I am realizing, once again, the lack of actual political clout of the Black community. Over the past couple of weeks, Barack Obama has been bending over backwards to demonstrate his love and support for the state of Israel. Why is it, I ask myself, that a presidential candidate must pass an Israel litmus test? It seems it is not enough to support Israel, as Barack Obama has done vociferously for quite some time (check the man's website), one has to love and be enthusiastic about supporting Israel unconditionally. How does it make sense that to be president of this nation, you have to unequivocally support another nation? I'm a brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Would it make sense that I have to be enthusiastic about Kappa Alpha Psi to be president of Alpha?
Really, this disgusts me. I am disgusted because I personally believe there are serious injustices that are being overlooked within Israel. Now, before anyone reading this gets bent out of shape, I don't think that Israel should be destroyed or wiped off the map or anything like that. But I do think it's patently absurd to crush critical thought, stomp critique, and give unconditional support to a nation, party, idea, etc. without question. That's just dumb. And it pains me to see Obama doing this dance to satisfy a slice of the electorate or some other country as whole, when he's been supporting them out his behind in the first place. I disagreed with Obama's views on Middle East policy as it was, but now it's like he's dancing for massa, proving loyalty to Israel - IT'S A DIFFERENT COUNTRY. Not even Great Britain gets this kind of love.
So how does this relate to the Black community? Well, obviously the Jewish community has some serious clout (although, I think it's fair and necessary to say that not every Jewish American unconditionally supports all of Israel's actions). How else can a group that's less than 3% of the U.S. population dictate to candidates what they can and cannot say and do on foreign policy with respect to the Middle East? The Black community, at around 12% of the U.S. population, can't even smell this kind of political power. When the Sean Bell verdict was delivered, did Barack Obama say that this is an injustice? Did he even say that police brutality against Black folk has historically been problem? No. He just said something about judge's decision, respecting the law, blah blah blah.
I don't fault the Jewish community for carrying a big stick. Don't hate the player, hate the game, right? What bothers me is that Black folk (myself included) are supporting this dude with unprecedented effort yet we're not getting an equivalent return on our investment, and have less and less of a guarantee of any return. We're watching this guy, "our" candidate, dance for other folks, when he isn't even really trying to earn Black votes. The really sad part is that he doesn't even have to, we'll give him our vote on the promise of hope.
Such audacity.
It's not just the Jewish community and Israel. The news media keeps talking about how he's not getting the so-called "White working class" vote. Why isn't it a problem that Hillary Clinton isn't getting the Black vote? She's not even trying either.
How do we continually give candidates such overwhelming support for absolutely nothing in return? Nothing. At all. Democrats don't even have to try, they know we'll come out like sheep for them. It's disgusting. You know what? Jewish Americans typically vote Democrat as well - but there are concrete hoops to jump through. Promises must be made. And don't you dare say anything even remotely critical of Israel. Shoot, unless you don't show your undying love and support with every fiber of your being then you're not making the cut.
We know, for a fact, that the criminal justice system is broken and disproportionately incarcerates young Black men, which further closes windows of opportunity for them. We know that Black communities all across the country are under assault from gentrification in the name of "progress." We know that public schools in Black communities are not operating at an acceptable level. Why isn't either Democratic candidate addressing these issues? Because WE ARE NOT FORCING THEM TO DO IT.
Why should they, if they can get the milk without the cow? And I was one of those same folk who said that Obama has to play the game, can't been seen as addressing "Black issues" because then White people won't vote for him. But you know what? Other people are getting their issues and agenda taken care of. What sense does it make to hold back on our issues so that a preferred candidate can win with a mandate of not addressing our issues? This is lunacy. It's crazy.
Labels: Barack Obama, presidential election
