Black Support For Obama - It's A Matter Of Pride

While reading Political Punch, I was led to an interesting, entertaining and thought provoking blog written by Ta-Nehisi Coates. While I don't agree with some of the content of his postings, I appreciate and respect the fact that he makes intelligent arguments.  For example, I liked his post regarding the myth of the black racist voter.

There are some whites who believe that the overwhelming support of blacks for Obama is a racist act.  I strongly disagree with that.  Coates writes:

"Whereas we have several anecdotal reports of folks categorically voting against Obama because he's black, I've yet to hear a black voter say she couldn't vote for Hillary--under any circumstance--because she's white."

I agree with Coates on this issue.  I have never during my lifetime heard a black person say they would never vote for a candidate because they are white.  Now I am sure there are blacks out there who do harbor racist feelings and do feel that way regarding white candidates.  I'm just saying that I have never encountered any.  That's probably because I have an aversion to being around racists of any color. 

However, as a result of being born and raised in St. Louis, I have had a front row seat to the hardcore racist sentiments some whites have towards black candidates.  I remember when Freeman Bosley Jr. ran for mayor of St. Louis.  You would have been hard pressed to find a white person who would have admitted that they voted for him.  I think it's a fear that some whites have that if a black person is elected to a position of power that they will invoke some form of apartheid that will in turn have whites living as second class citizens. 

Obama is getting approximately ninety percent of the black vote for a couple of reasons.  There are many blacks who are voting for Obama because of his political platform.  However, in my opinion, the majority of blacks are supporting Obama for reasons of pride and wanting to see history made by seeing a man of color as President of the United States.  For example, I have been called an "Uncle Tom", traitor, and other names by blacks because I am a registered independent voter who has not jumped on the Obama bandwagon.  Some of these people are my family members who do not like to hear that I believe Obama and Clinton are both flawed candidates who are promising a lot of things that they will not be able to deliver if they were to become president. 

As I have said before, I am torn by the Obama candidacy.  I would love to see a member of a minority group elected to the highest office in the land.  I am just not convinced yet that Obama is the right person to break that glass ceiling.  Unlike Clinton, he still has time to convince me otherwise - I am listening.