elections and false dichotomies
For some, this election year has been, or will be, life changing. For those like me, this election year is simply life confirming. The 2008 race for the Democratic nomination highlights the false dichotomy imposed on Black women daily. We can be Black, or we can be women, but not simultaneously both. In the tradition of DeGraffenreid v. General Motors, this election operates on a single axis framework that can only prove to be detrimental to those of us who face intersectional discrimination. An allegiance to Hilary Clinton could very well have one deemed a “race traitor”. Supporting Senator Obama may be construed as having put one’s sex secondary to race. In light of Senator Obama securing the Democratic nomination, and Hilary Clinton* having surpassed any other female’s attempt at running for the highest office, Black women are once again left asking–when and where do we enter?
Interestingly enough, the Black female vote is most often taken for granted within the Black community. It is not enough that she exercise her right to vote, she must vote correctly (read Black). No one of African descent is exempt. Even Black conservatives are expected to “keep it real”. They’ve even got a name for them–”Obamacans”. Black Republicans who feel compelled to cross party lines because the possibility of having a Black man in office is simply too good to pass up. Setting aside one’s personal political philosophies to vote solely based on race is apparently only racist if you’re voting against Obama. If you’re voting for Obama for that same reason, well that’s just “racial solidarity”.
*Given that Senator Clinton has opted to merely suspend her campaign, it remains to be seen just how far her run for office will go.
June 17, 2008 5:43 pm 6 Comments
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By Eugene McIntosh, June 18, 2008 @ 1:15 pm
THOUGHT PROVOKING!!
By Vincent Allen, June 19, 2008 @ 10:11 am
You bring out some good points on this topic that touches us all. The whole political campaign is based on pressure or influence to vote for or against someone for whatever reason.
By Eugene McIntos, June 19, 2008 @ 4:48 pm
And yeah-im voting for Barack because he’s black! They pull us over cuz we’re black, we lose job opportunities cuz we’re black and we’re victims of police brutality cuz we’re black!
By erica5417, June 19, 2008 @ 5:28 pm
Eugene, following that logic, one would have to say that if it’s okay to vote for Senator Obama simply because he’s Black– it’s okay to not vote for him for that same reason. To not vote for someone based on race is clearly racism. As such, voting for someone based solely on race– is racism.
By Johari, June 19, 2008 @ 10:26 pm
obama’s being black is what MADE me look into his campaign, because i’ve been anti-politics (ignorantly, perhaps) since 2004. his race, however, has been a factor of his appeal to me. on a smaller scale i can safely say i’d choose a black male professor over a white female professor with the same credentials…perhaps that doesn’t compare but i do believe it tests the theory of reverse racism…or maybe it strengthens it…now i’m confused
By Toron "T.R.U.F" Ballard, July 16, 2008 @ 2:24 pm
I am not totally sold that voting for Barack because he is black is racism. Why do we question our motives and ethnocentrism when noone else does. Do we look at Jewish people with a sly eye because they only buy from each other. White America, I’m sorry thats an understatement, AmeriKKKa, has long been the culprit of voting, hiring, and educating white because they can. To call someone a racist for standing behind one of their own is in my opinion dangerous and irresponsible. For years blacks have supported the democratic party blindly voting for the lesser evil of the devils. If we are guilty of anything its loyalty to association. Well, in this historical movement our skin color happens to be the associating factor. So please all black people vote for Barack because he is worthy or because he is black. It does not make you a racist it makes you an opportunist. Further more blacks could never be racist. So that reverse racism stuff does not fly.