The President Elect, Incidentally, of African American Descent

I fear this is something that will never really go away - we have come a long way, but not nearly far enough in terms of accepting difference.

Good piece.

As someone who grew up in South Carolina and who still lives here, and a one who successfully fought pressures to joing the "right company," I have seen these bad boys in action and will tell you right now that they are slippery, stealthy and cowardly -- all virtues for a racist activist. They are hard to catch, but must be caught for the reasons you expressed.

At the same time, remember the warnings of Malcolm X, who said he'd rather deal with a Southern racist that a more genteel one from the North. At least you know what you're dealing with when you come across the former variety. The bastards from where you least expect them are some real pieces of work.

Karen, a great post, thank you, zichi!

Great and thoughtful post.  

My thanks to all for stopping by to read, for the Recommends and your comments!

A wise point to be considered, Denseatoms, one often repeated by many African Americans after making their transition from the South, north of the Mason-Dixon line!

A good read, Karen. Thanks!

Good story.  While I respect Congressman Lewis, I have seen his use of Race Baiting in Georgia Politics.  Here is a transcript of a commercial

  John sees racism in everything and is not afraid to use race as a fear tactic to get blacks not to vote for a candidate.  In this case it was a city of Atlanta Councilman.  Obama came out with a statement regarding the Lewis remarks,

I think folks chose not to know the Man Barack Obama.  He made his beliefs and agendas clear in his books.  Republicans were being called over the top when calling him a socialist.  If one really read his books one could clearly see that he chose his friends carefully and some of them were socialists, Marxist etc.  His own words were clear.  He wrote the words, the GOP only repeated it.  Reporters showed their ignorance by calling Republicans out on the statements that were stated almost verbatim from Obama's own works. 

Folks will have the next 4 years to evaluate if he is a man of change or more of the same.  So far his cabinet picks look like a Clinton Rally.  Incidentally he is also of Anglo-Saxon descent.  

All in all a good piece.

I listened to Radio Sweden and Radio Netherlands both were going through the streets asking what they thought about an Obama Presidency.  Everyone said they were pleased... Not one person said they were not happy.  Either the reporters are biased or Obama is a total rock star in the world.  Then the question, "will we have a minority president".  Maybe 20-30 years was the answers.  It is interesting that these progressive Europeans,  who badger America at every turn,  can't see themseleves electiing a minority for another 20 or 30 years. 

Lincoln was against slavery from childhood based on every account one could find.  This who idea that he would have let things go if he could get a deal is a bit much.  I have heard that he made some military descisions that included blacks in the military to increase fighting streanth... As Lincoln goes.. he used this as an excuse to emanicipate rather then a means to win the war.  Lincoln was cunning and baffled his opponents even as a child he used trickery.  I don't buy the twist to make the Great Republican nothing more then a contemporary political actor.  His choice to free the slaves cost him his life. 

The words attributed to Abraham Lincoln are his own and provide his thoughts on the enslavement of those of African descent quite plainly.

The use of those formerly enslaved by the Union Army during the Civil War deprived the Confederacy of their use, as well as increasing the strength of the Union Army. Lincoln initially supported returning the enslaved escaping from the South to their presumed owners during the war.

As the monetary fortunes of the South were set to and were overtaking the North, due to the use of millions of unpaid descendants of Africa, it was more than necessary to abort the continued accumulation of wealth being acquired by the South through its use of slavery.

Although stating his opposition slavery, Lincoln's views on the inherent inferiority of Black people versus White people and his push for the resettlement of the descendants of Africa outside of the United States is well known.

From Lincoln's Presidential Inaugural Address in March 1861:

Apprehension seems to exist among the people of the Southern States, that by the accession of a Republican Administration, their property, and their peace, and personal security, are to be endangered. There has never been any reasonable cause for such apprehension. Indeed, the most ample evidence to the contrary has all the while existed, and been open to their inspection. It is found in nearly all the published speeches of him who now addresses you. I do but quote from one of those speeches when I declare that "I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so." Those who nominated and elected me did so with full knowledge that I had made this, and many similar declarations, and had never recanted them. And more than this, they placed in the platform, for my acceptance, and as a law to themselves, and to me, the clear and emphatic resolution which I now read:

"Resolved, That the maintenance inviolate of the rights of the States, and especially the right of each State to order and control its own domestic institutions according to its own judgment exclusively, is essential to that balance of power on which the perfection and endurance of our political fabric depend; and we denounce the lawless invasion by armed force of the soil of any State or Territory, no matter under what pretext, as among the gravest of crimes."

I now reiterate these sentiments: and in doing so, I only press upon the public attention the most conclusive evidence of which the case is susceptible, that the property, peace and security of no section are to be in anywise endangered by the now incoming Administration. I add too, that all the protection which, consistently with the Constitution and the laws, can be given, will be cheerfully given to all the States when lawfully demanded, for whatever cause -- as cheerfully to one section, as to another.

There is much controversy about the delivering up of fugitives from service or labor. The clause I now read is as plainly written in the Constitution as any other of its provisions:

"No person held to service or labor in one State, under the laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such  service or labor, but shall be delivered up on claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due."

Upon realization the Union was losing, as Lincoln continued to try to straddle the fence on the question of slavery, he was forced to take a stand, issuing the Emanicipation Proclamation, which only declared free those enslaved that found themselves in states and territories in defiance of the Union, while leaving the " ....  excepted parts, are for the present, left precisely as if this proclamation were not issued."     

Lincoln's shrewdness and ".... trickery", as well as his possibility of 'getting a deal', can be considered speculative, with the possible 'deal', given historical statements, seeming to be as likely as any other methodolgy that could be offered for his actions. 

Race baiting is not the issue here.

Congressman John Lewis' remarks regarding some assembled at McCain-Palin rallies and the hateful comments emanating from the crowd were dead on, also commented upon by pundits, many of them White, among them David Gergen, former White House advisor.

The tenor of the crowds gathered had been ugly and reminiscent of the crowds that gathered during the time when the United States was still in the throes of righting the most grievous wrongs perpetrated upon the descendants of Africa by the society as a whole and its citizens in this country.

That President Elect Obama's mother's side is the Anglo Saxon side, was mentioned in my piece, as the American in African American, with all knowing of his bi-continental/interracial heritage.

Karen, It is impossible to filter crowds such that no one might say something out of line.  We would then be crossing another line.  Many of the comments reported by the press ended up having no basis in fact.  I exhort you to find any audio or video of anyone at a Palin rally yell, "kill him".  You cannot hold them responsible for a very few idiots in a crowd.  If Palin is responsible for what someone in a crowd said then we must look at associations on Obama's side.  I am not sure we need or want to continue pounding away at the Ayers, Wright issue.  It seems to me a double standard to attack Palin and McCain for an audience member statement when the left says how ridiculous it is to connect Ayers and Wright to Obama. 

How many times have I been at a McCain Rally and leftist slip in and cause a scene.  Calling McCain a war criminal.  Will the left concede the actions of their party members?

If everyone is knowing of Obams racial make-up, why the emphasis in the title?  Can we all get over the race issue and just be proud that a person of color has risen to the highest office in the land.  So Far, He seems to be making some good choices for his cabinet. 

Like I said, I don't want to press to hard on an American hero, Congressman Lewis, but he has exaggerated race in the past.  At the same time, I can underrstand, based on Con. Lewis experience with white America in the 60's to harbor racial glasses but when I heard that commercial in Atlanta (where my brother is a Commissioner) I was shocked as this man he referred to had no background of any racial hatred or ill chatter. 

If we are to get beyond the color of ones skin, it might be helpful if both sides quit with the accusations.  I won't go one and on on this one as I usually concede in the end that I would rather keep a good relationship then go into a rhetorical back and forth. 

You know my history, I have worked for Black politicians.  The chairman of one of the most conservative counties in Georgia was black (he was my boss).  He won in a country with one of the lowest black populations in our state.  Some of us really do believe in content of Character rather then color of ones skin.  

Karen, I just hope, before I pass from this earth, that communities around the country will be like my community, like my church, and like my friends, Diverse and equal