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 5 of 29)
61. ...or not.
Paul at 10:03AM on Mar 26th 2008
62. brian -- "...when obama took office he was sworn in on the koran? i heard this yesterday? any truth for the snoopers out there..."
brian; you are really dumb. I generally refrain from ad hominim attacks, but you are a stupid, intollerant, bigoted, gossip-mongering liar.
1) Keith Ellison was sworn in on the Qu'ran, not Barak Obama.
2) Technically, no one is sworn in on anything. It's a public ceremony. Keith Ellision had a private ceremony where he used the Qu'ran.
3) If Obama was sworn in on the Qu'ran, who the hell cares!
Get a life you evil bigot.
Ryan Anderson at 10:04AM on Mar 26th 2008
63. I must REALLY threaten her world view for her to resort to such petty objections. She doesn't like my use of the phrase "subtly rail".
Wow, Gwen...exactly how deeply to you fear me?
Paul at 10:05AM on Mar 26th 2008
64. "But that doesn't make you any less of a hack homophobic God Nazi token minority shill for the Republican propaganda machine.
Tim at 9:01AM "
Brilliant, Tim. Can I use it in further D'Strawman blog entries?
brandon at 10:09AM on Mar 26th 2008
65. "3) If Obama was sworn in on the Qu'ran, who the hell cares! "
Why, Ryan, that means he's unumuhrcan! We were founded on Christianity, after all! Din't yew know that? We need to make sure it sticks, warts (pedophilic Catholic priests, for example) and all!
He CAINT be sworn in on the Korn! Those brown people who we're so afraid of we're blowing them to hell ur gonna kill us all unless we do it first! Run away! Run away!
brandon at 10:15AM on Mar 26th 2008
66. 64. "But that doesn't make you any less of a hack homophobic God Nazi token minority shill for the Republican propaganda machine.
Tim at 9:01AM
Brilliant, Tim. Can I use it in further D'Strawman blog entries?
Sure. But I think I left out
"But that doesn't make you any less of a hack RACIST homophobic God Nazi token minority shill for the Republican propaganda machine."
TIM at 10:21AM on Mar 26th 2008
67. 44. "Obama...is...NOT Anti-American." --Tim
________________
I agree...he's not anti-American. He's just slightly anti-white American.
Paul at 9:22AM on Mar 26th 2008
V -Sez who?
Ventrue at 10:26AM on Mar 26th 2008
68. I'm glad that Muslim journalist converted to Christianity in Rome. He is an intellectual. Not some radical savage. True Christianity is simply faith and reason. These things can co-exist together. We have faith that God exists but we also have every "reason" to believe he exists.
The REAL enemy today is Fundamentalism. Most people when they hear this associate it with religion. This maybe true. But anybody can take any view wether it is religious or political or ideological and go on a fringe. For example, John Hagee or Fred Phelps will call the Catholic Church the Whore of Babylon, Jewish zealots will call all Christians Anti-Semitic, Richard Dawkins dismisses faith/religion as child abuse and the Al Gores of Environmentalist would say people are a pollution. Lets abort them.
Right-Winger at 10:34AM on Mar 26th 2008
69. Wow, Gwen...exactly how deeply to you fear me?
_____________________________________
Paul fearing someone on a blog is about as logical as using subtle and rail for the same discription.
_________________________________
"for her to resort to such petty objections. She doesn't like my use of the phrase "subtly rail".
___________________________________
Ok Paul does any of the below sound familiar?
"Logan - Nice paragraph. A few corrections: That should be "you're a racist" not "your a racist". Also, the word is "tout" not toute. And what are "potential" Muslims?"
Are you being hypocritical??????
Gwen at 10:36AM on Mar 26th 2008
70. "I hated the Gooks.
I will hate them as long as I live."
-John McCain, in 2000
America's Most Gangsta at 10:38AM on Mar 26th 2008
71. "I hated the Gooks.
I will hate them as long as I live."
-John McCain, in 2000
NOW THAT BEARS REPEATING.
(I guess John McCain didn't get that "racism is over" memo).
America's Most Gangsta at 10:43AM on Mar 26th 2008
72. I would ask, who is more likely to "end" racism?
1) a has been political hack turned blogger who's theory is that the end of racism will come when everyone starts acting more "whitely".
2) a half African-American politician who speaks openly and honestly about race in America.
Just asking.
Ryan Anderson at 10:44AM on Mar 26th 2008
73. I have to say it is truly ammusing seeing all the Obamite koolaid drinkers totally dismiss your fairly well presented article (at least in my humble view) as pure hype and speculation, while never providing any substantive rebuke proving their contention. I guess its racist to even question a guy who won't use his Muslim middle name, nor pledge alliegence to our flag like 99.9% of all Americans have done their whole lives, while also declining to show respect by standing and placing his hand over his heart during the playing of the US national anthem. Now curriously he had a plethora of American flags at his recent damage control news conference as he tried (unsuccessfully in my opinion) to deflect all the criticism over his long term and continuing relationship with the aforementioned Rev. (sic.) Wright.
By adding this with all of him and his wifes comments about their new found feelings of pride (supposedly) in being American, after the realization has finally sunk in that the vast majority of his current support is coming from those rascally racist typical white folks. Hmmm. Most of it is coming from the young and naive first time voters inhabiting our college population, so maybe its just older Americans and our old timey traditions that he realy has a problem with? You all tell me, as I'm sure there will be a flood of responses seeking to show me the error of my ways in thinking so.
Gere Minnick at 10:47AM on Mar 26th 2008
74. America's Most Gangsta; as much as I would love to, I can't blame John McCain for that. He was held prisoner and tortured.
Ryan Anderson at 10:46AM on Mar 26th 2008
75. you can't blame John McCain for that? He made that comment in 2000, not the day after he was released. He had every reason to hate his captors; he went through hell. I don't believe he is a racist either, but at the very least he needs to be called to account properly by the MSM, which has not been done.
Do you imagine for a second that had his captors been black and he'd said "I hated the niggers, I always will" that his political life would not be over in a second?
Simon N at 10:52AM on Mar 26th 2008