I recently made this post:
“Just a thought, but I think the fact that he’s the first black guy to be elected president is being blown a little out of proportion, or at least in Japan it is. I mean, it’s great and all, but what’s more important to me is having someone competent run the country. After all, it’s not like people voted for him because he’s black (although I know a lot of people did).
The headlines should read “Years of incompetence over!” not “オバマ氏が当選 史上初の黒人” (Obama first black person to be elected).”
In response to that, a friend made this comment:
I had the same reaction as you on election night. My thoughts were “the triumph of tonight is not that he is black, but because it didn’t matter he was black!” Totally agree that its about voting for someone based on merit and not race, and at the same time this does not say as much as it could about racism in America (how many people voted against him because he was black? that’s really hard to say)
However, I began to change my perspective when I heard Common express his feelings, and later Lupe more in depth. This may or may not be the ultimate triumph of the Civil Rights movement, but to black people it certainly is a very inspiring achievement that can definitely change the mindset of black people. As you guys know I’ve been really into hip-hop over the last couple of years, and a lot of what I listen to is very negative, counter-establishment material. A lot of hip-hop speaks of how frustrating the black experience is and how black people are forced into certain paths in life. As Lupe said, now there is no excuse, and maybe Obama’s succses, his eloquence not in speech but his “eloquence in action” may indeed trickle down.
Either way, I feel like listening to more optimistic hip-hop now :)
Cheers,
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Here’s what i think: It’s definitely a landmark, but I think it’s unfair to summarize the long two years he was campaigning as a struggle against racism. “Yes, we can” didn’t solely mean “yes, black men can become president,” which is what a few of my japanese friends took that to mean, and which is why I wrote what I did.
I guess have a habit of getting off track in my writing and probably should have clarified my standing, but I can definitely see how the black community—especially those who had lived through the civil rights movement—can see this election mostly as a leap forward for their community. For those of us on the outsets, the most we can do is understand their feelings.
» Some thoughts about the election
Just a thought, but I think the fact that he’s the first black guy to be elected president is being blown a little out of proportion, or at least in Japan it is. I mean, it’s great and all, but what’s more important to me is having someone competent run the country. After all, it’s not like people voted for him because he’s black (although I know a lot of people did).
The headlines should read “Years of incompetence over!” not “オバマ氏が当選史上初の黒人” (Obama first black person to be elected).
