Obama's decades-long support for the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, combined with his refusal to completely disavow this man, suggest that beneath his calm exterior, Obama may be seething with racial resentment. So far he has managed to conceal it, while his wife Michelle Obama lets out the occasional petulant outburst. But inner rage is the only explanation for why the Obama family is so close to Wright. He articulates their deepest feelings about race in America, feelings that they know are imprudent to air politically.
Yet what do the Obamas have to feel resentful about? They are one of the truly privileged families in America. They both got an Ivy League education. They had the benefit of top graduate schools. They have held enviable jobs such as Michelle Obama's hospital post that pays more than $300,000 a year. They live in an upscale neighborhood very far removed from the drug and crime-infested ghettos of Chicago. So what do these two have to whine about? Would they trade places even for a week with a working-class white family?
Well, the standard answer goes, it's still painful despite one's advantages to live in a racist country. But how can America be a racist country if Obama has a serious shot at the presidency? How would it even be possible for Obama to win predominantly white states as he has been doing in the primaries? Would a racist country be likely to have allowed affirmative action and preferential programs to blacks in university admissions, job hiring and government contracts for nearly 40 years?
The Obamas seem to be experiencing what Ellis Cose years ago termed "the rage of the privileged class." Cose accurately identified the rage, although he could not diagnose its source. For many black leaders, there is one obvious source: white racism. Several years ago I debated Jesse Jackson at Stanford University and challenged him to show me a racism today that prevents his family or mine from achieving the American dream. Jackson admitted he couldn't, but then he said this merely showed that racism had gone underground, it was covert rather than overt, racism had now become institutionalized. To italicize his point Jackson went into some impressive rhyme schemes: "I may be well dressed, but I'm still oppressed," and so on.
The racism may have largely disappeared from view, but the rage of the privileged class is real. I think I know where this African American rage comes from. Imagine if you were Michael Jordan and someone said to you, "Every time you reach to dunk the ball into the basket, let's lower the net by six inches." This is basically what affirmative action does: it gives historically disadvantaged groups a break to compensate for the effects of past and present racism. Whatever the justification, however, the effect of such policies is to completely discredit the achievement even of competent beneficiaries. Michael Jordan's claim to be the greatest basketball player ever would be utterly destroyed if he played by a different set of rules as everyone else. And I wouldn't be surprised if Geraldine Ferraro were on hand to say, "Jordan only got where he got because of the color of his skin."
Consequently those who stand to benefit from racial preferences, as the Obamas may have done in gaining admission to university and graduate school, typically accept the subsidy while at the same time resenting the implication that they have gotten an unfair leg up. Their seething anger, however, is not directed toward affirmative action or toward the liberal paternalists who have implemented it. Rather, they ascribe generic blame to societal racism. In this weird framework, more affirmative action is then demanded to fight this unseen bigotry. Needless to say, the rage shows no signs of abating and only intensifies.
Want to learn more about all this? Read my book The End of Racism, a national bestseller which offers a vision for how we can truly transcend this destructive racialization of our society. Don't buy it to pay me reparations for the colonial subjugation of my ancestors over many centuries. Buy it because it's really good stuff.
Reader Comments ( Page 29 of 29)
421. Do you notice that race is NOT supposed to be a factor, but whenever a minority is involved it always is. A hispanic last name automatically makes you think of the illegal immigration. Who's
fault is that?
Public perception & stereotypes be what they may over the years...do you feed the wrong perception?
I have a lot of heroes & Bill Cosby is one of them but nobody wants to listen to his wisdom. One of the best examples of a black man on the planet & they call him a traitor...lol!
FLLady at 1:11AM on Mar 28th 2008
422. BLACK POWER church sermons on Christmas day?
Is this how our society has evolved? Will power hungry minorities take over & run their own concentration camps?
Fear causes RACISM. Obama's fear-mongering pastor is bigotry in it's worst form. He is spewing his hate in person, on video, etc. for the world to hear & emulate.
How many kids heard this message of "hope"? What are the next generation of black children being taught? To be terrorists?
All whites should receive an apology. Many whites support black communities & have even died for the civil rights movement. It starts with Obama...
FLLady at 1:15AM on Mar 28th 2008
423. A candidate for president claims a spiritual counselor who has emoted racist venom for decades from the pulpit -- with THE CANDIDATE seated in the congregation!!
The world can watch and listen to video and audio recordings (And read widely printed transcripts) of the spiritual mentor's racist rantings.
Millions of white Americans have walked away from churches and racist white supremacist clergy during the past centuries -- Yet, THE CANDIDATE for the presidency HAS NOT and WILL NOT walk away
from his vitriolic mentor and pastor.
For three-quarters of a century, I have rejected the white supremacists and bigoted white racist clergy. Just an ordinary white Southerner, taking a stand for human decency and a non-discriminatory society.
Yet THIS CANDIDATE for the presidency, has not been able to reject racism and institutionalized hatred for virtually his entire, highly privileged adult life.
A Christian God can forgive him, even forgive his racist mentor, if they truly and honestly repent.
But, should the American people even consider him for any public office?
Tragically, we should walk away, from the Racist Preacher and his pupil. Walk away and sait still longer for another candidate with a near likeness to Dr. Ralph Bunche, the most qualified presidential material of the 20th century.
Dan McGrew at 1:36AM on Mar 28th 2008
424. Mr DSouza, just because Obama has a strong shot at president doesnt mean that america is not a racist country. That would be like saying that because India has in the past had a lower caste PM means that there is no caste system in india. Racism in america is like caste in india, both have been legally abolished, and both are slowly dissipearing, but neither is completely gone. However I can agree that it is a sign things are going in the right direction.
Gautam at 1:31AM on Mar 28th 2008
425. But then again I should be careful not to mention caste. Since you being a christian will use it as ammo to convert hindus.
Gautam at 1:35AM on Mar 28th 2008
426. I have the book already and I was not impressed after reading the whole thing. All I saw was another pandering jealous dark skin man saying forget about those n...s and look at me; I'm the good darky from India.
Readers who read DD's article should read "Of National Lies and Racial Amnesia:
Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama, and the Audacity of Truth
By Tim Wise
Maia Jaribu Ajanaku at 6:34AM on Mar 28th 2008
427. Tiny Tim; in my opinion, you would be guilty of a form of manslaughter or murder. Why? The fetus isn't in your body. You forced your choice to terminate on the woman.
Ryan Anderson at 6:39AM on Mar 28th 2008
428. Very good post. These issues seem both obvious and obscure at the same time, just in comparison to general talk on the streets about current presidential politics and the mini-controversies a'brewing. You're presenting a continuous overture of clarity on the whole deal, which is commendable.
Joseph at 8:50AM on Mar 28th 2008
429. There is a song by Don Henley,I think,called "Forgiveness". This is what people like Rev. Wright ought to do: finally, forgive white America of it's sins of slavery and racist bigotry. If nothing else, it might help Jesse,Al,Louis and other "Reverends" perhaps preach more palatable sermons on Sunday.This course of action might go a long way toward healing this land. And, for those who attend church regularly, where you go says alot about who you are.
cbear at 8:12PM on Mar 28th 2008
430. I WANT TO THANK BARACK OBAMA FOR LEADIN ME TO A RE-READING OF "PINOCCHIO." WHAT A WONDERFUL STORY. I ALSO WAS LEAD TO READ THE TALES OF BARON VON MUNCHAUSEN. IT'S TOO BAD THAT THE HERR BARON IS NOW IN SECOND PLACE IN TELLER OF TALL STORIES. AND ISN'T IT WONDERFUL HOW RACIAL DIVERSITY HAS ADVANCED IN THE USA. TO THINK THAT ONLY A FEW SHORT YEARS AGO ROSA PARKS MADE HER MAGNIFICENT STAND AND NOW WE HAVE A BLACK (WELL, ONLY HALF-BLACK), LEADING THE WORLD IN TALL TALES. AND WASN'T THAT NICE, HE ADOPTED AS HIS THEME SONG FOR THE REST OF THE ELECTION CYCLE THAT WELL KNOWN FAIRY TALE DITTY "..LIAR, LIAR, PANTS ON FIRE."
gonefishin at 4:52AM on Mar 30th 2008
431. Just curious Dinesh,exactly how many of Rev. Wright's (20 years worth) of sermons, speeches, writings, utterances have you familiarized yourself with? To suggest that the "30 sec clip" effectively defines him is akin to postulating that if (some day)you serendipitously offer a profoundly cogent analysis of some issue/matter that most of what you spout ('The End of Racism' included) qualifies similarly.
Navtr at 1:34AM on Mar 31st 2008
432. You might be on to something when you say, "...beneath his calm exterior, Obama may be seething with racial resentment." I just don't know of any other way he could possibly put up with Wright's racist "sermons".
ibenunot at 7:26PM on Mar 31st 2008
433. ::NOTICE:: ::ALERT!:: ::ALERT!:: ::NOTICE::
With tenths of THOUSANDS of baby turtles
being killed daily on our nations highways,
why is this even a topic of discussion!
HELP! Alert your local Postmaster,
Or the Election Commissioner.
Something Must Be Done!
NOW and Very Soon!
Poor Baby Turtles.
Hurting Sadness,
Suffering and
Endless Pain
or Squishy
Death!
Be a Sheep! Baaaaaaaa!
This important message has been brought to you by:
"Think1st" and should not be posted until o4/o1/2oo8.
If you're reading this: Is it yet time? Have you thought?
We must all care what she, Hillary Denise Rodham Clinton thinks and does. It is very important to the whole World that she wins! She will end all suffering and hate. No one, (on the accepted list), will cry or be sick. Hillary will specifically include this in her Democratic Social Welfare, Health & Happiness Program for Correct Thinking Americans.
We MUST make those RICH Fat Cat's who drive big SUV's & foreign cars and smoke cigars pay for these good helpful programs by taxing the hell out of their big money paychecks and their evil corporations which exploit us all for our meager money! VOTE DEMOCRATIC!
tomtrifik at 5:13PM on Apr 1st 2008
434. Dinesh I think you are debating how racism prevents blacks and other minorities from fully advancing with the wrong people and you are asking the wrong question. America is not all about race there is a class institution also. Jesse Jackson may have forgot how to answer this question and the Obama's may not have found away to describe where that anger comes from. There are many reasons why this may be (Generational and their place on the class ladder) but i always said i would never forget how to answer this question no matter what my station in life will be in the future. The anger of some minorities comes from the fact that people will always see their accomplishments as somehow contrary to their race. When i joined a study abroad program at my college and was given the opportunity to study at a school in London, England i was ashamed that most and all of the racism i experienced didn't come from the people in my host country but those from my own. I had a modest upbringing and remember what it was like to open a refrigerator that was avoid of any contents or run from gun shots at a local playground. My mother pushed education as the only way out of our situation, and me and my siblings followed suit. I wasn't the best student but my talents in writing science and the arts gave me the opportunity to experience university here and abroad and recently earn a degree in the UK and US. Nothing in this world made me more angry then when a Caucasian from America would ask me how i was able to come and study in the UK and after becoming "friends" compliment me with an insult and state that i was not like other black people at home because i was in college, didn't have children or was able to hold an intellectual conversation about world events, politics and culture. I am reminded of a time when me and another group of students were out at dinner and when i told the group the name of the city and area i grew up in, one girl asked me in front of our middle eastern and British friends, "I know where that is why do you always talk so proper then?". Dinesh if my grandmother would have heard what she considered to be proper English she would have enrolled all of us in English classes immediately. The statement was an attack on my lack of slang or African American Vernacular, that i avoid like the plague using around Caucasian Americans like this girl because she is an example of the white Americans that just don't get it. She wasn't trying to be malicious or racist but it said alot about what she thought about black people where i am from and in general. Especially when months later she told me that i don't really act "black". There are whites that do get it and mostly because they either had a similar upbringing or understand assumptions make asses of us all. This is not the white blame game other American minorities look at blacks in the same way also. This is why Obama is so popular with some people. In their heads he is not just looked at as the change candidate but he is also looked at as "the black guy who doesn't act like the rest of Them". That would be like me looking at all my white friends as somehow different from the whole race because they except me and aren't racist. No offense but i don't think anyone over 30 gets it and they are instilling their skewed views in their children. Treating individuals who act contrary to "your" (because they are assumptions that belong to you) stereotypical views like they are the last unicorn is enough to make anyone angry. Nobody wants to be the unicorn among horses, unless they really are. I think that is what Michelle means when she talks about the people who come to her and say her and Obama are "different" not because of his message but because of their lifestyle and life. Similar ideas are held about other races but blacks can truly say the ideas about them stay consistent across the board within most races.
Ask 20 people over 30 of varying races what they think about black people, i think you will be surprised at some of the things they say.
Isha Lewis at 9:23PM on Apr 15th 2008
435. For the record, I think the only time Obama or Michelle have expressed this has been when it was the topic of conversation. Since when is talking about a situation in context mean your bitter.
Can the white kid who is called a cracker by black kids, who only blames those individuals for it, be called bitter and angry because he mentions it during a conversation about race relations. Sharing a life experience does not mean you are bitter even if it made you angry at the time.
Isha Lewis at 10:42PM on Apr 15th 2008