BlackPerspective.net
Discussing the Diaspora as seen through an internal Black lens
Barack Obama Speaks of Hope In Iowa Caucus Win
January 4th, 2008
Barack Obama took 38% of the vote followed by John Edwards 30% and Hilary Clinton’s 29%.
A CNN commentator noted that “Iowa has never voted a Black man to anything”.
Obama won in a state that is 94% white and and only 4% Black.
Social commentator and sometime BlackPerspective.net contributor Tressie McMillan commented that “I believe that some moments in time simply cannot be impeded, and i’ve always thought that’s what we were watching.”
But it was a caucas where you basically have to show up for a meeting for a couple of hours and go through a ritual; which impedes turnout in camparison to normal voting where you have most of the day to cast a secrete ballot when you will.
Yet, the 355,000 who caucused do constitute and representative sample and Iowa has picked the last 3 democratic nominees; and 6 of the last 9 going back to 1972.
Obama is the first Black presidential candidate to win a caucus or primary since Jesse Jackson in 1988.
Call me a cynic, but I don’t believe all of a sudden, in contradiction to all other evidence; that white America in a night has finally decided on equality in America and wiped away prejudice. I deal with too much of too many of their ideals of being racism apologist (that is pretending racism is not racism and making excuses for it) or just being blantantly racist in my social actvism, research and feedback to my writing.
Vanessa Byers feels that the results are “a clue to the changing attitudes of Americans”. Other than as a political junkie, I’m not excited.
It is notable that the Bradely Effect didn’t take place. We’ll have to see how that holds up throughout the primary process; or was this just a moment.
I vote in February on super Tuesday. Right now I’m voting for Obama unless I change my mind in the interim be cause I’m certainly not stuck to anybody. But I’ll be coming back soon with a post about why an Obama presidential win might be more bad for Black America than good.
Obama’s Victory Speech:
Mike Huckabee won the Republican primary with 35% of the vote to Mitt Romney’s second place 24% despite being out spent by millions.
In his victory speech Huckabee summed up his philosophy with the quote that “a solider fights war not because he hates those in front of him; but because he loves those behind him.”
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14 Responses to “Barack Obama Speaks of Hope In Iowa Caucus Win”
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Yobachi Boswell is creator and publisher of BlackPerspecitve.net. I’m a writer, activist and political watcher based in Nashville, Tennessee. I’ve also been know to do some spoken word and MCing in my day.
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I was in total shock that Obama won the caucus. I certainly did want him to but I never thought it would happen. Even though I know it doesn’t set anything in stone I think it was a major upset. I was sitting there watching his speech and I honestly found myself tearing a bit. Then, halfway through, one thought came to mind, “please don’t kill him.” I didn’t want to think it but I couldn’t help it. What that says about me or the way I feel about our country is relatively obvious but it was a moment of hope. Whatever happens we’ll always have that victory.
It was a great speech. Very presidential, magnanimous and inspiring.
I’m not shocked that he won since he was trending in a 3 way tie for a couple of weeks; but surpised by the 8 point margin. I guess it is surprising that the Bradely Effect didn’t take place. I should put that in the post.
When you win, who cares about racism anyway? Racists can only cry “sour grapes”. Bigots only have powere in their ability to control the political arena. White supremacy means nothing without control of institutiontions.
And if Barack Obama wins the presidency, which instutitions exactly will the supremist have lost control of?
See that’s the thing, we’re getting all super excited over something that doesn’t fundamentally change anything.
All substantive change takes time and there’s that timeless truth that I’ll paraphrase, ”
An idea who’s time has come can’t be stopped”. The Big-O is the idea and now is the time.
No one expects any president to change all of society’s ills but the person in the big chair always leaves a domestic and international stamp of some sort before they leave office. We’ll just have to see what President Obama’s stamp will be.
Natalie, don’t go negative babe. You’re about to see a Black man in the White House and I’ll volunteer myself as a deputy secret service agent if that’s what it takes to make sure this brother’s destiny is fulfilled.
Exactly. With Barack’s election all of the global atrocities with be blamed on the black guy. White people are just waiting to say that racism no longer exists since the president would be black. Heck, they are already saying it now. Racism is the unspoken millstone around the necks of whites. It be nice for the white collective to no longer be blamed for things like Katrina, inferior schools, etc. and their general indifference when it comes to black people. I remember hearing someone say that the opposite of love isn’t hate, but indifference. It is like their redemption. My belief is that for the most part if they vote for him or against him it is for racist reasons. Whites want a black face on White Supremacist foreign policy. Refined racism pure and simple. Are we ready to let the racists off of the hook this easily? I eagerly await your post next week. I would encourage those of you who haven’t read the recent post at BAR regarding black “leaders” to do so. Trust your instincts. Black people were slow to jump on board with Obama early because we witnessed this seemingly suspect white support. White Supremacists don’t do anything, without something in return. We need to keep our eyes on the scoreboard. There still aren’t any points up there yet, and White Supremacy, though in a weakened state, is still here. It is bend but not break.
But see Marty, the thing for me is, that simply having individual Black people get positions is no longer nearly good enough; that’s not the ideal that I cherish. If we have a Black president, but Black people are still charged more for bank loans just for being Black ( www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/06/crl_predatory_study.html ), what difference does it make?
If we have a Black president, but are still herded in to prison at an extremely higher rate than whites who commit the same crime (www.blackperspective.net/index.php/black-teens-six-times-more-likely-to-be-sentenced-to-jail-than-white-teens/ ), then what difference does it make.
We need fundamental change, not just Negroes in high places. We need to stop being mystified by individual figureheads.
I understand the excitement of seeing one of ours ascend to such heights, I feel some of it too; but we need much more than symbolism. So we have to stop being just so sentimental and be more strategic in our thinking.
Salt, now your thinking. The issue of them using whatever success Barak has to put their final stamp on thier faux position that racism is no more, is huge!
And you’re also right that we have examine the motivations for why white people are willing to support this particular brother at this particular time. What do they want? What are they trying to do?
And to me it’s not a reflection on Barack, at least not primarily; it’s about what these white folks are trying to use him to get. See, they’re always being strategic, and we’re always being sentimental. That’s why we keep losing.
I honestly didn’t think he would win, and so I had my guards up. When he won I felt like an American again, and thought wow anything is possible. Then I had to brace myself again, and remember this is just the first. It’s just the beginning and this may be an up and down roller coaster ride. It only takes one mistake, and everything changes. I don’t know how I’m going to make it through the next 10 months.
Yeah, it’s wise not to get too exited too soon MrsG; remember, Jesse Jackson won multiple primaries, but he didn’t get no nomination.
I think it’s not over until it’s over, but there is some indication that America in general has realized the established government is screwing them over and they want to take their government back. It matters not to them, in this case, what race their president is as long as they think that president is going to help them take back their government. Edwards has great passion and is most progressive in this way but Obama seems more reasonable to them by truthfully telling them it will not be easy.
The road is long, but for my part most of the people I talk to do not even think of race when sifting through the candidates. I do believe when it comes to their own self interest White Americans are quite able to look past race. In other cases no so much, but it is a start.
off topic slightly:
This article in the Boston Globe may be of some interest to you. Admittedly I’ve only skimmed it, I’ve been rather tied up, but I’m passing it along anyway.
www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2008/01/06/those_people/?page=3
Additionally, expect Obama to win by a comfortable margin in New Hampshire as well. White people in New Hampshire do not want to be perceived as the state that “stopped a black from being president”. This is the power of suggestion. Everybody loves a winner. Case in point: Tiger Woods. Do you really think all of the white people who “like” Tiger Woods aren’t White Supremacists?
White people in general have us figured out. This can change and while whites may seem emotional and anxious, they aren’t emotional about race. White Supremacy is a habit. And rather than doing the heavy lifting that would be required to replace the system White Supremacy with justice, they’d rather put a collective “crown” on a black person’s head, and leave it at that. It’s about logic, not emotion. Just look around you. Actions speak louder than words. As long as there is White Supremacy, race will always be the only game in town. White Supremacists need a measuring stick, or frame of reference. For example that’s why whites move out of “good neighborhoods” when blacks move in. It has nothing to do with crime. That’s they sit on their hands when a natural disaster like Hurricane Katrina happens. Alot of these White Supremacists are so-called Christians! LOL. And we bounce around in church every week supposedly worshiping the same God they do. With regard to education, if someone won’t treat you right, why would they teach you right? As it relates to poverty: Ghandi said that poverty is the worst form of violence. My point is no more celebrating until there is justice. There is nothing to celebrate yet.
Hetep and Respect, Obama is on the move. I predicted that Clinton would come in 3ed but not the big O win.
See my Op-Ed Piece (Newsvine/Msnbc)on What this means regarding the Nation’s Cultural Health
aunk.newsvine.com
Fired uP — Ready to Go!
The demographics of Obama’s victory in Iowa was clearly a generational issue. Although he did well with most of the other groups and definitely bested Hillary with women, young people were responsible for his victory.
I must agree with Marty on this one. Even if Obama wins, his victory is not a magic pill to cure all of society’s ills but substantive change has to start somewhere.