You Get What You Ask For - Or, My Post-election Musings
Public Post - and looooooooooong (it's been a lifetime coming, after all)
The title's a bit harsh, and I'd rather not lose f-listers over this, but after a year of not posting any opinions on the election I'm finally letting loose in the hopes you'll hear me, understand where I'm coming from...
I've always known - or at least firmly believed/was entirely convinced - a black man would become president before a white woman.
That's the way of US politics. It's not the way of social standing, but it's the way of politics and business, and history has clearly demonstrated this. That being said, I wasn't so sure when Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama first came on the scene this last election cycle - my convictions were shaken for a while... until the infamous California primary.
But let me fist reference my posts from March 16, 2007, when my friend, JD, invited me to an Obama rally, and March 19, 2007, after I attended the rally.
Some Background:
For those who don't know, I'm half-white (Dutch/German), half-African (Mende), my father never having been a US citizen (my parents were divorced by the time I was 18 months old); I was raised in Hawaii and California, my Caucasian grandparents playing a huge role in my upbringing (and originally from Kentucky and Ohio); my late father was Muslim but my mother is Christian and I was raised in the church partially because my great-grandfather was a Baptist minister; I grew up with strong Asian influences and wound up spending considerable time in Japan and India for site seminars, since my field of study as an undergraduate and grad student (as well as the focus of my first career) was Buddhist art; I was accepted by Harvard as an undergrad but didn't go, and attended the University of Michigan for grad school, where I spent considerable time embracing and being embraced by the strong African-American upper middle class there...whew! I think that's it - as you can see, and the point of all that, I have an amazingly similar background to Barack Obama.
And I admit it - having considered myself fairly unique in that background, with the exception of my twin brother's partially shared experiences - I didn't like someone coming on the scene and proverbially stealing my history-thunder. I love my story, love who I am and how I've come to this point, and have discovered - a bit to my shame - I'm not one for sharing (Oh! And how annoying is it to hear a radio ad about "Barack Obama's Hawaii! WTF!).
If you read the previous two posts linked above you know I wasn't impressed with him. This is aside from my constant annoyance at being asked how I could possibly choose between Clinton and Obama because I was a black woman (or worse! Being told by the media who I was voting for because, "Educated blacks are voting for Obama." Really? Says you! *rolls eyes*).
cranberryink said it best - of course I, and people like me, would vote on the issues, not the person. This happens to be the case.
But getting back to the infamous California primary:
That morning I heard a piece on the radio about a Chronicle article, stating Barack Obama had declined to be photographed with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. From what I heard it was implied this was before Obama was an official candidate, but presumably was already considering a run for the presidency. I felt a cold chill run down my spine - no kidding.
That day at work everyone tried to ascertain who I'd voted for, but I never disclose my choices and believe the polling booth is private for a reason (it's a family practice and deeply ingrained in our voting behavior). I countered with questions about their own choices, and most had picked Obama, despite most of them being gay. I challenged this, asking if they'd heard or read the piece, and what they thought of it. They hadn't, but stated they wouldn't have chosen another candidate, regardless. One even had a visceral response when he thought I might have voted for Clinton because he was still deeply bitter about Bill Clinton's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.
I was fascinated, and concerned, but unable to find anyone who resonated with this experience. *shrugs*
As momentum built more and more people kept presuming I was an Obama supporter, bringing me into their conversations conspiratorially, sharing his book with me (it was really good - listened on tape so my grandmother could hear, too), but always in a one-on-one situation, as if they were suddenly "one of us." (And yes, these are all gay Caucasians I'm referring to, both female and male.)
At the same time the movement for gay marriage was being furthered by the California courts, supported by Gavin Newsom...and not a lot of other folks in the political spotlight. Not supported by Barack Obama.
Please know - I don't blame the man at all. His agenda was to become president. Period. His choice of Biden as running mate is pretty indicative of this fact, and some civil rights would be furthered by this goal, and others would be - and have been - pushed back by it. There's no way Obama could have publicly supported gay marriage and won the election; he had to come out in support of traditional marriage, albeit in a supportive-of-civil-rights way. I am in no way saying - and don't believe - he's anti-gay rights. This is and was about the business of politics.
A friend broke down in tears last Wednesday, devastated by the passing of Proposition 8, and devastated Obama had publicly stated he believed marriage should be between a man and a woman. In her words, "He could have just kept his mouth shut," and she's been a strong Obama supporter from day one (she was speaking from a place of pain and frustration, not from hate, and with no intent on being rude). This amazing woman has been a strong advocate and participant in the movement for equal rights under the law, regardless of sexual orientation, and it was clear she felt betrayed.
Someone else in the conversation stated something like 73% of the African-American vote in California was in support of Prop 8 (note that I was the only black person involved in this multi-person conversation).
So I did something I don't like to do:
I explained - without trying to represent the entire black populace - how getting out the minority vote meant significantly risking (and ultimately defeating) gay marriage rights. It's a gross generalization but also relatively true the black and Latino communities are not strong proponents of gay rights, and have views on homosexuality strongly rooted in traditional church values.
From my perspective, it's a matter of exposure and acceptance. I know as many people who are gay and black or Latino as I know people who are gay and Caucasian, but that doesn't mean various communities are as accepting of this reality. My hope is that with the memory of other civil rights struggles will come the acknowledgment of the need for ALL to have equal rights under the law, but I know that's a long way off, and an uphill battle to achieve. The election of Barack Obama is an important first step, but even in the liberal Democrat community there's rampant racism - racism I face on a daily basis despite their self-professed tolerance and forward-thinking (really, I'd rather face an open bigot any day, than most of my own neighbors whom I know from experience wouldn't invite me to dine at their tables or have me date their sons or brothers. YES, that's true even if you don't want to accept it. I know because I live it every.single.freakin'.day.). How can we expect those who are traditionally more socially conservative to change overnight?
We can't, clearly, but we work hard toward that goal.
I vividly remember reading a Village Voice issue in 1992 - think I still have it somewhere, actually - that was dedicated to the discussion of why the African-American community had no true leadership. They thoroughly reviewed everyone on and off the political scene who had either attempted to take on that leadership, or might qualify to lead the community, their findings being that someone new would have to come on the scene before the African-American community at large would ever have true leadership to rally around and further our voices and causes. How insightful.
Cut back to the present and much of the rhetoric, especially outside California, is on the importance of Barack Obama as the first black president and how we've come so far since the civil rights movement of the 50s and 60s. And they're right - it IS important and we have come far. In none of this rhetoric is gay marriage mentioned, however. It's mentioned in separate reports, but only around here have I seen or heard demographics on how people voted on Prop 8 - not on the national scene.
A f-lister wrote in her public blog that what Barack Obama brings to the political scene and most represents is hope, and I agree. He'd have an incredible uphill battle even if the economy weren't in such disastrous shape right now, never mind the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (yeah, it's still a war). His every word, every action, ever expression will be scrutinized ad nauseum, and if he fails he potentially creates a significant setback for the black community, regardless of how unfair that would be. So much is riding on a single man's shoulders I'm horrified by it, horrified, fascinated, intrigued, excited and even hopeful.
But I'm also a realist.
My own parents' marriage was considered radical 45 years ago; will it be another 45 years before the LGBT community has the right to marry? I hope not, and think progress moves more quickly in the global arena, thankfully. So then, on the political hierarchy, where does the LGBT community stand? Sadly, I believe for the time being it flows like this - in hierarchical order - white men, black men, white women, and everyone else (closet cases not counted).
Of course, I'd still like to see Obama appoint women to his cabinet, and another female Secretary of State would be nice - maybe even someone who's openly gay? *hints* ;-P
A f-lister posted this in her journal and it completely cracked me up:
Final Note:
As I've said elsewhere, I couldn't stand Bill Clinton in 1992 (I was a Paul Tsongas supporter before he dropped out due to health issues), but I grew to revere him - still do. So I'm open to the experience and am going along for the ride, but I'm not going quietly and will continue to cry out for equal rights under the law every step of the way.
Oh, and if you read all that - thank you. It means a lot, I just hope I'm heard...
The title's a bit harsh, and I'd rather not lose f-listers over this, but after a year of not posting any opinions on the election I'm finally letting loose in the hopes you'll hear me, understand where I'm coming from...
I've always known - or at least firmly believed/was entirely convinced - a black man would become president before a white woman.
That's the way of US politics. It's not the way of social standing, but it's the way of politics and business, and history has clearly demonstrated this. That being said, I wasn't so sure when Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama first came on the scene this last election cycle - my convictions were shaken for a while... until the infamous California primary.
But let me fist reference my posts from March 16, 2007, when my friend, JD, invited me to an Obama rally, and March 19, 2007, after I attended the rally.
Some Background:
For those who don't know, I'm half-white (Dutch/German), half-African (Mende), my father never having been a US citizen (my parents were divorced by the time I was 18 months old); I was raised in Hawaii and California, my Caucasian grandparents playing a huge role in my upbringing (and originally from Kentucky and Ohio); my late father was Muslim but my mother is Christian and I was raised in the church partially because my great-grandfather was a Baptist minister; I grew up with strong Asian influences and wound up spending considerable time in Japan and India for site seminars, since my field of study as an undergraduate and grad student (as well as the focus of my first career) was Buddhist art; I was accepted by Harvard as an undergrad but didn't go, and attended the University of Michigan for grad school, where I spent considerable time embracing and being embraced by the strong African-American upper middle class there...whew! I think that's it - as you can see, and the point of all that, I have an amazingly similar background to Barack Obama.
And I admit it - having considered myself fairly unique in that background, with the exception of my twin brother's partially shared experiences - I didn't like someone coming on the scene and proverbially stealing my history-thunder. I love my story, love who I am and how I've come to this point, and have discovered - a bit to my shame - I'm not one for sharing (Oh! And how annoying is it to hear a radio ad about "Barack Obama's Hawaii! WTF!).
If you read the previous two posts linked above you know I wasn't impressed with him. This is aside from my constant annoyance at being asked how I could possibly choose between Clinton and Obama because I was a black woman (or worse! Being told by the media who I was voting for because, "Educated blacks are voting for Obama." Really? Says you! *rolls eyes*).
cranberryink said it best - of course I, and people like me, would vote on the issues, not the person. This happens to be the case.
But getting back to the infamous California primary:
That morning I heard a piece on the radio about a Chronicle article, stating Barack Obama had declined to be photographed with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. From what I heard it was implied this was before Obama was an official candidate, but presumably was already considering a run for the presidency. I felt a cold chill run down my spine - no kidding.
That day at work everyone tried to ascertain who I'd voted for, but I never disclose my choices and believe the polling booth is private for a reason (it's a family practice and deeply ingrained in our voting behavior). I countered with questions about their own choices, and most had picked Obama, despite most of them being gay. I challenged this, asking if they'd heard or read the piece, and what they thought of it. They hadn't, but stated they wouldn't have chosen another candidate, regardless. One even had a visceral response when he thought I might have voted for Clinton because he was still deeply bitter about Bill Clinton's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.
I was fascinated, and concerned, but unable to find anyone who resonated with this experience. *shrugs*
As momentum built more and more people kept presuming I was an Obama supporter, bringing me into their conversations conspiratorially, sharing his book with me (it was really good - listened on tape so my grandmother could hear, too), but always in a one-on-one situation, as if they were suddenly "one of us." (And yes, these are all gay Caucasians I'm referring to, both female and male.)
At the same time the movement for gay marriage was being furthered by the California courts, supported by Gavin Newsom...and not a lot of other folks in the political spotlight. Not supported by Barack Obama.
Please know - I don't blame the man at all. His agenda was to become president. Period. His choice of Biden as running mate is pretty indicative of this fact, and some civil rights would be furthered by this goal, and others would be - and have been - pushed back by it. There's no way Obama could have publicly supported gay marriage and won the election; he had to come out in support of traditional marriage, albeit in a supportive-of-civil-rights way. I am in no way saying - and don't believe - he's anti-gay rights. This is and was about the business of politics.
A friend broke down in tears last Wednesday, devastated by the passing of Proposition 8, and devastated Obama had publicly stated he believed marriage should be between a man and a woman. In her words, "He could have just kept his mouth shut," and she's been a strong Obama supporter from day one (she was speaking from a place of pain and frustration, not from hate, and with no intent on being rude). This amazing woman has been a strong advocate and participant in the movement for equal rights under the law, regardless of sexual orientation, and it was clear she felt betrayed.
Someone else in the conversation stated something like 73% of the African-American vote in California was in support of Prop 8 (note that I was the only black person involved in this multi-person conversation).
So I did something I don't like to do:
I explained - without trying to represent the entire black populace - how getting out the minority vote meant significantly risking (and ultimately defeating) gay marriage rights. It's a gross generalization but also relatively true the black and Latino communities are not strong proponents of gay rights, and have views on homosexuality strongly rooted in traditional church values.
From my perspective, it's a matter of exposure and acceptance. I know as many people who are gay and black or Latino as I know people who are gay and Caucasian, but that doesn't mean various communities are as accepting of this reality. My hope is that with the memory of other civil rights struggles will come the acknowledgment of the need for ALL to have equal rights under the law, but I know that's a long way off, and an uphill battle to achieve. The election of Barack Obama is an important first step, but even in the liberal Democrat community there's rampant racism - racism I face on a daily basis despite their self-professed tolerance and forward-thinking (really, I'd rather face an open bigot any day, than most of my own neighbors whom I know from experience wouldn't invite me to dine at their tables or have me date their sons or brothers. YES, that's true even if you don't want to accept it. I know because I live it every.single.freakin'.day.). How can we expect those who are traditionally more socially conservative to change overnight?
We can't, clearly, but we work hard toward that goal.
I vividly remember reading a Village Voice issue in 1992 - think I still have it somewhere, actually - that was dedicated to the discussion of why the African-American community had no true leadership. They thoroughly reviewed everyone on and off the political scene who had either attempted to take on that leadership, or might qualify to lead the community, their findings being that someone new would have to come on the scene before the African-American community at large would ever have true leadership to rally around and further our voices and causes. How insightful.
Cut back to the present and much of the rhetoric, especially outside California, is on the importance of Barack Obama as the first black president and how we've come so far since the civil rights movement of the 50s and 60s. And they're right - it IS important and we have come far. In none of this rhetoric is gay marriage mentioned, however. It's mentioned in separate reports, but only around here have I seen or heard demographics on how people voted on Prop 8 - not on the national scene.
A f-lister wrote in her public blog that what Barack Obama brings to the political scene and most represents is hope, and I agree. He'd have an incredible uphill battle even if the economy weren't in such disastrous shape right now, never mind the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (yeah, it's still a war). His every word, every action, ever expression will be scrutinized ad nauseum, and if he fails he potentially creates a significant setback for the black community, regardless of how unfair that would be. So much is riding on a single man's shoulders I'm horrified by it, horrified, fascinated, intrigued, excited and even hopeful.
But I'm also a realist.
My own parents' marriage was considered radical 45 years ago; will it be another 45 years before the LGBT community has the right to marry? I hope not, and think progress moves more quickly in the global arena, thankfully. So then, on the political hierarchy, where does the LGBT community stand? Sadly, I believe for the time being it flows like this - in hierarchical order - white men, black men, white women, and everyone else (closet cases not counted).
Of course, I'd still like to see Obama appoint women to his cabinet, and another female Secretary of State would be nice - maybe even someone who's openly gay? *hints* ;-P
A f-lister posted this in her journal and it completely cracked me up:
Final Note:
As I've said elsewhere, I couldn't stand Bill Clinton in 1992 (I was a Paul Tsongas supporter before he dropped out due to health issues), but I grew to revere him - still do. So I'm open to the experience and am going along for the ride, but I'm not going quietly and will continue to cry out for equal rights under the law every step of the way.
Oh, and if you read all that - thank you. It means a lot, I just hope I'm heard...