Originally Posted by
chitown4eva
Originally Posted by
Craftsy21
Originally Posted by MyTsharp
Because, people like Malcolm and Martin, AND Medgar Evars (who died after coming home from helping people register to vote) fought for this day.
And to be just FORTY years removed from the civil rights movement and to have a man of color become president is unprecedented. Malcolm fought for equality in his own brand, and he wasn't killed by whites, he was killed by his very own people. Who, like you, were afraid of change and cynical of the ideas that Malcolm could bring forth.
In essence, since you listen to Ghost so much, a bunch of "shark biters" was crampin' his style.
My grandfather and great uncles were [color= rgb(255, 255, 0)]beaten[/color] in Richmond, Virginia for rallying to vote. I'm 25 years old, and I NEVER thought I would see this day. If anything you should show some respect for the people that helped put all of us in this position, not just black or white. That's why I get so upset when you say its all about race. Not once did that man ask the black vote to pick him because of his skin, it was because he was an American. The white right-wing voters put the emphasis on his race, not the BO camp.
I don't %*!# with Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton, so I didn't vote just cause he was black, but because he has common sense.
I can't believe I'm getting upset over this on such a momentous day. I hope you got what you wanted.
My-T.
They fought for the day you COULD vote for a black man if he was the best candidate in your opinion... not just so you could vote for someone because he was black. They fought for equality, not blind following and ignorance about the issues.
That's what you're not understanding.
Yes it's great to see a black man make it so far in politics considering where this country was 40 years ago - but you completely missed the point about what those men fought for. And that's what bugs me about this all. I think many of those men and women that fought for equality would be really disappointed in the way some people treated this election, so if you are gonna claim them as your heroes you better be holding up the same ideals they did... simply voting for any black man and not even knowing what he stands for is not holding up their ideals.
Please tell me you're black...
If not, please continue to vent your skepticism about Obama the politician at your discretion (even though he hasn't been sworn in yet), but chill with the "ancestor" talk. Many of these people that fought are still alive and still voting. And you are talking to the children, grandchildren, neices and nephews of these people. Black America is so diverse, but BET and the news would have you thinking otherwise, and I can't blame anyone on the receiving end of those images for that. But don't speak on what you don't know. You don't understand the moment.
If you think the majority of blacks voted for Obama JUST because he's black, you're wrong. You definitely weren't tuned in to black politics during the primary when he was running against Hilary Clinton. He actually had to win over the black vote going up against Clinton. Breaking through black America's adoration for the Clintons was not easy at all. Old civil rights people figures like Rangel and Young and even that #@!% Bob Johnson were all in opposition of Obama and riding for Clinton because they are politicians. We all seen what that clown Jesse Jackson marching @%@ was up to. We see what's going on. Obama was criticized and examined and even his blackness was questioned. You have no idea how much of a skeptic a black person can be of another.
The black vote was NOT given to him because he is black. Voter registration and turnout in record numbers is not the result of him being black, but the result of economics, unnecessary war, gas prices, voter fraud in '00 and '04...Bush's face, McCain and the joke that is Palin. People are hurting. That's the bottom line. People have to be brushed up on the issues, true, but people's life experiences motivated them to go away from Bush.
Yes, its irresponsible to vote in spite of, but the issues usually mean @%@! in an election and many know this. You are not giving people credit for understanding this. Damn near all politicians spew empty rhetoric when trying to get elected. That's a given and something most voter eligible blacks understand completely. The politician in the black community is not looked upon favorably. But when we have a chance to make history and to veer away from the Bush era, why the hell not? Give him a chance. We felt that we wouldn't give ourselves, as Americans, a chance with McCain. Obama was elected with the hope of change, not with the expectation because of the natural skepticism of ANY politician. Don't think for a second that we are just satisfied with getting him in there. We want him to to his job, to be the best president he can be, not just be black and smile and be quotable. We still got Jesse and Al. But this moment is celebratory. Yes people will overreact, but for this moment in time, let them have it.
The change that Obama represents is not necessarily just what he can do politically. It's motivational in the fact that the perception can move from "slanging crack rock or a wicked jumpshot" mentality to actually seeing where education, family and even politics can take you. He's a role model.
Its spiritual in the fact that our ancestor's faith has been confirmed. Not making Obama a god-like figure, but he's a figure head in an event that proves the God our ancestors relied on during those times are still with them and us. That a black man can move the country on the merits of his mind, not the merits of his athletic skills.
And to be all the way real with you, many blacks, including myself, do not feel the need to explain or justify to others our reason for voting for Obama other than him being black because it shouldn't be assumed that we can't see past his skin color. Do you think that, with what just took place and with the black history in America, we could give a damn about "your" skepticism of our motives? This is THIS generation's example of achieving equality. We haven't seen black's unify for much since the civil rights era. Don't sit there and question our motives, our actions and our intelligence we when celebrate a culmination of our ancestors work. The result is EXACTLY what they fought, bled and died for.
I voted for Obama and him being black was absolutely a factor. The fact is, most racists these days aren't as bold as the used to be...or better yet, cowards. Racism is taboo. I would rather know where you stand. It's a lot of cowards on NT right now. How you feel about me no longer affects how I feel about myself. And I will absolutely NOT apologize for being black and voting for a black president.