The Institute (協会)

What does "acting white" look like, anyway? I'm sure the Rev. Jackson has never done anything "white" in his life. Jackson and Sharpton will continue to keep making outrageous comments in situations that get them a lot of PR instead of doing something significantly helpful for the situation.

Any idea what it was that Obama did that was so "white?"

Sigh. This is just another reminder that Christian conservatives need to make themselves credible on racial issues. Jackson wouldn't go around making absurd accusations like this if there were someone on the other side who would reap political gain. On the other hand, maybe he would.

"Christian conservatives need to make themselves credible on racial issues."

Tuscon, first we have to get Christian conservatives to care about racial issues.

"Tuscon, first we have to get Christian conservatives to care about racial issues."

1) Hear hear! I hope to write a book on the subject in the next few years. But don't hold your breath.
2) It's "tusc0n," spelled like "hax0r." Clearly my parents didn't like me.

I can't speak for other folk but some Reformed confessionalist types do care about race relations and related issues but it's such a nuclear question bounded by rhetorical and social IEDs that it's very difficult for white folks (such as I) to get involved or to know what or how to think and especially what to say. E.g., I did comment a little about the Jena case on the Heidelblog (http://link.toolbot.com/oceansideurc.org/90978). I do preach on it when it's appropriate to the text at hand, but surely some will say that it's not enough.

As I read this blog I get the sense that folk such as I are being invited to read and interact but then you raise loaded issues such as Jackson's comments about whether Obama is "black." (Didn't the college record the address?)

We all know the rules. When it comes to this sort of question (who is "black" and who isn't), it's out of bounds for white folk. Are we even allowed to ask whether it's an appropriate question?

Would it be heresy to say that this question is more about class and social status than race per se?

rsc

"Tuscon, first we have to get Christian conservatives to care about racial issues."

AMEN!!!

I don't think it is a matter of Obama acting white, but I will say that it has been disappointing that of all people, he has only made one public comment on Jena 6. While I understand the balance between turning this into a campaign issue, he has a unique opportunity as a Black Presidential candidate to speak out on this issue and draw more attention to it.

I mean, it's a shame when the media is paying more attention to a foreign white little girl who has been missing for months than on our own youth!

So let's keep rolling with this. What's a good list of racial issues that Christian conservatives should be most concerned about? (And I mean political ones, not church issues, as important as those are.)

I count 3:
1) Center-city educational improvement(privately-funded schools with low/no tuition, vouchers, literacy, etc.)
2) Delivery of police coverage in high-crime areas to protect the non-crime-committing residents
3) Racial profiling

I'm sure there are more. Thoughts?

"What does "acting white" look like, anyway?"
That's what I'd like to know.

"Acting white" involves applying Degree deodorant while filling out Hallmark cards in longhand.

Is anyone in the media (or this blog) even going to call this statement "racist"? I would assume not, since someone is accusing a dark-tone-skinned guy of being "white."

Not that I care, really. I just wanted to be nit-picky and "go there."

Michelle Malkin has an interesting post on the J-6 including a long quotation from Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star.

http://michellemalkin.com/2007/09/21/the-jena-six-and-racial-narratives/

There are several things in this account which I had not seen before,

rsc

Oh, I definitely think it's racist, TR. And completely derogatory to any black person who is educated and avoids pandering or dressing "ghetto." Not only does it necessitate that every black person and white person must fit a certain stereotype in order to be "black" or "white," it makes one man the arbiter of said "blackness" and "whiteness." Frankly, every person ought to find the use of this type of remark offensive, no matter their race. It's disparaging to everyone.

I'd suggest me might do well to talk about people, not issues, as the latter tends to become a debate over politics. You can argue with a man's vote pretty easy, but it's harder to argue with a man who puts his own dime and time on the counter to help you paint your fence, educate your child, and such.

And Jackson? MLK Jr. said it right; "Jesse, you have no love." Yes, Obama doesn't have the experience of growing up with those who vividly remember Jim Crow and such, but Jesse would do well to remember other words of his former boss, who desired that instead of dividing on this basis, that we might be judged by the content of our character.

Jesse Jackson is a clown (sorry for the harsh words, but Jesus used viper). He has been, will be, and always will be a clown. The hyprocrite fathered a child out of wedlock, while praying for Clinton. He lost all of my respect then. Not saying we all don't sin and fall short, but his continual flakeyness has persisted. Where there is publicity he will be there. Any way can anybody tell me why he is a Rev? What about Sharpton? If they are Rev than I am a Bishop!

Now on to Barack. Regardless if he was black, white or green, he still will be a bought man. He will have to fulfill his obligations to those who funded his campaign. Lets get it straight, if he was to win the presidency, he would be the first BLACK to do so. That may at least encourage others to pursue a career in politics and that would be good for blacks; however, at the rank of Chief, you are a bought man.

Finally if he was born 150 years ago he would have been considered black. Rather that was serving tea or picking cotton. White folks would have labeled him black without hesitation. Now the funny part would be that his wife's blackness is not in question. So regardless, if he ain't black she is, that stills gives us representation in the WHITE house LOL!!!

One more point. Jesse Jackson is a clown! Or did I mention that already?

Tyler and Drama,

Could you please provide your working definition of "racist/m"? Because it seems to me that you are defining this term rather broadly. What Jackson said about Obama may be wrong-headed or ignorant, but exactly how is it racist? IMHO, Jacksons comments were insinuating that Obama's remarks on the Jena situation were overly-cautious so as not to offend white people. Thus, he believes that by his accomodationist attitude toward white sensibilities, Obama is himself acting white. In other words, Obama is taking a position that is in effect opposed to black political interests, as evidenced by his tepid response, and therefore (pro) white. While i don't believe Jackson's comments accurately capture Obama's attitude, neither do i believe his comments are racist.

Lionel, perhaps Jackson is a clown. But he is not too much different than many right-wing religio-political leaders. Same crap, different politics.

So he's saying that any black man who is careful about his speech and actions isn't black. Other times he uses it to insinuate that any black man who is a conservative is not black. He's insulting his own race by saying that any black man or woman who doesn't act or speak a certain way or tow a certain line isn't black. I think you're giving Jackson's comments way too much nuance. (And, of course, if an accomodationist attitude is "white," then that's insulting white people by saying that white people are all accomodationists.) I think far too many people don't think you can make racists comments about your own race. But I would posit that anytime someone like Jackson makes this type of comment, he is saying that if you aren't...insert check-boxed list...you aren't black. And that's incredibly oppressive and disparaging to black people. Perhaps "racist" is too strong a word, but I doubt it. And I can't think of any other word to put there, since the comment is about race. If someone has a better word, I'll be happy to use it.

christopher,

Yes, I'll explain for you here:

Saying Obama acts "white" is racist and classist because it assumes the way Obama is acting is the way ALL white folk act. It would be like me telling my white buddy he's "black" simply because he likes certain things you might find black people liking; like, model airplanes or shopping at Albertson's. Not ALL black people like those things. No, some might like building toothpick mansions in their spare time, or heck, even bowling. But to say someone is acting like a certain race of people based on a few habits is, well, racist.

HOLLER.

We have an expression on the westcoast - Game recognizes game. There isn't a monolithic denefiniton on blackness. Jesse ain't the authority on the community. He's a very busy politician, I have a problem that he's never corrected his own issues.

Jesse Jackson is forgetting one important fact about Barak Obama. The man IS as much white as he is black or as much non-black as he is black. What's "white" anyways? I'm English, Irish, Scottish, Norwegian, Native American and French. Do I act too Anglo, or Gaelic, Scandinavian, perhaps a bit to Mediterranean? Does my Abenaki heritage take away or supplement my European heritage- honestly, why don't we just concentrate on acting like decent Americans and work together instead of waging a finger how someone else is "suppose" to act or not act. What colossal waste of energy on Rev. Jackson's part. Seriously, what would Jesus say, remember Mr. Jackson, Jesus loves the little children, all the little children....

Jesse Jackson is only a Martin Luther King wanna-be, and the truth is, he'll never be, because he is not honest and sincere to the true God of Heaven, only to the self-serving purpose of promotiing racism and keeping this nation divided.

Greetings:As an proud- christian-conservative-minister-Mississippian(Louisville)who happens to be black,let me say enough is enough!Although, I am sure that the republican ticket will be getting my vote ,I must say this in respect of Obama. Because he's not running up and down the streets singing negative remarks toward white Americans and promoting racial and radical agenda ,isn't making him think that he's white. Sure, his mother was ,but thats not the issue. Bringing all American together that want to be postive and productive is.Race nor gender isn't important in the presidential race. But, who has an real plan that will effect and protect Americans. Who has an plan that will positively help the CEO's and the janitors. Jesse Jackson you need to pray and stay away;if you can't address God,forgiveness,unity,black -on -black crime and etc. Black Amerian we have some in-house cleaning to do!