Barack Obama has been once again elected as the "Leader of the Free World". While many of us rejoice, drunkenly roam the streets and erupt in tears of joy, many others sit writhing, seething in anger at what they view as a travesty. [Sorry Trump, you'll get 'em next time.]
But all is "fair" in love and politics, yes? *chortles*
Please read the follwoing slowly and cautiously. The views expressed are just that, MY views, and nothing more.
If you get nothing from this post, understand that our bias has provisioned a sickening regard for and the verbal abuse of people with differing opinions, as young educated blacks.
I write to you all today not as an Empowered Fat Bitch, but as an Intelligent, Independently Thinking Black Woman in America.
In the 2008 election, I debated with the prospect of voting. I was quite annoyed at the general consensus that I was to vote for a man based on the colour of his skin. I mean, wouldn't that be the same as the white populace voting for someone on the basis of the colour of his skin? [Even worse, NOT voting for someone for this reason] And wouldn't we then go on to label these people as racists? [See the double standard there?]
Anyways, at work, while discussing the topic, I was encouraged by my supervisors to vote "because people have died trying." After tirelessly explaining to them that i was unconvinced by the political ideals of either candidate, I was told "you need to vote for the lesser of two evils." After much eye-rolling and conceding just to get everyone to shut up, I was handed a crumpled note from the sheepish young graphic designer in the cube next to me. It read, "The lesser of two evils is still evil".
I was reassured that sensible people still existed.
Last night a young lady tweeted the following:
But all is "fair" in love and politics, yes? *chortles*
Please read the follwoing slowly and cautiously. The views expressed are just that, MY views, and nothing more.
If you get nothing from this post, understand that our bias has provisioned a sickening regard for and the verbal abuse of people with differing opinions, as young educated blacks.
I write to you all today not as an Empowered Fat Bitch, but as an Intelligent, Independently Thinking Black Woman in America.
In the 2008 election, I debated with the prospect of voting. I was quite annoyed at the general consensus that I was to vote for a man based on the colour of his skin. I mean, wouldn't that be the same as the white populace voting for someone on the basis of the colour of his skin? [Even worse, NOT voting for someone for this reason] And wouldn't we then go on to label these people as racists? [See the double standard there?]
Anyways, at work, while discussing the topic, I was encouraged by my supervisors to vote "because people have died trying." After tirelessly explaining to them that i was unconvinced by the political ideals of either candidate, I was told "you need to vote for the lesser of two evils." After much eye-rolling and conceding just to get everyone to shut up, I was handed a crumpled note from the sheepish young graphic designer in the cube next to me. It read, "The lesser of two evils is still evil".
I was reassured that sensible people still existed.
Last night a young lady tweeted the following:
"I've gotten like 3 good ass non debatable reasons to vote this week that have nothing to do with the ghost of Annie-Mae screaming 'Vote!'"
This sentiment warmed my heart. I've become sick to my stomach of people being coerced into voting for the sole reason that "We had to die for this". I'm always forced to bite back a nonchalant "And?" when confronted with this reasoning.
If one is unconvinced or unmoved to vote because they are indifferent to the results of this election, then why should they be scorned, ostracized and chastised? People behaved as if Mitt Romney's winning would have such a drastic turn in events of the country that evey person of colour would be desolate and in the streets by Wednesday afternoon. Am I the only one who remembers the power of LOCAL elections? The fact that the President does not have the ability to make rash decisions and implement them without the council of the Senate, Congress, Supreme Court, etc? And none of you seemed the least bit concerned when the States were actively trying rob millions of there rights to vote... It makes me truly question you guys motives. As they say in my home country, seems to me like alot of you were "Looking a Hype"
The Dangers of Group Think
In trying to be as objective as possible, I've watched President Obama, congratulating him on victories, [ESPECIALLY when i got that good-good 2010 Tax Return, Yes Lawd!], however speaking out on where I feel he has fallen short. In 2007 then Senator Obama delivered the convocation address to an excited freshman class. The address was ultimately his lamentation on issues affecting the Negro Poplulace. If nothing, I can say I learned about Prison statistics. Nonetheless, it was an exciting event, but I felt extremely manipulated. As a new student embarking on a major milestone, my plight was exacerbated by the fact that I was Fresh off the [banana] boat from Jamaica. I needed encouraging words, not an oratory barrage of campaigning and artificial charm.
In any case, he won. And I must say, similarly to last night, I was ok with this.
Idolized by many far and wide, President Obama indeed ran himself into the ground trying to make life easier for middle class families. [Whilst countless displaced impoverished persons sat, thumbs a-twiddle, waiting in vain. I digress]
But then, issues arose directly affecting aforementioned Negro population . Troy Davis comes to mind. Appeals to reconsider were sent in directly and on behalf of the likes of Pope Benedict XVI, Sister Helen Prejean and spurred a campaign with Amnesty International. My First African American President sat silently. Many will argue that as President it was not his duty, nor his place to comment, but Sir, with all due respect, the Pope. The Pope mustered up the testicles to have uttered his support of merely a proper trial of this man. My first black president was not courageous enough to utter a single comment about this issue.
Make no mistake. This man drew historical numbers of black voters in 2008, for the SOLE reason that he was expected to, at the very least, be courageous on the behalf of minorities in America during his term as President. Once again, make no mistake in thinking that President Obama did not manipulate this expectation and insinuate that this would be a concern throughout his administration.
I digress. Guys, don't let me start on President Obama's foreign policies. The point is that after all of this we continued to *blindly* support everything done and said by President Obama. I feel as if we'd become afraid to call him out, and those of us who did were verbally abused and forced to abscond. Talk about Freedom of speech. Tuh!
That being said, we must, as blacks, change our attitudes towards Black Republican voters. In the weeks leading up to last night's climatic election watch, I often questioned [and chuckled at] the concept of freedom of speech in this country. We often forget that freedom of speech is not confined to the general opinion of a group of people. For example, if someone intelligently alludes to leaning towards a Socialist ideology, we go bat shit crazy, forgetting the operative word, IDEOLOGY! The same stands for our attitudes towards our Republican cohorts. My God man! Guys, give people the freedom to be conservative or liberal as they so choose! Don't get me started on the condescending manner in which we speak to people who aren't so fortunate to be as educated as we convince ourselves we are on current political issues.
Please do not classify me as some irrational, radical Anti-Obama person. I'm merely imploring you to be open-minded, less biased, and call a spade a spade. I am satisfied with last night's results. Despite everything, there were ideals that I disagreed with Governor Romeny on. However, let it not be said that I'm "Dick riding Obama" as Aaron McGruder so cleverly termed it. I expect us all to be objective citizens, and most importantly, hold our President accountable.
Lack of constructive criticism can bring the mightiest of men to their knees. Let us spare our President that tragedy.
Best,
EFB
