ousman, the inappropriateness for me, is about the unity that need fostering at this time for the Obama camp. it is wrong if the other so-call black leaders try to create a wedge between 'them' and other blacks. you would hardy see Jews, Chinese or other colours debating about such nonsense.
--- On Wed, 27/8/08, Ousman Ceesay <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
From: Ousman Ceesay <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Obama not of slave decendants. is this an appropraite comment?
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Wednesday, 27 August, 2008, 3:01 AM
Suntou
What is distasteful about that comment? He is alluding to a known fact. Obama
was criticize from some quarters in the black community for not been black
enough... Because his forebears didn't journey through the middle passage.
Stanley crouch wrote one of those crazy pieces in the new york daily news
titled "what obama isn't: black like me". Where he espouses that
mr. Obama's upbringing sheltered him from the brutalities of slavery, jim
crow and their associated intricacies on black America. And by black America, he
meant descendants of slaves.
Having said that, I am inclined to asked: what you find inappropiate with that
comment. Maybe I am missing something. Humor me please.
Sent from my iPhone
On Aug 26, 2008, at 5:31 PM, SUNTOU TOURAY <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
coutesy of the www.allgambian.net.
brother Alagie Yero jallow wrote this fine piece a short while ago, but i
found a certain portion very distasteful. he wrote and i quote "Obama is
not of slave decendants". is this comment appropriate?
the full article.
–Alagi Yorro Jallow
There’s an understandable excitement at the prospect of somebody other
than the usual suspects occupying the White House, arguably the most powerful
job in the world.
Barack Obama, if he succeeds in beating John McCain in November, will change
the tone and texture and even the psychology of not just US politics, but world
affairs-It’s not because of what he might do or say, but who he is. As
Jesse Jackson would say, he’s moving from the outhouse to the White
House.
Obama is not a descendant of slaves, a fact that initially seemed to rankle
some black leaders in the US, until he started winning, and then they embraced
him with shameless alacrity. Not all black leaders have embraced him-Some were
for Hillary Clinton, others like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton et al have been
leary of him. His election, if it comes to pass, will truly be historic. In a
uni-polar world where the US wields untrammeled power, his election will put a
different cast and complexion on world affairs.
The palpable thrill, especially in Africa, at the prospect of an Obama
presidency is therefore understandable. Africa often tends to behave a bit like
an unwanted orphan who suddenly discovers a famous uncle, who’ll
hopefully wipe away the tears and provide a protective arm. It doesn’t
always work that way. I don’t seem to remember what Kofi Annan achieved
for Africa at the United Nations-except the carnage in Rwanda which happened on
his watch-despite the exuberance that greeted his elevation.
Barack Obama’s success should come with a healthy warning, so to
speak, lest we be disappointed. Despite his African-sounding name, Obama is an
American as apple pie,or baseball.He’s going to bat for nobody else but
America.
Because of his tenuous association with Africa,we will feel entitled to offer
our sage advice and allow ourselves to be disappointed, insulted almost,at what
we view as his faults or failures. We should relieve ourselves of such burdens.
He’s not ours.He doesn’t speak for us.He doesn’t have to.
He doesn’t owe us anything. Not a single butut.
Because of its parlous state and the awful failures of its leadership, Africa
is often looking around for a saviour. The continent is crawing with Good
Samaritans who never run short of a mouth to feed.If Obama is a
messiah,he’s not our messiah.We cannot lay claim to him. We‘re
gate-crashing someone else’s party. I suspect Africa does not necessarily
hold pleasant memories for Obama. After all his father abandoned him when he was
two,and left him with a name that has proved nothing but a hurdle in his quest
for political power. He has more kinship with Indonesia, where he spent the
better part of his childhood. It’s interesting some African leaders were
quick to dispatch congratulatory messages to Obama for clinching the Democratic
nomination. Few years ago on a visit to Africa-in some countries he visited not
one cabinet minister was on hand to meet him-after all, he is what we refer to
‘Very Important Person’ (VIP), a U.S senator of
African extraction.
There will obviously be an improvement if Obama were to replace the
nightmarish reign of the incumbent, who often gives the impression he has a
grudge against the entire planet and seems determined to use the instruments of
violence at his disposal to wreak revenge.
Obama will serve the interests of humanity better if he does his job well,
running an efficient and compassionate administration. First, he will prove to
be doubting Thomas’s that competence, or the lack thereof, has nothing to
do with colour. Second, as the recent past has shown, an American which feels
secure and comfortable in its own skin is crucial to world peace. The question
is whether Obama could have come this far, dazzled the world, if he had been an
insurgent African politician in Africa? My honest answer is probably not.
He would be cooling his heels in jail (with Amnesty International and Human
Rights Watch feverishly calling for his release), tortured or even killed.
There’s a sobering thought.
The author is a Gambian journalist ,a Nieman fellow at Harvard University
and a graduate student Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government (Mason
fellow )MPA 2008
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