RSS Feed
Newsletter
Widget
Black Lawmakers Asked: Does Race Matter?
Published by Pamela Gentry on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 12:55 pm.By Pamela Gentry, Senior Poliltical Producer
Sept. 24, 2008 – Today, Black lawmakers will gather for their annual legislative weekend and face some of the gravest situations the body has experienced since forming in 1976.
The 42 members who represent more than 40 percent of the African Americans in the United States will use this week to examine the impact the slowed economy, home foreclosures and job loss have on the communities they represent. The four days of workshops, legislative brainstorming coupled with community input is designed to give Black lawmaker the information needed to be responsive to the folks they represent.
But that’s not all they’ll focus on this year.
During the 38th annual conference, lawmakers have decided to open the weekend with a panel to address the historic nomination of their colleague, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), and discuss the role race plays in national politics.
The panelists will include lawmakers, academics and activists who will be asked to answer “Does Race Matter?”
A survey released by CNN/Opinion Research Corp. earlier this week, revealed that race will be a big factor in the upcoming presidential race. According to CNN, the results suggested that 40 percent of White Americans have a negative view of Black folks. With those feelings, few would be comfortable voting for Obama.
Walter Shapiro, the bureau chief for Salon.com, told CNN, “The hardest thing in the world for pollsters to poll for, with the exception of sexual behavior, is racial attitudes and how it affects behavior. Shapiro said that while people might say things differently off the record, racial issues cannot easily be quantified.
Over the weekend, more than 18,000 people will converge on the nation’s capital to address issues affecting African Americans. Forums will be held on education, health care, the environment, housing, transportation and international affairs.
I think race plays a major part in this election because if it didnt the republican would not did the things they have done.
I really feel sorry for our race if we dont prove to the white man we can be a powerful person than they can.
These white state that are not republican state are not going to vote for obama because he is black they would lose everything before they give a black man a chance.
They going to take the easy road out and that’s file chapt 13 or 7 and we will work hard to keep the things we have.
Especially the poor white definite not going to vote for him because they dont want to take hand out from us but they will take it from there own kind.
Does race matter? What a stupid question,when in the history of this country did race not matter.To say 40% of whites have a negative view of blacks is waaaay of the mark,I think it’s more like 70% .as far as the election race really matters coupled with the fact many peope are stupid enough too think Sen. Obama is Muslim which only adds fuel to the fire.The situation now is that whites are doing so bad that they are willing too get anybody of any race too save thier asses.If a person is trapped in a burning house they don’t care who recsues them as long as they get rescued.
Yes, i heard on the Tom Joyner Morning Show that 40% whites said they couldn’t vote for Obama because he’s ” Black”. This is ridiculous!!
This man is skilled and i’m sure can’t do a worst job then what Bush and the the other ” white presidents before him has already done. I feel the only race that does matter to most is ” Keeping the white house WHITE”
Jfffnn, That was an excellent point. Great insight. Race has always mattered and will always matter as long as we as a country refuse to have a real dialogue on race.
Racism is one of the most untreated mental illnesses that ails this nation. Its is and has been an epidemic that is yet to be addressed honestly and courageously by white America.
Black folk have had to deal with it from the womb to the tomb, but since Obama’s run for the white house, it seems that white people are being forced to address their racist attitudes, which up until recently they have been able to keep somewhat disguised. Their hateful angry attitude towards a black candidate simply because he’s black has left them feeling exposed.
We as Blacks, are not shocked that white folks say one thing in public and another thing in private. That’s how the KKK have always operated. During the day whites would interact with their black neighbors, but come night fall, they’d clothed themselves in sheets and murder black men and their sons, sexually brutalize black women and their young daughters and then come daybreak, go about their business as if nothing happened. Those sheets may have hidden their faces, but it exposed their hearts as cold, hateful, murderous and blacker than the skin of the people they hated.
Gary,
I like your comment and to add to that I feel that this whole election is about nothing but race and if my people don’t ALL register and vote and encourage non-whites to do the same; race will continue to determine the course of our country. Additionally, I know that not all white folks are prejudice/racist BUT I think that most of them are. And like jfffnn said, it’s more than 40% of whites that have a negative view of blacks…it’s actually over 70%. AND the only reason they assume we are voting for Obama because he’s black is because they aren’t voting for him because he’s black! So yeah…race still matters more than it should.
Seschris, Well said. Thanks for the comment.
Great posts everybody, but what a dumb question to pose right???? Of course race matters in this country, sad to say but yes it does,
Seschris, I am with you when you said people have a problem with us blacks when we support Obama, and they make the statement, Blacks are just voting for him because he is black, and I am just taken back and am appalled, because I think, we as blacks have never asked or posed a question like that to whites, with their candidates, and its like We cant support a man that is highly qualified, educated, smart, intelligent, and is highly influential, and who so just happens to be black, …….
I mean, didnt Al Sharpton run in 04, I certainly did not support him, and just because he was a black man, that still did not move me, Didnt Carol-Mosely Braun, run as well, and Jesse Jackson………ok you get my point……
My peoples, My peoples, but dont get sidetracked, because Obama has this election, They are using these outlandish and ridiculous polls to get us discouraged, and sidetracked…..
They are not factoring in all of the young people, and all of the new registered voters, in this great land we call USA…….Why do you think there is an enormous influx of new registered voters???? It’s certainly not to put someone like Bush back in office,
Do we all have a clue how historic this election is going to be???? People are going to be coming out in drovessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To make their voice be heard, You all will see, that states that have been red, down through the years, they will be blue………
All of these ridiculous figures, they are just trying to scare us and all Obama supporters, and people who want real change!!!!!!
Let’s do our part though, please keep voter registration forms with you at all times, I do……Whenever I am out, I ask people, I make it my civic duty, it does not matter where I am, black or white, I am doing my part to make sure that people are registered to vote before the deadline!!!!!
Asking this question is like asking can birds fly. Everyone with sense knows that this election is all about race and now it’s about gender as well. There are several whites who know good and well that McCain and Palin are not ready to take the white house but when they enter that voting booth, their heart will not let them pull that lever for a black man. This country will never, ever get over racial issues.
With all of these angry ..”White people’..getting on this African American site and posting all of this negative poo..poo..pee ..doop! HELLLLLLLLLL…YEAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
What amazes me is that ANY black person can ask that question? Even black repub’s are not that stupid? are they?
This rap song on You Tube sums up the election: McCain’s tactics, the ‘Bubba’ vote, the economy, etc..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCI0QXUGeWA
And today you have them very low key! Come out ..Come out.. where ever you are!
It is not a matter of race, America is a fredom land meaning everybody from everywhere is welcome concerning the race if today, in USA a black man as OBAMA could even run for president and suddenly won the presidential nomination over a white opponent he will stand the chance to be president, thats a huge step in America history and then definatetly must be taking for granted.
Back in slavery time or in fifties and sixties and seventies black had barely thought about becoming president. In addition we make a big progress regarding race issue.
of course race matters.
thats why we better grind, hustle (legally) and do whatever we have to do to rebuild our communities and support our grade schools and black unveristies.
He’s a handsome guy! I really really love him. Seems he has a personal account on the HOT romance site “”"”"”"” http://DateRichSingleS.com “”"”"”"” for reputable and successful people and their fans. What kind of relationships are they looking for?
WELL BLESS HIS SOUL..’ALEX’..IS BLACK!