Chapter III Verse VI - That looks like someone I know
With the world watching a black man compete for one of the most powerful positions on the planet I think it's a great time to think about how important it is that your leader look the way you do.
Seeing Barack Obama in the United States presidential race is for me, amazing. A black president was something I was hoping my children would see, maybe. Now it is closer than ever and I'm overjoyed to have witnessed this much even if I fear for Mr. Obama's personal safety.
One of the things that makes me feel that people in The Bahamas (and the Caribbean in general) have an advantage over black people in America is the fact that our leaders look like we do. As a child I believed I could grow up to be Prime Minister or a Supreme Court Justice or Chief of Police. I would just have to work hard (I did not know much about politics obviously).
But for a black American child it must be hard identifying with the people in charge. So many of the people who shape society in America look like they live on a different planet from the people whose lives they influence. They dress different, sound different, smell different, walk talk and act, different. I would imagine this makes it easy to dislike authority and see it as something outside of yourself.
On a more balanced note, here we are in the Bahamas. We have dark leaders, bright leaders, male and female leaders. Boys and girls can dream of being anything they want to be no matter what economic or racial category they fall into. I'll be happier when we have had a female Prime Minister but we are doing better than a lot of nations. As deep as life is, sometimes it's just as simple as "If they can do it, so can I".
So I want Obama to win just because he is black. The fact is that if nothing else his victory will make it easier for another black person to do it. It will make black people all over the world feel proud. If he is president, no matter what he does or what mistakes he makes he will be remembered as the first black president of America. The sooner we get that out of the way the better.
I do wonder how much difference the race and gender of our leaders makes in our Bahamaland. Do we treat people better if they look like us? I'm not sure. I don't expect our PM to solve the world's racial problems unless his last name ends in Buddha, Christ or Selassie I. But I do think they could do more to improve our self image and self awareness.
The movers and shakers in the media, religion and politics often stay far from controversial topics such as racism, gender inequality and economic oppression, leaving us to our own interpretations. The ones that do have a lot to say are often misinformed or uninformed. And then there are those who use popular emotional issues as a chance to further their own agenda.
But these gripes are true of many leaders. The fact is that we live in a world that treats us differently based on our colour. It is often a war for resources. In the heat of the battle it makes me feel better to know that the person in charge looks enough like me to be fighting for some of the same things. I hope that my black American brothers and sisters will get the chance to see what this feels like sooner rather than later.
- Dsus Pays
Seeing Barack Obama in the United States presidential race is for me, amazing. A black president was something I was hoping my children would see, maybe. Now it is closer than ever and I'm overjoyed to have witnessed this much even if I fear for Mr. Obama's personal safety.
One of the things that makes me feel that people in The Bahamas (and the Caribbean in general) have an advantage over black people in America is the fact that our leaders look like we do. As a child I believed I could grow up to be Prime Minister or a Supreme Court Justice or Chief of Police. I would just have to work hard (I did not know much about politics obviously).
But for a black American child it must be hard identifying with the people in charge. So many of the people who shape society in America look like they live on a different planet from the people whose lives they influence. They dress different, sound different, smell different, walk talk and act, different. I would imagine this makes it easy to dislike authority and see it as something outside of yourself.
On a more balanced note, here we are in the Bahamas. We have dark leaders, bright leaders, male and female leaders. Boys and girls can dream of being anything they want to be no matter what economic or racial category they fall into. I'll be happier when we have had a female Prime Minister but we are doing better than a lot of nations. As deep as life is, sometimes it's just as simple as "If they can do it, so can I".
So I want Obama to win just because he is black. The fact is that if nothing else his victory will make it easier for another black person to do it. It will make black people all over the world feel proud. If he is president, no matter what he does or what mistakes he makes he will be remembered as the first black president of America. The sooner we get that out of the way the better.
I do wonder how much difference the race and gender of our leaders makes in our Bahamaland. Do we treat people better if they look like us? I'm not sure. I don't expect our PM to solve the world's racial problems unless his last name ends in Buddha, Christ or Selassie I. But I do think they could do more to improve our self image and self awareness.
The movers and shakers in the media, religion and politics often stay far from controversial topics such as racism, gender inequality and economic oppression, leaving us to our own interpretations. The ones that do have a lot to say are often misinformed or uninformed. And then there are those who use popular emotional issues as a chance to further their own agenda.
But these gripes are true of many leaders. The fact is that we live in a world that treats us differently based on our colour. It is often a war for resources. In the heat of the battle it makes me feel better to know that the person in charge looks enough like me to be fighting for some of the same things. I hope that my black American brothers and sisters will get the chance to see what this feels like sooner rather than later.
- Dsus Pays
Labels: Bahamas, Barack Obama, change, confidence, empowerment, likeness, Nassau, New Providence
posted by Dsus at
12:00 AM
3 Comments:
It is interesting that you started your discourse by lauding Obama's blackness, but that idea (similar to others worldwide) is faulty. Let us be reminded that Obama is a product of both Caucasian and African parentage, therefore, why are black people claiming him solely as theirs? Why should Obama lean closer to the black race (although he has effectively and respectfully avoided leaning in any direction)?
Yes there is that law, or decree or whatever it is that states if you have 1/3 Negro, then your black, but we are in 2008. And I’m sure that his passport and drivers license state Negro, and I am certain he is not confused as to which checkbox to tick when he completes surveys and such. But by him paying respect to both sides of his ancestry, he squashes the old racist and discriminatory mindset that has plagued past generations.
As far as people of the Caribbean having an advantage over those in the Americas because our leaders look like us, I agree and disagree. I agree that as people coming from a tormented past of colonization and slavery, it is imperative and necessary that our leaders look like us, we need it in order to rewrite history. However, black Americans are so far detached from their roots that the only thing connecting them to Africa is the colour of the skin, vs us in the Caribbean where our African past is visible in our speech, our food, the existence of the oral tradition, our culture etc. I think its called Creolization nowadays.
On the other hand, I disagree that for black Americans, it is important that their leaders look like them. The first black woman to become a Nobel Prize Laureate, and one of the latest Barak Obama supporters, Toni Morrison, called president Bill Clinton the first black president. Yes, it was her who coined the term. I think what Morrison was referring to here is the financial, social and economical past Clinton was brought up from. He came from the same living accommodations as middle class blacks and to some extent lower class black Americans. The polemic here is not one focused on race but more so class. That’s what is my friend, class, seriously, you think Bahamians have problem with Brent Symonette cause he white? Hell No. They have a problem cause he own every damn thing in the country. So I leave with this question, would you have supported Obama if he was white? What you have even known his name?
EMH
T&T
In response to the letter from EMH, T&T. I assume that’s Trinidad and Tobago (to clarify for any international readers)?
"But by him paying respect to both sides of his ancestry, he squashes the old racist and discriminatory mindset that has plagued past generations."
I don’t think he has done all that and I think that’s more than any one man can do. I am glad that he pays respect to both sides of his family. But he looks more like an African or Caribbean person or Black American than any serious U.S. presidential candidate ever has before. I think it will make a difference no matter what his parents look like or his heritage is. I think too many Americans (and people on earth in general) are not used to seeing non-white skin every day. My point was that just the act of seeing a non-white person do normal things at what many consider to be the highest position of authority would do wonders for all of us black and multi-racial people.
"Why should Obama lean closer to the black race (although he has effectively and respectfully avoided leaning in any direction)?"
I never said that he would. In fact I hoped I made it clear that I was not too concerned about what he did. I don’t want him to start a war or create a food shortage but is he really gonna do worse that George Bush Jr?
"Black Americans are so far detached from their roots that the only thing connecting them to Africa is the colour of the skin, vs us in the Caribbean where our African past is visible in our speech, our food, the existence of the oral tradition, our culture etc. I think its called Creolization nowadays."
I think that statement is false. We in the Caribbean are often happy to say how far ahead of our American brothers and sisters when they played a role in nearly every type of popular music of the 20th century. Their influence over Caribbean culture is as obvious as ours is on theirs. Yes there are many aspects of Black American culture that I don’t like but there are many I can learn from. And while I disagree to a certain extent, your saying that our African past is more visible supports my point; having black leaders means more black culture.
"The polemic here is not one focused on race but more so class. That’s what is my friend, class, seriously, you think Bahamians have problem with Brent Symonette cause he white? Hell No. They have a problem cause he own every damn thing in the country."
I agree that class is usually a more important consideration than race but that was not the topic of this blog. I do think the fact that Brent Symonette is white makes it easier for most Bahamians to think of him as outside of themselves, separate. I think for many his money and the fact that he is white are inseparable. Do they feel the same way about Garet "Tiger" Finlayson that they do about Symonette?
"So I leave with this question, would you have supported Obama if he was white? What you have even known his name?"
No and no. I thought I made that clear when I said I wanted him to win just because he was black.
well said...
amazing how much identifying with ones self is in direct association with ones ability to rise beyond the constraints today society inevitably pushes on us all...
still the illusions of today reign supreme...
well done dsus.. as usual
blufireFPO
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