Since I was out enjoying my own Father's Day last Sunday, I missed the Obama "sermon" at a Southside Chicago church that morning. Depending on what account you read, many other bloggers have slammed him for being a bit too critical of black men, and perhaps even doing some borderline pandering to white audiences.
Since I attempt to watch things in their entirety before commenting, I resisted blogging about this until now. I'd encourage anyone with a spare 20 minutes to watch this in it's entirety and tell me what exactly is so negative about this speech.
I suspect many black male bloggers (I'm not doing any links, find them yourself) overreacted to perhaps the few soundbites of this speech that aired on the evening news without giving the entire YouTube recap the proper time and analysis. Because seriously, if this speech is anything, it's mundane and maybe a bit cliche, but it's hardly offensive to me as a black male on any level.
Many said Obama's lambasting of the stereotypical black father was over the top. I don't really agree with that. He thankfully did note that half of black households do indeed have a Dad present. Again, not great, but certainly not the dire 70% picture many people usually correlate with the unfortunate percentage of out of wedlock births. And while he did lay it on Black fathers who aren't active, he did praise the men (especially Michelle's father) who do indeed sacrifice and put in work. And given the occasion (duh, check the holiday) I think such a speech was timely and appropriate, not pandering. What did you want him to talk about, burning bushes and whales? Sheesh.
Furthermore, much of his speech was about the importance of education (the 8th grade graduation point was especially good) and active parenting (as opposed to parenting via TeeVee), points not necessarily aimed squarely at Dads. The speech was really about self-sufficiency, drumming up collective effort to improve communities, and personal responsibility[1]. It's the kind of speech conservatives would be fawning over if it just happened to be delivered by John McCain.
And even if the speech was aimed squarely at Black men (and I don't think it is, these points are universal), who's to say that's such a bad thing? Reality is, if you've been on your J.O., you shouldn't be offended. If you are offended, maybe, just maybe this is the impetus you need to step your Daddy-game up.
Could he have spoken a bit more about good Dads and a bit less about the bad ones? Probably, but c'mon, what good would that really do? I don't personally know any Dads handlin' their business who need the validation of some guy they'll never meet to tell them they're doing a good job. You don't get cookies for that sorta stuff. And on the flipside, who's to say this speech wasn't meant for some guy who hasn't been handlin' his? Obama's been able to get folks to register, donate, and vote in record numbers. Who knows what power such a speech could convey to an absent father?
Overall, the speech, while not necessarily saying anything new or enlightening (to me at least) was thorough and timely.
But it's not offensive. Not the least bit.
MLK is crying inside... but for good reason.
Question: After watching Obama's speech in it's entirety, do you think he was being overly critical of black men and/or pandering?
[1] Did anyone else catch his complete and total butchering of that old Chris Rock joke? Michelle says they learned how to "give dap" from some younger staffers. Perhaps they should get some pointers on comedic timing as well.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Obama's Father's Day Sermonette
Tags Popped: Barry 4 Prez
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I commented on this before. As previously stated, I didn't disagree with what Obama said, I just didn't like the timing. I know I upset a lot of people with that before but, I just thought perhaps Father's Day could be a day for celebrating father's that are out there taking care of business. That's just me though.
Pandering is a bit harsh, but he was definitely campaigning. We should expect that from somebody who is running for president. He knew his words would get national airplay and he treated it as such. He had to speak indirectly to large amounts of people, he knew large amounts of white people would see images of him standing in a black church while saying those words, it was strategic.
I'm not a father, but I'm a black male and I wasn't thoroughly offended, but I did feel like he was using black fathers as pawns in a strategic move that came very close to pandering. I think he sidestepped most of the real issues that are at the core of the problems he brought up, but that's to be expected. He would have hurt a lot of peoples feelings if he was totally frank about everything.
Brother Average... Wow, fhe message was right-on seeing that to reverse this behavior we got to start now. The timing.. any good message for an urgent situation has to be now.Little known fact.. the dap was started in Viet Nam. Each base camp had their "dap" and being Black you had to do it to show solidarity. In the jungle..we fought as one. Back in the base-camp most Blacks stayed with their race. (Not all) but if you were Black you HAD TO do the dap upon meeting. This show of unity made the white superiors angry. But what could they do? they needed us to go out and fight (the VC and all) and me to be the medic the next day. So maybe that showing that Brother Obama and Sister Michelle did (called bump) may have uncovered some uneasy feelings. To this day a lot of Black males still give an abbreviated form of the dap. Way off topic- I will see the whole speech. I would rather have the "right message"at the wrong time..than the wrong message anytime. As an old warrior fading away I increase hope on a daily basis by "checking" you guys out. Stay strong and we will change some of those negative percentages,
@ stillapanther2:
In regards to: "The right message at the right time" comment. Sure it's urgent but, what has changed since Father's Day?
It takes two to tango. Does anyone imagine that on Mother's Day Obama would take the time out to criticize Black women? The problems of out of wedlock births were not created solely by Black men. I didn't care for the timing. The entire society is dealing with this issue,not just Black folks.
It seems like the only times Obama speaks to Black people is when he is admonishing them. Father's Day is supposed to be a time to celebrate fathers or those men who have acted in a responsible mentoring way.
What would have been the response if McCain stopped by a Black church and gave the same message?
I thought Obama was pandering to the larger (non-Black) audience.
I listened to the whole thing. If people choose to be offended by what he was saying, that's on them.
Also, as Bill Cosby would say, when *is* the right time to talk about these issues? IMO, all the dayum time as long as they remain a crippling problem in our community. Since that day ain't arrived yet where MOST (all may not be an option, but "most" certainly is) are doing what they can and should do, then Obama and any other person with a platform and a plan (this second part is critical -- don't just flap your lips, bring solutions to the table) can talk away as far as I'm concerned.
Also, who would you rather admonish us? Bush? McCain? If OUR people can't call US into accounting, who can?
Well, if I am one of those BLACK MALE BLOGGERS that you refer to- and I probably am, here's some food for thought:
First, he should have focused on black fathers who do good things. Maybe you should read blogs like Cool Cee Brown (coolceebrown.blogspot.com) to see a young, black father who is doing things right.
Second, just because somebody has an opinion doesn't mean that they are overreacting. It's just that Obama is still misunderstood- even by blogging pundits such as myself.
Third, it's not that he gave a bad speech. It's that he wasn't there for spiritual reasons. He was there to align with a more political-friendly church. Since I am a Chicagoan, I can tell you that Apostolic Church has ALWAYS taken the safe route. They are afraid of potholes in the road that comes from standing up to injustice. And this is why the retiring pastor of that church made a statement about "loving America" at the end of that service- which had NOTHING to do with Father's Day!
It was all about his image and not his intentions. He needed to be giving that speech to the bad areas of his jurisdiction for years now. Not some fancy 5,000 seat sanctuary with cameras flashing and people clapping.
I respect your viewpoints, AverageBro, but come out and say who you're talking about. You ain't chicken are you?
If Senator Barack is not prepared to pander and strategize as he seeks the Presidency, he should find another gig.
Sometimes the truth is buried far in the subtext, and sometimes there just is no subtext.
I'm with AB on this one. Barry was a Black father giving a Father's Day speech. What the ____ was he supposed to talk about?
Sure, he could have waxed poetic about Iraq, or his plan to save Social Security by eliminating the contribution cap, or anything he wanted to.
But if he had gone off-topic (in the context of the day and audience) how many miliseconds do you think it would have taken for the blogs to light up about another Black father forgetting it was Father's Day?
There's something else that people are forgetting: More than pandering and politics, Barack Obama was a young man who struggled to know who he is because his father left him as a toddler.
I'm sure when people trot out the sad statistics about black fatherhood, they hit close to home with him personally. Maybe his speech wasn't about anything other than his own life experience and his own desire to be a better father, and to see better fathers, than the one he had.
Just a thought.
And as someone who grew up without a father, Obama's words really hit home for me. I am almost 25 years old, and my father has still NEVER made the effort to be a dad. No birthday calls, no holiday, "How are you doing?" Nothing. And the sad part is that growing up, I knew that this was something that I had in common with a lot of other black children in my neighborhood.
More to the point, Obama wasn't pandering and it doesn't seem that he set out to criticize black men. He was talking about the reality of fatherhood as he knows it. What's so wrong with that?
@ zack
Why focus only on the positive? I think that too often in the black community, we focus on the positive in order to deny that the negative exists. Almost as if self-praise is more important than dealing with actual problems. (Just my two cents.)
@ AB
Good post!
Chai,
No disrespect- but WHAT BLACK COMMUNITY have you been paying attention to? If anything, we are RARELY positive. I'm sorry. You got me scratching my head at that one.
I appreciate your two cents, but here's 2 more. Father's Day has become synonymous with Deadbeat Dads and Badass Babydaddies. Tell me something that I normally wouldn't focus on. He only patted himself on the back for being a good dad. What about the other black men whom society doesn't even know exist? Where's their soundbite.
No offense taken, but I wish society would be more positive about black males. But that couldn't be further from the truth.
EXACTLY!!! Where is this positive black community? I need to move because I am very obviously living in the wrong place.
Whoa! So much to discuss, so little time. I will prolly let this one ride again for Monday morning.
Anyways...
@ missy
I do think he commented on "good Dads" like Michelle's father, but can agree that there was more criticism than anything else.
@ qadree
Welcome.
I agree that this was strategic (what in politics isn't?), but I don't think his ulterior motives were that deep. It's not like he hasn't used the black pulpit to say similar things in the past. Rememeber that poorly worded "Cousin Pookie n'em" speech from Selma last year?
@ panther
I agree, it was necessary. I wasn't offended either.
@ anon
Agreed, he would be out of his batbrained mind to criticize black moms on Mother's Day. But then again, has ANYONE ever criticized Black moms period? Not that I can recall.
That seemed to be the point of contention for many male bloggers, that it was one sided and didn't deal with the female factor in why many men are absent or not actively engaged with their kids. I sorta kinda agree with this, but you gotta keep it honest... NO politician would come out and openly accuse black women of running off black men (as some bloggers, I'm not naming names) or keeping them from seeing their kids. Again, not saying I totally agree, but that's a separate dynamic you're never gonna see discussed.
Re: McCain, no way he'd ever give any speech of value to a black audience. He isn't qualified to take on such issues. That too would be political suicide. Not that his party hasn't already helped him in this regard.
@ singlike
Agree 100%.
@ Zack
I was NOT commenting on your blog post, but rather the dozens of others I've seen that were critical of this speech.
For the umpteenth time, he DID focus on good black Dads. Perhaps not as much as the bad ones, but then again what would really be the point of some lavish "Negro Dads are Handlin' They Biz" speech?
I put in time with my son, and of equal importance, my wife to ensure we're raising my son in a loving environment. I don't need the remote validation of some man I'll never meet to make me feel good about this. Besides, it's what I should be doing anyway. You don't get cookies for that sorta stuff. I don't personally know a man handling his business who would have felt any better about his lot in life had Obama ceased the moment to tell us how great a job we were doing.
Furthermore, did anyone consider the fact that just maybe there were indeed some men out there who needed to hear this message to straighten themselves up? I'm just sayin', if Obama can motivate legions to give money, register, and vote in record numbers, who's the say he can't convince some brotha to go visit his kid? I'm just sayin'. Just because the message wasn't for me doesn't mean it wasn't for somebody.
@ singswim/i.l.l.
True. True.
@ the ever elusive Chris N.
Thanks for magically popping up with the co-sign.
@ chai
I understood what you were trying to say.
I think we might actually be talking about two different issues, or two different communities, so to speak.
The media at large does tend to portray black men in a negative light. However, that's not what I was getting at.
What I am speaking to is more of an internal evaluation of the black community-- internally, we do not like to acknowledge our negatives, because we don't want to feed a mill of stereotypes.
It seems almost like a defense mechanism. We focus on our internal positives, almost so that we have something with which to combat external negatives.
Anyhow, as I meant by the "2 cents" comment before, I am only speaking on my own experience. There is obviously no one universal experience in the black community.
Nearly everyday in the course of my day I hear people drop one of my least favorite sayings "real talk." Well ladies and gents, this is the personification of the phrase "real talk" This is a display of someone who is not only identifying a problem, that if solved would be a solution to many of our communities problems, within our community and asking brothers to be accountable. I mean this is a defining moment to me because some of our supposed black leaders always say that Obama doesn't address black issues or that he doesn't have a black agenda. I think this would prove otherwise. Obviously living in Chicago Obama has had the opportunity to see and be surrounded by both the best and the worst examples of black men. Taking a stance and saying today is the day the we begin anew is not at all pandering to white folk. Yet, is more of a call for black men to stand up and be counted. I think this speech is also reflective of a black man in America who is raising two young ladies and is fearful of the future of the black young men growing up with them. We lost an entire generation to crack and now that generations babies are growing up and the cycle is has yet to be broken. In fact, many would argue that its starting again because its so glamorized nowadays to be a loser (dope boy, killer thug). Too often we try to find something anything to critize Obama about. Stillapanther spoke of the solidarity displayed by brothers in Vietnam, shout out to the Hughes brothers for showing that in Dead Presidents, how about us modern day black folk do the same and support this brother. I mean its not like we would be siding with someone who doesn't care about us or someone who doesn't stand a chance of winning. I just don't understand how you can't stand with this brother.
Making a big deal out of this speech is much ado about nothing. (In my experience it's the guilty pig that always squeals. So maybe some of the people who are upset, are so because they recognize themselves in his words.) I agree with i.l.l. and Chai and Singlikesassy brings up a great point in that the timing may not always be right, but the issue must be addressed. The thing is, Bill Cosby is right and still you have this whole contingent of so called "experts" that want to shoot the messenger. To all you crying about how the media negatively portrays us--look around, there are enough rappers, athletes, entertainers, etc.. doing a good job of making black males appear in the worst light, media portryals be dammed. (Flavor of Love was the highest rated show on VH1-celebrating a damn near 50 year old man with 7 out-of-wedlock children.) Unfortunately, these are the people our children are trying to emulate. And what do a majority of these people have in common? Yep, you guessed it--Absent fathers.
When Farrakhan admonished and challenged black men (million man march), he was lauded as a hero in the community. But Barack and Bill Cosby can't get any love for saying what needs to be said? Black folk are funny about airing so called dirty laundry and dealing with the issues that face our community head on. We have been slow to respond to issues plaguing our communities- drugs, HIV, molestation, mental health- due to our tendency to sweep things under the rug. If not now when? Instead of criticizing Barack, folks need to listen and learn - he speaks from experience.
Its high time somebody said it. Way to go Barak on this one. In this isolated case I dont care if he is pandering or not. The speech is almost completely dead on.
Impressive speech... yet another topic on which Barak can speak when no one else in politics is able to.
Well I respect everyone's opinions on this but I guess I just see it differently. And that's ok..
AB: Why would it be political suicide to publicly chastise Black women (or any other group of women) on this issue? They are as at least as responsible as Black men. Black men aren't creating (and can't create) these situations all by themselves. These numbers (OOW births) have been rising since the fifties for everyone. Everyone needs to be called on the carpet.
EBW-I'm not upset b/c I recognize myself in his words. Much the opposite. I'm critical b/c it is starting to seem to me as if the only time Obama wants to talk to Black people is when he can be critical of them. This is NOT what's happening with other groups. Can anyone imagine Obama going in front of a rural West Virginia crowd and urging them to stop methamphetamine abuse or going in front of AIPAC and challenging them to crack down on white collar crime in the NY financial sector?
Also Obama is smart enough to know that he's touching some very dangerous stereotypes about Black men, as referenced in the Oliphant cartoon.
http://www.prometheus6.org/node/21331
Again, absent fathers is not just a Black problem so Obama needs to take that same speech to everyone.
Kirby-
Obama is a politician. He's made it clear that he wishes to be judged on his political stances and goals, not his race. So that having been said there are plenty of reasons for anyone to support him or not to support him. For me, his cave-in support of the FISA Amendment Bill is a deal-breaker. If he maintains course on that there's no way in holy Hades I'm voting for him.
AverageBro, if it's not that deep, how do you explain the similarities between between his choice of words and the tone he strikes in that speech and the national ad he's be running.
References to not making excuses, self-reliance, etc., it's almost textbook Lee Atwater material. I don't think Obama wants to distance himself from black people as human beings, but there are certain images in the minds of many white people that he wants to distance himself from.
The image of black people using racism as an "excuse" is a thorn in the side of many whites and it's something that he seems to be really trying to distance himself from. I think it's foolish for people to think that the speech he gave was directed at the congregation that was before him or at the black fathers that he described in his speech, those were just images that he invoked to convey messages about himself.
At this point he is trying to win people away from McCain and get people who were solidly behind Hillary to get behind him, everything he says and does going forward is going to reflect that.
@AB Thanks for saying what I always want to say but can't always get the words right.
You want to know why this didn't have any affect on you.....because you were probably out spending time with AverageLittleMan and AverageMoMs. The speech didn't apply to you nor did it negatively impact you.
A good message is good anytime.
@anonymous:
No, Obama goes to a multimillion dollar liberal elite neighborhood in San Francisco to make harsh, degrading comments about white West Virginians. Remember, they cling to guns and religion because they're bitter about their economic situation! But he'd never say that to a crowd in W. Va.
@qadree:
Good point, and good question.
@the speaking to black women questions:
Didn't everyone call Reagan and Gingrich racists for talking uncomfortable truths to black unwed mothers during the late 80s and early 90s? Those who say it's political suicide are correct. Any Republican would be raked over the coals for racist speech regardless of how right he might be, any Democrat would be exorcised by the party, partly because the culture of victimhood translates directly to Democratic votes. Any woman would be a betrayer of the sisterhood, any white man would be a despicable prejudiced asshole and black man would be disrespectful of women.
You just can't say it and build consensus... that's the lesson from the welfare debates.
I do think he was campaigning maybe even pandering a bit. However everything in that speech (which has been given before) was true. I also think as a product of a fatherless home he can really talk about it and I think the speech was from a want of us as a people to do better and improve.
I definitely think he thought about it and it definitely has the black community fired up and talking hopefully they will try to prove him wrong which is FINE with me, get out there and show us "he ain't talking about me" (figured I should butcher my own Chris Rock joke in honor).
-OG
Good points Spool
http://www.counterpunch.org/reed06242008.html
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