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"Black Enough?" Who Is Obama Running Against?

"Is there not enough bling around his neck?"

By Kai Beasley
Black College Wire

Kai Beasley

Welcome back to our show and thank you for staying with us, everybody. This hour, an unprecedented African American voter turnout for Barack Obama might give the United States its first black president. The only thing standing in his way is Florida’s apparent inability to . . . Wait. This just in: Apparently, Obama doesn’t have the support of many African Americans. They argue that he’s just not black enough. I’m sorry, we’re going to interrupt this broadcast to bring you some common sense.

First, let’s take a look at the history of black presidents in America. I’m looking, I’m looking, I’m not finding. OK, there hasn’t been one . . . ever. So for those who argue that Obama isn’t black enough to be the first black president, I must ask: What is that conclusion based on? What criteria are you are using to determine who qualifies to be a black president? Is there not enough bling around his neck? Does he not murder the English language as efficiently as, say, T.I. or Lil Jon?

There is no choice here, people! It’s not like he’s running against Louis Farrakhan (who couldn’t get elected) or Jesse Jackson (who didn’t get elected), or. . . or . . . Eminem! It’s either him or Hillary Clinton, who despite her mad-crazy freestyle skills on the mizy mike, is actually a white woman. Not to vote for Obama because he’s “not black enough” is to say that Hillary Clinton or John Edwards is going to hold the interests of black America closer to heart than a black man, with black kids, who’s married to a black woman. How does that make sense?

I know the circumstances of the past have required us to look to white political leaders to take care of black political interests, but we can’t continue to do that, especially if there is an opportunity to change the balance of political power so it benefits us.

That said, we have to understand that finding a candidate who is going to represent only black America is not going to happen. America isn’t black. It’s a nation chock full of diversity, and it is a nation that needs to be represented on a diverse world stage. A black president can’t represent a singularly black America any more than George Bush can represent the Christian American ideal (or even Christian intelligence). We’re looking for a candidate who can change the way America is perceived, and there is no better way to accomplish that than with a president of color.

I am in no way criticizing those who don’t believe Obama is a good candidate because they don’t agree with his politics. Diversity of opinion is necessary to run a democracy. It’s what makes this country great. I am simply pointing out how ridiculous it is not to vote for the only black presidential candidate because he isn’t black enough. Especially when the rest of the field isn’t black at all!

This nation is undoubtedly in need of change, so why hinder it? Change is good, just ask 50 Cent (his name is a metaphor for change . . . get it? No? Nothin’? Tough crowd.) Obama is not some “Hollywood conception” or the “product of smoke and mirrors,” as TV One chairwoman Cathy Hughes has put it. Wait a minute, Cathy, you founded TV One! Your paycheck is a Hollywood conception! Obama is a real guy; a guy who has the capacity that no other candidate has — to bring change to a country that desperately needs it.

"Black Enough?" Who Is Obama Running Against?

"Is there not enough bling around his neck?"

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