It's About Race

I am finally ready to talk about the myriad of feelings inspired by the latest chapter in the Democratic nominee contest. A slightly longer post. I'm not an artist, but I'm still sensitive about my shit. (Adapting from Ms. Erykah Badu.)

This is what I've witnessed pertaining to Obama's candidacy:

pollsters' surprise upon learning that he did not have wholesale claim to black voters, attributing the tentative embrace to his lack of "blackness;"

an older, white politician make a disguised compliment about his articulateness, as if it weren't a quality expected in a (black) presidential nominee;

charges by establishment figures that he may not experienced enough, despite possessing a policy-laden and exceptionally versatile leadership record (I almost wish that "boy" be slipped in at the end of such a sentence, but oops, that happened, too);

accusations that he is not substantial = implying that his inclination toward a passionate politics is inherently shallow = rather, he lacks a propensity to get cerebral, = he is unable to approach a level of intelligence often lacking with affirmative-action Harvard Law Review editors;

campaign surrogates intentionally downplaying or patently ignoring over two centuries of negative racial attitudes toward blacks or equally old and ugly stereotypes about black men to chalk up success to his maleness; (Not to mention out-right lies by surrogates to his ties to Islam, in which our country's religious chauvism has prevailed.)

coded and clumpsy racial messages by a once revered white leader on the heels of an important black-driven primary;

explicit racist remarks by a so-called feminist party icon who sounds eerily similar to white Republicans about the mythical luxury of being black in America;

Clinton's shameless exploitation of the fabricated Reverend White controversy in a thinly-veiled attempt to extort fearful white votes;

clueless pundit speculation that black votes are less valuable in a general election because they are Democratically-loyal or worse yet, have no where else to turn, after blacks trend 9:1 for Barack;

and finally, Senator Clinton's desperate and astonishingly candid argument to Democrats that Obama may alienate its racist party elements, otherwise, known as "lunch-bucket whites", also known as most white baby-boomers.

Over the months, I've seen competitive election season between two unique, history-making candidates morph into high-level, Democrat race-baiting. To be sure, we've seen a sexist undercurrent that should make any attentive, justice-loving person uncomfortable, but make no mistake--now, race has become a deliberately-shaped weapon used by Clinton to win this nomination.

I am not stupid. I am hurt. And I see the writing on the wall.

What this means for me:

I was already on my way out before the contest took its worst turns after much careful consideration. But today, I've proudly left the Democratic Party. I'm not angry because that is after all, beside the point. Instead, disappointment fills my recent memories of this nation's alternative to the White Establishment Party (Grand Ol' Party). It's funny. As much academic research that I've completed on affirmative action, I knew that white Democrats harbored resentment about black progress. This is certainly not news, yet I've always followed instructions to just tolerate it.

Add on the party's unwillingness to denounce (or in some cases, promote) xenophobia, nativism, homo-and-transphobia, my reasons for staying in such an abusive relationship were tepid. A choice to "reform" from within is not only depleting, it makes little sense as it is increasingly clear that on a fundamental level, we do not share the same values. I'm learning more and more that integrity goes a long way. I chose, instead, to pave my own path (which may be toward the Green Party), which is essentially a choice not merely exist in opposition. I'm able to positively define my politics, policies, values, and myself no longer claiming association with an entity that no longer represents me. So be it.

I appreciate that America cannot convalesce through "the race problem" because it still refuses to acknowledge that it exists. Validating my suspicions and indicative of the work that is yet to come.

As for Clinton supporters, I look to you to denounce her campaign and party's race-mongering. You must understand that this is not a sexism-racism tit-for-tat anymore. Clinton has intentionally twisted the proverbial knife into black America--moving us from the back of the bus to beneath it--to further her political ambitions. You can support her policies, judgment, knowledge, experience, and tenacity, but it is her candidacy, the way she has pursued the race, which has put race relations in the Democratic party in peril, not Barack Obama's. Simply, I cannot understand nor feel that any anti-racist can witness what I have and still support her campaign.

God-damn it all :)
R.