As Hillary tried to arrogate her hubby Bill's hold on blacks, she sent chills down the spines of all Southerners as she feigned an Alabama drawl in Selma Sunday at a local church. The Illinois Eli and NY senator had followed her home state rival Obama to the birthplace of the civil rights movement. She spoke to a crowd smaller than the one Obama wowed at the Brown Chapel AME Church, where the Black Sunday march for voting rights had begun a mere forty-two years ago. In this age of worldwide media coverage, Hill's rendition of civil rights poesy seemed more patronizing than empathizing. Perhaps, Obama will deign to give Hill a spot on his ticket or, perhaps, he will up the ante by choosing Bill Richardson.
Cf. FNC and http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070304/D8NLH6200.html.
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Of course you realize that Barack Obama is about as much of an "American black" (or the misnomer, 'African-American' in the way it is used now) as I am, and has about as much "American black" heritage, as I do, since his father is an African immigrant in the 1960's (from a professional upper class) and his mother is a white lady from Chicago.
The only true "American black" candidate who could really talk about her childhood in the Civil Rights Era is of course, Condi Rice from Birmingham, who knew personally, 2 of the little girls killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing.
George, I agree that Condi is a bona fide black leader with real roots in the civil rights struggle. Further, she would be a formidable candidate in either the first or second slot on the GOP slate. As to Obama, according to him, his father was a Kenyan sheep herder who met his Kansas future wife in Hawaii when he immigrated to the States to get a higher education. Even though Obama has resided in the rarified ether of Harvard, he seems to be a more legitimate heir to the leadership of disadvantaged blacks than his Chicago rival who was schooled at another equally famous Ivy League school.
JKH, so I was a little off on his dad's background and his mom's home state. You get the idea! Seriously, of course Obama is a "black" man (as opposed to a yellow-hued Oriental or a pink-skinned Finn), but his father as a Kenyan immigrant has nothing whatsoever in common with American Blacks. (other than his skin color) Neither does his mother. Of course, it shouldn't really matter, per se.
However, Obama was born in the U.S. in the '60's. Even though he may not have suffered the frontal assault of racism a la MLK and Lewis, doubtless, he has experienced less direct forms as he grew up of mixed heritage to a single mom.
Touche! I forgot about all that. Must be the Bohemia beer I've been drinking in the evenings. Vamonos!
Try Pilsener Urquell: it will Czech your lapses in lucidity at the door. Furthermore, it may contribute to an urban, urbane uprising for freedom and democracy. Black velvet, if you please.
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