Buzz and Power
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Black Coffee Channel Founder Cedric Muhammad Comments On The Compromise Made By Black Rappers and Black Comedians; Speaking The Language Of The People; The Limits Of Street Credibility; and the Lessons of BET and Radio One |
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Insight and Inside
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Why Barack Obama Can't Win |
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The Block and the Boardroom
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How Technological Change Reveals Time Warps In Black Culture and Politics |
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The Audacity Of Nope. Brother Barack, The Acceptable Entertainer... and America's New Fireman |
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Why Barack Obama Can't Win
Barack Obama will not be the next President of the United States of America. I want to contribute to helping the Black masses accept that, and move on to the more important business of how we can collectively use Barack Obama to serve our interests. The (brown) sugar rush many of us are getting - particularly older Black women who are elated to see a well-groomed, articulate, Black man being accepted by White Americans - is not really tied to an electoral victory for the Chicago native. Far from representing an agenda, a self-enlightened interest, or a particular policy prescription that we desperately need, Obamamania is not quite the chitlin circuit, but echoes of it a bit with very little political substance but plenty of style. Does anyone else have that J.C. Penny shopping bag that reads "Peace," "Love," and "Style"?
Everyone likes to be part of an event, moment, or hell, just a good party. And Barack Obama is perhaps the Black toastmaster of the ages, or, greatest political emcee of all, in terms of style. he knows what we want, and he keeps giving it to us, like any great performer. No confrontation, no uncomfortable moments, no unpredictability. The consistent reliable result- that is Obama - is entertaining acceptability. More than just smooth or smart or articulate, Barack Obama is deeper. He's shrewd and let's you know that although he's not challenging White America, its establishment, and the hidden powers that manipulate government (neo-conservatives plus); he is wrapping it around his finger. It's fun to watch, and maybe a bit progressive and positive, but hardly revolutionary.
This is the great danger that Barack Obama poses to White and Black America, but more importantly, to himself. He's bigger than the game, and like any great prizefighter, talented basketball player, or, even innovative street entrepreneur or Wall St. financier who is 'bigger than the game,' Mr. Obama has to 'dumb down' and hide his power, and will either get bored, too cute, or dangerously proud. Proverbs 16:18 tells us what happens next. Yes, by trying to be all things to all people, while not necessarily being as sensitive to the historical struggle of the people from which he comes (how do you announce your candidacy with the backdrop of Abraham Lincoln and totally ignore Tavis Smiley's 'State Of Black America' Forum, on the same day? There were obviously too few Black advisers in the room that week) Barack Obama actually runs the risk of believing the illusion of his fame (which is obviously being created by others far away from him, in key power centers), becoming bigger and bigger in his own mind, while becoming less valuable each day, to all parties concerned. Is it not Jesus, the Revolutionary Messiah who says in Revelations 3: 15-16: "I know your deeds, that they you are neither cold nor hot - I wish you were either one or the other! So because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth."
Whether he realizes it or not, Barack Obama's greatest marginal utility - the thing about him that matters most - to the establishment, is the potential influence he has with Black people. You know, should the so-called American Negroes get to cutting up, burning, rioting or looting, Barack Obama, presidential candidate, acceptable Black Man, becomes Fire Chief aka, 'Officer Calm Them Down.' And to make matters worse, Barack Obama's marginal utility by Black people is, well, his relationship to Black people, leveraged in front of the political establishment. This makes him a potential nexus point for the Irresistible Force (Black America won't 'go back to Africa' after 400 years up in this piece, especially since the most racist Whites like our singing and dancing so much) and the apparently Immovable Object (White America won't go back to Europe because 'discovering' others is so much more fun).
In an interview with noted Chicago journalist Irv Kupcinet, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad was asked in apparent disbelief about his demonstrated lack of admiration for certain Black Americans (you have to hear how articulate Mr. Kupcinet is in saying 'American Knee Grows'). Irv Kupcinet raises Ralph Bunche by name, as if his stellar career ends all arguments and overpowers the Honorable Elijah Muhammad's attitude. The Messenger's response is classic , saying that the 'fame and fortune' of these Blacks is not theirs and has been given to them by others. His words come back to mind as one considers Brother Barack's self-absorbed mission where the body is his but the ideas and money come from elsewhere. Do we need to check the zipcodes of his campaign contributers and rewind a tape of his October 22, 2006 appearance on Meet The Press (where he acknowledges that the idea to run for President was originally not his)?So let us drink (I'll have coffee) and be merry while we can. We are only one election, assassination, riot, Michael Richards on steroids moment (just imagine if President Clinton said there are 'White Niggers' like Senator Robert Byrd did on Fox TV in 2001) from the party ending, and Barack Obama being 'suddenly' asked to assume the real job that is awaiting him.
It ain't President.
I hope he won't be too disappointed
March 2007 |
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