OBAMA-BAMA-BAMA

OBAMA-BAMA I CAN’T WAIT TILL 2008 YOU’RE THE BEST CANDIDATE


A few years back in England I stayed up late to watch one of my favourite sports from America; not the Superbowl, not the playoffs but the Democratic convention. It was dour as these events always are, various speakers from the backwaters of America getting their chance in the limelight. I was on the verge of tears and yawning in the early hours of 3 in the morning; then came a bolt lightning. A young man from Illinois stood up and stunned the exhausted crowd; he introduced himself as a humble son of a Kenyan goatherd and the crowd was in love and in awe. I will never forget that day though I don’t remember the year but I remember thinking that America could have a Black President after all.

Within a couple of years he was a Senator and had a National profile but I never expected him to be a contender for President this soon. The hope and idealism he imbued us with that day was an irresistible elixir, like crack for political fans; he made everything possible. In this cynical world he brings back idealism reminiscent of Kennedy; in 1960 America never thought they could have an Irish Catholic president, maybe this is the time for America to make that massive step forward and elect a Black president or even a woman. But common sense says that they won’t, America is scared at the moment; with terrorism and a potential economic crisis in the offing I seriously doubt that they would risk the unknown. A psychologist would tell you that they will vote for a father-figure who can be tough and reassuring at the same time.

Obama talks with such eloquence and fluency that the detail of what he is saying is lost in the rhythm of his singsong. It could go either way for him; his inexperience could be a good or bad thing. It means he is untainted by the stench of Washington politics but he doesn’t have the know-how to deal with daily politics. It always occurred to me that the Republicans are the only party that can elect a Black President; they would object to it more therefore if they were cool with it then it would be a signal to others that it is okay. The democrats have always taken Blacks for granted as their slavish voters and never bothered to put a Black person in a serious cabinet position such as Defence, State Department or National security. In that respect Bush really embarrassed them by placing Powell and Rice in such positions.

Maybe the profile of Rice and Powell have made it more palatable for White Americans to see Blacks in high profile positions but the recent New Hampshire glitch in polling meant that there might still be the ghost of Racism lurking in the wings. Race is still very important in America; the fact that Obama is referred to as Black is testament to that, it is as if his mother doesn’t matter. Fractions still matter in politics; Groucho Marx was once refused the right to swim in a local pool because he was Jewish but he quipped “My daughter is half-Jewish, can she at least swim halfway?” The one-drop rule still applies and those who are half still are counted as full blacks. His White mother has been absent because it still irks some bigots both Black and White one that she chose to marry a Black man.

Obama has a curious standing among Blacks; he isn’t fully supported and the blacks are torn between Hillary and Him. Why? They Blacks do not really see him as one of them. The one thing that bonds Blacks in America is Slavery; every Black has vicariously been through slavery, the mental whip marks are still hurting. The fact that Obamas father is African and not African-American puts a barrier between; I saw this first hand in Britain, there was a disconnect between Africans and Afro-Caribbeans. Obama grew up in Hawaii and doesn’t really act Black if there is such a thing; he doesn’t have the hang-ups of blacks, doesn’t have the inferiority complex that other Blacks have. He sees himself as equal to Whites in every way; for that I admire his guts and he has to remind himself that he is Black.


Maybe it is a new century and America is ready for change but judging by the candidates on show there is going to be change either way. The Republicans have to choose between an old Vietnam vet, a Mormon, a Baptist Preacher, an Italian former mayor and maybe a movie star. It is guaranteed that we’ll have change because you have either a woman or a black. I remember when I first heard of Obama and Hillary I said that one had the wrong genitalia and the other was too Black. Now it isn’t a shock any more. Obama is going to be destroyed by the dirty politics of smearing; all his minor indiscretions will be hung out to dry, the Clinton juggernaut will crush his sweet and lovely image. Maybe the American public will see through this smear campaign but the Clinton machinery will be vicious and when he is done with that the even more deadly Republican mud-slinger will be loaded and aimed.


I wonder what difference having a Black president will make; will aid to Africa increase? Will there be free visas for African to go to the States? Will everyone in Harlem and Compton get a free cheque? Will reparations be paid with 200 years of interest? The answer is HELL NO! Politics will be business as usual, more government cuts, more war on terror, more taxes, more spin and the lot. Maybe they will serve chitlins at state banquets and Rap music will be bumping in the West Wing, Air-force One might have gold rims and will feature on pimp my ride; who knows? The primaries are designed to produce little surprises; take Iowa where a bunch of hicks albeit educated hicks set off the debate. Imagine if the first caucus was held in South-central LA? How different would American history be? But credit to Iowa they made the right choice.