choose to focus on gender while ignoring race and class.
Thank goodness for black feminists! I read the black feminist classic book “All The Women Are White All Blacks Are Men But Some Of Us Are Brave” edited by Barbara Smith and Gloria T Hull. The book is amazing because it provides a racial and gender context to the issues taking place right now. Even though “All The Women Are White, All The Blacks Are Men, But Some of Us Are Brave” was published in 1982 everything resonates right now. The bottom line is white feminists want a white woman in the white house. Hillary Clinton is by no means groundbreaking she is a rich white woman that benefited from the marriage market, and white skin privilege.
@Jason its so true, CNN, CBC, and the mainstream networks suddenly care about black women views it’s like give me a break. I would love to see Oprah have a show with black feminists and white feminists discussing the racial divide but Oprah won’t go there because Oprah wants the white woman’s money.
The fact is the mainstream press don’t want bell hooks, Barbara Smith, Glora T Hull, Dionne Brand, Makeda Silvera, Angela Davis, or Patricia Hill Collins, or Nikki Giovanni telling it like it is and speaking the truth. The reason black feminism was created was to give black women a leadership role instead of being marginalized on the sidelines in the mainstream white feminist movements. Also, Barbara Smith a black feminist is a part of a famous black feminist group “The Combahee River Collective.”
“The Combahee River Collective” have stated black women cannot divorce themselves from the black race. Yes black women encounter sexism from black men but they also encounter racism from white feminists. And it is pernicious for the mainstream media to ignore this fact the contributions of some white feminists to discriminating against people of colour. I don’t think it’s fair the game the mainstream media are playing because black women deal with the racism and the sexism. Another issue the media always ignores is the racism in the white feminist movement.
I mean does anyone recall Emily Murphy’s controversial book “The Black Candle”. Emily Murphy may have written the book decades ago but she was a Canadian feminist,a judge and a racist. Murphy wrote the name under the alias “Janey Canuck”.
Its like give me a break. I wonder why the big news networks never have bell hooks on their programs? bell hooks totally slammed Gloria Steinem in her books for her hypocrisy to the issue of racism in the feminist movement.
wow, what a great conversation!! As far as I am concerned, what I finding very interesting is how Obama is being portrayed in the media abroad. He is an absolute favourite of the liberal foreign media but I do agree that most of all, the media is biased and racist anyway so they won’t want Obama to get that far. I find it incredible that there are even white people calling Barack a “sell-out”! What the hell do THEY know about that concept in relation to the black community?
Orville, you made an excellent point when you say that black women get sexism from black men and racism from white feminists. It is a DOUBLE whammy and that is where the problem lies: I do agree that black women and black men cannot go far without each other. It is time we realised that. Black people have such acute self-hatred that they would rather have someone who does not LOOK like them to take care of them — It beggars belief to be quite honest.
@Orville & Jason, I also think feminism in itself does not want race issues discussed. That in itself is hypocritical because in terms of black women, race is central in creating the image of the “black woman”. It is not the “woman black” – it is the “black woman”.
@Aulelia, thanks for your comments! Girlfriend, it is so true some black people definitely do have self hatred issues. It is so nice to hear a black woman speak, because sometimes some white feminists want to call black men oppressors of women and it’s like give me a break. Black men we encounter racial and gender discrimination due to being black and male. Black men we encounter police brutality, there is a disproportionate number of black men in prison, black men encounter employment discrimination, health care discrimination, housing discrimination. I can go on and on but you get my point.
Black women cannot separate gender and race both are linked. Yet some white feminists concentrate on just gender politics due to white skin privilege. Some white feminists like to brand black women that support black men as “traitors” to the women’s movement. Some white feminists are trying to force black women to choose between their race and gender and that’s deleterious. Race, gender, and class cannot be ignored all parts are inextricably linked to black womanhood. And what has white feminism done for black women except marginalize black women? White feminism only wants black women to “support” Hillary Clinton but when they are challenged about the pernicious racism in the feminist movement suddenly there is silence. It’s like give me a break.
Geraldine Ferraro called Obama a novelty act and Steinem says black women should “join” their white sisters in the struggle. I spoke to my sister last night and she’s like “please.” Because the reason black feminism was created was to give black people a voice and be in the center instead of the back row. I have read very few articles specifically highlighting the issue of white skin privilege, white power, marriage market, and the ways in which some white feminists have discriminated against blacks. Its a total double standard. The press have been attacking Senator Obama because they view him as an “Uppity Black Man” that needs to be put in his place. After all, young blacks we are not supposed to “dream big” you know we have to “know our place” and for them that’s to “return to the back of the bus” Well, its not 1955 its the year 2008! And I applaud Senator Barack Obama a black man with a big dream go brother!
Aulelia:
“It is a DOUBLE whammy and that is where the problem lies: I do agree that black women and black men cannot go far without each other. It is time we realised that. Black people have such acute self-hatred that they would rather have someone who does not LOOK like them to take care of them — It beggars belief to be quite honest.”
what a great point it also captures why folks tend to choose their race and it’s not because we have the privilege or luxury of focusing on race to the exclusion of every other ism we may face daily or because race it only issue we face. it’s because our class, gender, sexual identities/politics etc. (alone) won’t insulate us from racism and I loved your comment re: “black woman” 🙂
I also think sexism in our community has everything to do with racism and colonialism so we don’t have the luxury of separating the two
Orville:
“what has white feminism done for black women except marginalize black women? White feminism only wants black women to “support” Hillary Clinton but when they are challenged about the pernicious racism in the feminist movement suddenly there is silence. Its like give me a break.”
so true. it also exposes the fact that white women have access to “the patriarchy”
@Jason you are correct about “the patriarchy” because Hillary Clinton has acquired power through the “marriage market”. Part of Senator Clinton’s success is due to her name recognition and her husband Bill Clinton a former President of the United States. Hillary Clinton has utilized the patriarchy to advance her political career through the Mythical Norm. Hillary Clinton already had eight years in the White House.
To Orville, Jason, et.al.,
Thanks for articulating what white feminism is really all about. It’s all about consolidating white privilege, power, and supremacy. It’s never about us because white women have access to the marriage market. As long as white women are valued by white men with resources, there will always be the problem between Black womanists and white women. Black womanists advocate everyone, not just ourselves, but for the good of the Black community and the society at large. We cannot separate from men of Color, for they are oppressed as well. That’s one thing white feminists won’t understand and never will.
Steph
@Orville, you are BANG ON with your comment especially pertaining to black people “knowing their place”. It is absolutely LUDICROUS! Personally, I would rather see Obama fail by sticking to his guns than succeed by being something he is not. He is such an inspirational human being. No ifs and butts in my corner – so that is why these feminists need to sit their arses down. Not everything can be solved now but as far as being the president of the world’s superpower as a black man — that is fucking phenomenal. Ferraro calling Obama a novelty is hilarious; that comment just reeks of subtle liberal racism.
@Jason — completely agree when you said “it’s because our class, gender, sexual identities/politics etc. (alone) won’t insulate us from racism” — this is so true. Which is why I don’t know why some black people are nervous @ Obama’s brilliant ascent. It is astounding.
@Aulelia, I love this comment
“It is time we realised that. Black people have such acute self-hatred that they would rather have someone who does not LOOK like them to take care of them — It beggars belief to be quite honest.”
The old black liberal conservatives supporting Hillary Clinton like Andrew Young don’t want change they want to follow the status quo and stick to what is familiar whites in power positions and blacks in subordinate roles. Barack is challenging this and this is considered “arrogant” by the white liberal elite.
Tavis Smiley another black public figure he’s also gone after Barack. Tavis Smiley needs to sit his black ass down!
I agree 110% one thing I will say about you Aulelia, is your love for blackness and black people. We should be proud to be black and of course want black people in leadership roles. You don’t see the white feminists or the NOW ORGANIZATION apologizing for supporting another white woman Hillary Clinton. Some white feminists need to get with the program as you say Aulelia the term is “black woman” not “woman black”. For so long white feminism has attempted to force black women to choose between race and gender and that’s just plain DELETERIOUS! As bell hooks says “race matters always”.
Barack needs to just be himself he is a dignified, sexy, intelligent, hardworking, black man that has a dream he wants to be the first black United States President. And why not? Some white liberals believe blacks such be at the “back of the bus” but not in “leadership” roles. Barack is saying he is tired of being at the “back of the bus” or “in his place” he wants to be the commander in chief!