Pete Souza , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
I am an African American woman with all of the assigned female body parts. And, I am a mother and grandmother. Fortunately, my children were not without a father figure in their lives. And I appreciate male energy and presence in family and community life. Sadly too many of our young Black men do not have a positive Black presence in their homes and lives. Many have never even had a Black male teacher in their schools.
So I found it perplexing that some media pundits and thought leaders were critical of President Obama calling out Black men for not supporting the candidacy of Kamala Harris. I believe our society and communities would be in better shape if the voices of community-focused Black men were heard. So I appreciate President Obama acting as daddy- and granddaddy- in chief using his voice and directing his comments to Black men who in his mind were taking a stand against their own best interests.
Obama may be the former president but he is also family. He is our family.
A while back when then-President Obama expressed his pain because of the murder of Trayvon Martin saying Trayvon could have been his son, we cherished not only his voice but his empathetic compassion. Admittedly, too often the voices of Black men are not heard. Seemingly during this presidential campaign, there has been extraordinary focus on the sliver of Black men who support Donald Trump. Certainly, everyone has the right to support their candidate of choice. But, the attention the media and GOP operatives have paid to possible political outliers certainly demands some questioning.
Some Black men have explained that they are impressed by Trump’s illusion of power and wealth and they liked the character he played on the television show The Apprentice. But producers of the program now say the image of Trump as Boss was largely made for TV imaging.
Interestingly, those who were critical of Obama’s comments haven’t spoken out about the violence, mayhem, and degradation of women that are being marketed to our children non-stop. Where are the voices of outrage regarding the video game Grand Theft Auto? Is it a teaching tool?
Vice President Harris with President Obama, 2009.
Pete Souza , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
I have been told that much of the fascination for Trump and disconnect from the candidacy of Kamala Harris is connected to Black media personalities with wide-reaching platforms who have been courted by Trump and the GOP. Interestingly, many of these media personalities receive the most media attention when they operate counter to the greater interests of the Black community.
Whether it is recognized or not Black people as a voting constituency are strategic. If in four or eight years the political landscape flips, the Black community will respond accordingly. So please don’t put the Black voter in the not smart column. Black people vote in their best interest.
But, in this election, the choices are more than abundantly clear. As Kanye West said about George Bush after the Katrina catastrophe, “Donald Trump does not like Black people.” Trump, a convicted felon, a documented liar, and a misogynist only want to get back in the Oval Office to realign government to benefit the super-rich who don’t look like any of us and put those who don’t fit the Anglo-Saxon mold not only to the back of the bus but back to the cotton fields.
Born here, immigrant, Native American, LGBTQ – trust and believe you are on the Trump, Musk and old and new hard line GOP squad hit list and it’s not a secret list.
Candidate Kamala Harris states, ”We’re not going back,” and in the plaintive words of James Brown, “Please, Please, Please” heed her call.
Karen Warrington has had a decades long career as a broadcast journalist, communications professional, performing artist, and documentary filmmaker. She has traveled extensively throughout Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. She is committed to being a voice for the African Diaspora.
