Dr. Boyce: Would Barack Obama Have Been Elected If He Looked Like Wesley Snipes?
by Dr. Boyce Watkins
I am not sure why certain questions or thoughts pop into my brain. Sometimes those questions help me figure things out and other times, they get me into serious trouble. I have no idea what this one is going to do, but I had to ask it anyway: Would Barack Obama have been elected President of the United States if he were as dark as Wesley Snipes?
My immediate internal reaction to my own question was: “Hayell to da naw.” I can’t imagine Wesley, looking like America’s worst Ebony nightmare, being given the keys to the Oval Office. In fact, brothers who look like Wesley have to smile 24 hours a day just to keep a d**n job. America has a way of looking at black men that is already laced with intense suspicion: Our lives have less value, we are more like to be arrested, and least likely to be employed. This is true even when we “do all the right things,” like obtain a good education and work hard – that’s been my own experience, even as a scholar (the only thing worse than being a black male criminal is being an educated black man. In either case, America wants to see you go away).
To get an added perspective, I asked the question on my Facebook page, to see what others were thinking. Here is a sample of some of the responses:
“Who knows….??”
“I have another question, forget what white people find palatable….how many Black folks would have voted for him AND continued to lend him their unwavering support if he looked like Wesley Snipes? We know how white folks tend to feel about dark skin, how do we feel?”
“No, he would not have been. It was important that he was light skinned – white folks need to see themselves in him. It makes them comfortable.”
“That man is not light skinned. Good lord. He is what we call BROWN SKINNED. In the middle. Not dark, not light.”
“C’mon man! h**l NO! Its sad, but true. I’m from a border town of Texas and Louisiana Creole/Cajun. I have family with very dark skin and family; including my mom, that very light skinned with green eyes. There has been issues even with in my own family with dark and light skin. Its been a problem in this next of the woods for years. Its crazy seeing people of the same race and coming from the same walk of life fighting with each other over skin tones. And don’t get me started on the whole ‘good’ hair ‘bad’ hair ish. SMH! Sorry I digress a bit.”
When considering whether or not a dark-skinned Barack Obama would have been elected, I first put aside the fact that Wesley is in prison and Barack is not. Then, I realized that this fact may not just be a coincidence. Even the conviction of Wesley Snipes may be related to his skin color, since numerous studies have shown that black men who “look like threatening criminals” (i.e. big, dark, muscle bound) are more likely to be convicted. So, it’s probably not a coincidence that between Barack and Wesley, one man is in a position to pardon the other (but poor Barack is such a slave to the establishment that he has actually pardoned less people than President Bush).
If you go to the south, we know that skin complexion matters a great deal. A woman in Texas can have the face of a pot bellied pig, but if she’s “light-skinndeded,” she’s almost always going to get more male attention than if she were dark. She would also be treated differently by relatives, and be more likely to be labeled “the special child.” This preferential treatment transfers to the way whites see her as well.
On the male side, I recall my uncle telling me how his light skin and green eyes led to him receiving preferential treatment from whites, blacks, men and women. Barack has written in his book about the importance of making white people feel comfortable. The fact that whites can look at Barack and see a piece of themselves goes a long way in their ability to trust him.
So, could a man who looks like Wesley Snipes have a chance to do what President Obama has done? My gut reaction is “no.” At the same time, five years ago, I never would have guessed that a man with a name like “Barack Hussein Obama” could be elected to the White House. So, perhaps even my own mind is constrained by the limitations of racialized thinking.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Professor at Syracuse University. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.
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h**l no!
Muata,I do not think race has any significance in the selection of our presidents.The people that control this country are doing
what is expedite at that point in time.Power,corruption and
greed are the order of the day.It is up to us that we become
more politically astute.That way,a beautiful oratory will not sway
a decision of that much importance when you hear it and in the
next voice it says send 30,000 more.The race baiting has been a
cruel trick on all of us.The indoctrination and exploitation of us
all is color blind and beautifully done.As long as we can be dumbed down with race they can keep taking our money and
taking our sons to war.Look around, check it out………..
In no way would the looks of Wesley Snipes have afforded him the opportunity of even running for president. A very handsome man, his dark hue is a turn-off to folks, even blacks. What a pity!!
I believe that white folks see me in the same light as black men. I’m well-educated, twice degreed, highly intellligent and one who walks with elegance, dignity and class, and I still can’t secure a meaninful job; it’s been over thirty years.
Sheila, you are so right. I have a doctorate and still get down for employment where a white person is less qualified than me gets the job. SMH
Sheila, I don’t know what your career path is but why not look into employment if you can in a foreign land. I know two mid-age black females who work (one in Kuwait teaching English, and one who graduated from Howard, School of Dentisty who teaches in St. Thomas). They applied for these jobs because they were not having a successful career path in the U.S. They both make neary $100K per year. The young lady in Kuwait has been there for 5 years and the other in St Thomas for nearly 20 years, they are both now very wealthy or on a path to much wealth.
When they had the earthquake in Japan there were a lot of American missing (found okay) who were African-American and working in Japan, I was surprised. So, follow the job if you can do so…relocate.
Expatriates like James Baldwin and others find this to be a way out almost a century in the 1920′s and 1930′s. We are entitled to certain rights and privileges (not to be discriminated against) in the United States, not “In Another Country”!
Wesley Snipes is fineeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. I love a dark chocolate bar of a brother. Thankfully, I did not grow up with that slave mindset that bright is better and I have all complexions in my family, including a baby brother lighter than the president with green eyes! It’s sad that in 2012 there’s still colorism and internalized racism between black folks. Whitey got us twisted.
Have you considered working for yourself?
Why is this relevant? Somehow we have to know when we have won!!
Ed, thanks for your simple and profound answer. This is the problem, black people were winning, failed to claim it or afraid to claim it and took a step back.
Some black folk are afraid of success. I am in a small southern town. I am happy to see the birth rate for babies born to black teens declining, but, nearly a 1/4 of white girls have babies by black boys…Why? Because black people don’t realize their beauty, intelligence and self worth.
Our boys go from drop out, to impregnating a white girl to crime and jail.
When will be go back to school, higher education, employment, family and faith? Soooooooo Sad!
Ed, I can’t agree with you that anyone has “won” to any degree really. Barack was elected for two reasons. One, Bush paved the way for a desperate need in this nation for change. Two, the young voted in droves. Thankfully, they are more color blind than all previous generations. Our nation took a step forward but we are sliding backwards on a daily basis. The right is fighting hard to get the “black man” out of the “white house”. He’s a black democrat for goodness sakes. In their minds, h**l has truly frozen over.
The day we will all really win is the day that someone with the skin color of Wesley Snipes can be elected and the color of his skin never comes up. That is when we, as a nation, will have finally found our way to being color blind.
For those of you who point out the issues of blacks judging blacks based on skin tone, facial features etc, you make a very valid point. Maybe finding out exactly what it is that dominates the varying shades of color (besides pigmentation of course) will help you to be more accepting. In my family, I have three siblings. Three of us can tan like there is no tomorrow. (Did I mention I’m white?) but my one sister can’t tan at all. We’re all Euro mutts. Because of our mixed bloodline, my sister has the more fare skin of the English and German. The rest have the other euro ethnicities as dominant apparently. I tan so quickly and so dark that by mid-summer, I am as dark, or darker, than all of my bi-racial grandchildren. Understanding what ethnicities create what skin pigmentations helps us to realize a person’s likely background as well as to lessen the judgement on the differences. Know what I mean?
You ask this question but have you considered when, and where this seed was planted in our consciousness? WHITE PEOPLe planted this sick seed during their need to breed everything they owned, even people…. This goes back to their “beauty, brains, and blood” theory. Their blonde hair, blue-eyed fair child.. that child has always been their “special child”, and so goes our need to remain controlled mentally by those that no longer OWN US.! Good God.
When WE black people stop discriminating against our OWN because of the color of our skin,hair texture, nose size etc, the foolishness will stop, if WE CRITICIZE our own because of such trivial things, how do we expect others to accept what we don’t like in ourselves?
Thank you Erica, I’ve been saying that for 30 years.
It always made me angry when my fellow Blacks asked me why I preferred the “soot colored” Black male (not the shiney Black). The shiney Blacks the same as ALL other hues to me; I like them too, but not as much.
I’m on the “light” side; but always thought that Black is Beautiful. Guess my parents let me make up my own mind without clouding my mind with slave talk.
Dr Boyce, you and I both know he would not have been. Many people were surprised he had a dark skinned wife. I remember telling one man who I knew was into the skin complexion and the hair thing how Michelle represented: a dak skinned sophisticated industrious beauty married to the president of the United States. That speaks volumes to all the dark skinned black women these orther athelete, movies stars and men in the medias eye go for like it’s going out of style.
He was looking disturbed, but it’s so true: the light skinned women can be b**t ugly and a sloppy mess and the athletic handsome I don’t Ike myself Black guy will drool over her. That same man has issue with why another race guy would find a dark skinned black woman beautiful.
Common sense is not common. I have heard arguments of the color of Adam and Eve and such from Adam being bqlck as he was formed from the dust of the ground to Eve being white because she was made from Adams rib, to how the Song of Soloman talks about the fairness of the skin of the one woman. If you just consider what happens to whiter skinned people who step into nature, either they get like us or burn as their skin is not able to handle the sun kissing it. 31 years ago a college professor who was white had said that white people were cave dwellers who were not able to tolerate outside condition and hey we’re prone to stale air in caves which is responsible for their skinny pointed noses. He was giving a regional reason for the physical features of the different races.
I think it’s crucial for black kids to be protected in the early years from outside influences telling them they are less than because of their color. I am happy I grew up in an all black school where it was not as bad although there were the light skinned foolishness a bit.
Back to your question, Obama would more han likely still be a lawyer had he been a darker skinned Black.
What if giraffes had shorter necks? What if grass was orange instead of green? What if the sky was purple? What if we learned to ask more significant questions grounded in the reality that actually affects us, and then answered those?
In an ideal country and world where there is no racism, oppression, discrimination, etc. Obama would have won over McCain and Palin because of his intelligence,experience,flexibility, and willingness to work collaboratively with all parties. REALISTICALLY, if he looked like Wesley, he would NOT be President o the US. He would have been subconsciously perceived as angry, combative, barbaric, and cognitively inferior when compare someone like Sara Palin. What is tragic is that I believe Obama has either fprgotten that although he is President of the US, HE IS STILL BLACK!!!!! As a Black man, HE HAS TO be a community steward and advocate on behalf of communities of color. If HE doesn’t, WHO WILL? He should HE come familiar with BORDAS’ model for MULTICULTURAL LEADERSHIP and allow those 8 principles to help him become the authentic leader he was DESIGNED TO BE (“for such a time as this“ Esther 4:14)
Not likely.
The question I have raised to friends takes a slightly different approach.
Would President Obama have been elected if he had two sons rather than two daughters?
The two sons scenario would probably be scarier to millions of Americans for a multitude of Americans, even if the President looked just as he does. What do you think?
This is silly. African-Americans are the only people who judge themselves on their color and looks and it is because the white slave man and woman trained our ancestors that way and it is passed down from generation to generation.
In truth the present day ancestors of the old master and big missy consider ALL African-Americans the same regardless of skin color, hair texture, looks etc.
When will we realize it is about EDUCATING and teaching our children their self worth? It is not about what people say you are but about who you really are…get the picture!
What if you found something thought provoking about which to write?
Reply/Comment to the Gentlemen from a Border town of TX & LA., I am a bit further in LA. (Northeast), and I have to tell you YOUR WORDS ARE TRUE. We are our own worst enemy where colour & hew is concerned..jeeeezzz, boss man brainwashed us forever. Think about it..WHY IS COLOR SO d**n IMPORTANT TO US??
Dr. Boyce, you went further than ‘way back’ to ask this question.
PLEASE, ask questions, but ask those that are important to getting this country moving again!!
Not if Black people had anything to do with it. We, Black people are the ones still stuck in that Willie Lynch era. White folks don’t see shades of color. They told us years ago, one drop pf black blood… Black is black to them. We see degrees of blackness and we need to get over it. I”m sick of hearing black people define themselves as light skinned, browned skinned, dark skinned… It’s stupid. We all wore chains whether we worked in the fields or in the big house. Was the light skinned slave really better off because her master preferred to rape her?
What is wrong with us? My skin is black and I’m still not black enough for some people. I don’t ask black, I don’t talk black. There is always some petty issue to divert us from the serious issues we need to deal with. We have 50% unemployment in he black community. Does answering this question solve that problem.
At a time when we need to be united, we divide ourselves by shades of color. This is ridiculous. I can not believe a brother with a PHd would bring this nonsense up. Shades of color only matter to US. MOVE PAST IT. IT IS A NEW DAY! We have black people with blue eyes, sisters with long straight hair. One sister who certainly is not yellow was named most beautiful woman in the world. Wesley is a snake and I wouldn’t vote for him to catch dogs, but who can deny Don Cheadle is fine. I’ll take him in a heartbeat.
Deal with some important issues…Please.!
Interesting article. I remember growing up in the 60s. The worst thing you could say someone was how dark their skin was or how big their nose or lips were. Let alone call someone BLACK. Those were fighting words! LOL Even thought this is 2012 there is still that mentality among many black people young and old.
Herman Cain was the darling of whites and he almost had a shot at the presidency. Clarence Thomas is a respected jurist on the supreme court. And there is the fact that Wesley Snipes was a successful actor. So the hangup about color is a psychological trick.
“Clarence Thomas is a respected jurist on the supreme court”
@Asar Nebankh. In what alternate universe?? lol
I have dark skinned friends who feel they were mistreated their entire life. I have light skinned friends who felt they were mistreated. Women feel men don’t like them because they have short hair. Women with long hair feel other women mistreat them. Big women think skinny women hate them and skinny women feel big women mistreat them. Expectancy Theory – We get exact what we expect. If you think you won’t get a job because you are too dark, you won’t get it. Understand this and you understand the secret to the universe.
How you feel about yourself is the only thing that matters.
While I believe that we have all been duped into believing the media driven race baiting and the complexion divide as well as the numerous reinforcements of the Willie Lynch letter, your response to this particular question does leave room to think. Statistically speaking, it has been proven that there have been studies that have shown the harsher responses to those of darker hues by the criminal justice system, employment sector, standards of beauty as well as the overall society in their lack of preferential treatment(at best) to the harsh criticism and portrayal of criminal and animalistic behavior (not at worst, but close to).
This is a good question and to the question, I would say that it would be highly unlikely if he were to be elected, however considering that President Obama isn’t fully Black probably does weigh in on the situation as well.
Wesley Snipes, Sidney Poitier, Dennis Haysbert Yes,
http://www.buddytv.com/articles/24/haysbert-says-24-role-paved-th-15880.aspx
Cederick the Entertainer, No.
The way you present yourself and your ability to communicate
Red, white, black or yellow, “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you…you’ll be a man my son.”
Jessie Jackson ran for president and he is/was light skinned but didn’t win. I voted for Barack Obama because he exuded grit and grace. I feel, it has more to do with what exudes from the person when opposition sends him through h**l and high water. Each hit against Obama, and there were many and there continues to be many, left him still taking the high road, yielding to his better angels.
Baffoonerie pure baffoonerie, an this is coming from a well respected black man about another black man, why even raise the question Dr., your house niggerie is coming out Dr., you sound like Hannity, or Rush, or that other fool, sometime I wonder who side your really on, I think this was wasted space, you let your house niggerie come out within the first paragraph.
“My immediate internal reaction to my own question was: “Hayell to da naw.” I can’t imagine Wesley, looking like America’s worst Ebony nightmare, being given the keys to the Oval Office. In fact, brothers who look like Wesley have to smile 24 hours a day just to keep a d**n job. America has a way of looking at black men that is already laced with intense suspicion: Our lives have less value, we are more like to be arrested, and least likely to be employed. This is true even when we “do all the right things,” like obtain a good education and work hard – that’s been my own experience, even as a scholar (the only thing worse than being a black male criminal is being an educated black man. In either case, America wants to see you go away).”
“your immediate internal reaction to your own question was: “Hayell to da naw.” I can’t imagine Wesley, looking like America’s worst Ebony nightmare or h**l nah i dont want no n****r dark as him with big a*s lip representing me or being given the keys to the Oval Office. Why because Westley is not your idea of a handsome looking black man, Dr., or is it that he is too dark for you, maybe his lips to big for your kind Dr., this is a sad peace of work coming from a so called respected black man an we wonder why blacks are in such a sad state of affair an you have the nerve to talk about lil Wayne, like we don’t have enough other people putting our race down, From what you wrote you have the same ideal or issues as the white man, dark complexed man or woman with big lips cant ever be considered good looking or handsome or pretty ar can hold a respectful job. America an house n*****s like you Dr have a way of looking at black men that is already laced with intense suspicion: Our lives have less value an every time you write something like this our value decreases more an more, we are more likely to be arrested, and least likely to be employed. This is true even when we “do all the right things,” like obtain a good education and work hard, but how can we expect for white America to change the way they look at us it we dont change the way we look at ourselves, starting with our so called respected men of the same race, color an background, – (the only thing worse than being a black male criminal is being an educated black man. In either case, America an Dr wants to see you go away, that what it sound like to me Dr
I think that it was palatable for many whites to vote for President Obama because of his mixed ancestry and because he was raised by a white mother and his maternal grandparents. Even though not obviously visible, intellectually they knew that he had white ancestry. They could then justify their votes and credit any of his stellar attributes to the white side of his ancestry.
Although this subject is painful and “thorny” to many blacks, the fact is that the vestiges of color prejudice is still prevalent in the black community and the mainstream community as a whole. Entertainers like Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Rhianna and Jordan Sparks have been celebrated partly because of their light or light brown skin. Sure, there are exceptions, but look at the mega chart toppers and most of the women fall into those categories.
Additionally, many of our male athletes and entertainers seem to prefer lighter skinned women or even white or other nonblack women to dark skinned women of the race.
Our color prejudice has contributed to a lot of self-esteem issues in the community, as well as conflicts among families, friends and even co-workers. I have witnessed the hatred heaped upon female family members, friends and co-workers because they are light and have long or so-called “good hair.” Conversely, I have heard some of the worst invectives hurled at dark skinned sisters like “ink spot”, “black as the ace of spade”, “raisin”, “looks like one of those mammies or african slaves” and the list goes on. And, I hate to hear “she is beautiful or (fill in the black) for a dark skinned girl!”
So the madness goes on. Will a dark skin black brother or sister have a chance at the highest office in the land? I guess time will tell.
Dr. Boyce, you are one educated fool. why would you even think that.Why would his looks be relevant? I don’t know too much about Wesley Snipes, but I thnk he is rather handsome, someone else, apparently you think not. Well, I don’t find you attractive either, you are fat, and not pleasing to the eyes. But am I looking at how you look or your intelligence, your character, which from some of the things you have been saying about Obama lately I find to be out of order.
DR. Martin Luther King, Jr. made a fantastic statement in his “I Have a Dream” speech when he said that a person should be judged by his character not the color of his skin. Without any reservation I agree with that observation and will do just that as I take a look at both Mr. Snipes and President Obama without any prejudice.
Now , if you had been running for president would I have voted for you? Most certaintly NOT. I feel you would not have had anything to bring to the table except this blog page and being a
teacher , which I am so happy that you didn’t teach my children anything. In A debate Obama would have whipped your fat A–
Dr. Wallace, you are not alone in your thoughts. Many of my friends and I have talked about this very idea because it happens to be the nature of experiences in America; and for many Black folks, we have learned to always be mindful of what’s beneath the substratum. After all, for centuries we have been socialized around oppressive skin color issues, as well as negations toward afro hair that held racist ideas against one’s humanity in relationship to what is ostensibly a way of life in America. While in school, I wrote an essay on the book “Go Tell Michelle, ” which was a wonderful compilation of stories written by Black women from around the world to the first lady; even White mother-in-laws’ urged their Black daughter-in-laws’ to be a part of this writing event, and while Blacks have long accepted and embraced our rainbow of beautiful hues, dark toned Black women expressed how important it was for them that Michelle Obama was authtentically Black as a woman; meaning, dark skin and Afro hair, rather than light skin with blues eyes and still classified as Black. I see their point and I’m not offended or jealous as a lighter complexioned Black woman of this wholesome comradery between my darker complexioned sisters. It as a celebration for all of us and perhaps, on some levels, a healing. I am caramel and my mother very light skin and we were proud to see this beautiful Black woman take center stage; but I know this was especially gratifying for our sisters who have darker skin tones and possibly deeper wounds around the ignorance of skin color, which remains alive and well in this country.
An interesting question. A better question, for me, is whether I prefer a Mormon to an Indonesian Islamic. John McCain was a nonentity, vapid. The clear choice in 2012 is Mormon versus Islam.
Out of the consciousness of color does come some attitudes associated with the long journey through the Middle Passage. If I am from another group and knew the history of the Middle Passage I would likely be skeptical of anyone closely associated with that journey and that which followed. First Americans do not trust any ‘white eyes’ as a matter of principle. On a ten point scale where would you put Snipes versus Obama in terms of trust, which I take to be the ultimate question. Who do you want holding the rope if you were dangling over a cliff-who would hold on the losgest
Speaking from the point of view of the
I would hope he would get elected reguardless of the shade of his skin. But, then again, I love darker men over lighter ones.
Dr. Boyce Watkins, you are going from bad to worse. This has got to be one of the dumbest and stupidest questions asked in a public forum. What is really your problem? With your outlook I would never allow you to teach a child of mine, I guess that’s why you’re teaching mostly white kids. I certainly hope they’re paying you to confuse and divide Black people. Even if this were true it certainly shouldn’t discussed in an open forum. It has no relevance to what’s going on in this country.
Erica, I agree with you and so many others on here. And Maurice, you raised a valid issue that I hadn’t thought about. Ummmmm.
Yea, Karroll. That was the best and funniest response I’ve seen to this so over the top ignorant question. It is an insult to President Obama and Wesley Snipes. At first, I respected Boyce just on my limited knowledge of him, but reading this daily “blog”, I am so….. disappointed. I have no respect for him, would not follow him across the street and do not take anything he says as serous. I’ve seen people like him (African American, short, round, glasses, not particularly handsom, has a few degrees, thinks he is smarter than the next guy, but still lacking in self confidence, upset at treatment by black girls throughout childhood … probably married to a white woman). HA!!
Is Wesley still in jail, I know I’m digressing but is he?! I’m almost as dark as Wesley Snipes and I’ll tell you one thing…I’ve been privy to seeing more white people get unnerved by my appearance, in my younger years especially, than I would ever see them in the same situation with a lighter skinned black person. Immediate and harsh disapproval at my presence alone has been what I’ve received countless times in my life. The historic racial conditioning we’ve been successfully indoctrinated into here in America is over four hundred years in the making (ever since that first delivery of human cargo from Africa in Jamestown Virginia, ca. 1609).
With a mere 147 years of “freedom” you really can’t be so astounded by the relevance that a Wesley Snipes type could not and would not have been elected when you take those aforementioned numbers into account…I’m Dominican and the colonial mentality is so deep in my family that I completely relate with the brother who spoke about the Louisiana situation, although I was born and raised in NYC.
My parents coming from a Spanish speaking country is one difference, the other more significant one is that in Spanish speaking countries our Afro-Latino brothers and sisters have a much bigger identity crisis among themselves and within their societies (both racially and nationally)! We are the living in the aftermath of the Civil Rights and though things aren’t perfect they are definitely better than they were for all black people in America fifty years, that is a fact! When Haiti successfully ousted the French you see what they did to them economically?! Third poorest country in the world today!!
A national racial consciousness has not been manifested and cultivated into a popular movement to enact and more so enforce governmental change for racial equality in Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic for example. Remember that Trujillo, the most heinous dictators in the Caribbean islands, engaged in racial cleansing. What do you think that conflict with Haiti was about. Terriritory my a*s!!! He was trying to eliminate the existence of dark skinned people in the early twentieth century…so if that isn’t as devilishly imperial as it gets I don’t what is?!!
Awareness of your Afro-centric side and celebrating is not enough!! That goes out to my Cubans who would try to side step the issue with talk of all the people loving that aspect of Cuban society. We crossed that bridge in America before Lincoln even took office. So believe me we are not only teaching ourselves and our white counterparts how to properly deal with cultural racialization, more so than just racism, we’re also serving as global examples…We’ve got a lot on our plates so responsibility is not an option! Excellent question.
If Wesley had been related to the Bushes as President Obama is, he likely would have been the first acknowledged Black president, too.
WOW!
With all the problems and issues that black folks have, you go to print with this foolish blog.
Please stop with trying to rile up black people, and blog about something that will actually help move us along as a people.
These types of articles/blogs are old, tired, and mean absolutely nothing.
You are the one that appears to have a problem.
No way!!
Ed Holmes: Can you please explain to us exactly what we have won? The unemployment rate among young African Americans, is over 50%. We have a President, that can issue executive orders, for every group of people, including illegal immigrants, but can’t do the same to lower the unemployment number among us. We have more police brutality, and racist incidents against us now, than at anytime since the 60′s. We have more Black people incarcerated, than graduates. I could go on and on, but I will await your reply first. Again, tell us exactly what we have won.
Good point!
No, no way. But you also have to keep in mind that he did not win BECAUSE he was a lighter shade of brown but because of his background. The fact that he had a white mother and all the societal connections and benefits from it and the fact that lots of young white folks voted for him helped greatly. AND most importantly the economy crashed under an unpopular Republican. EVEN AFTER ALL OF THIS with an OLD DECREPIT INCOMPETENT WHITE COMPETITOR he still did not win the majority of the white vote!
Yes, it is great we won but it also lots very much like a fluke.
Mahari
“That man is not light skinned. Good lord. He is what we call BROWN SKINNED. In the middle. Not dark, not light.”
Ha.ha. What is Wesley Snipes? Burnt toast? Brown skinned are people who are chocolate colored or mocha-colored and darker as I’ve always heard. Tan, caramel and ivory-colored people and brighter are light skinned. Michelle Obama is brown skinned. The president is definitely light skinned.
Would he have been elected if he looked like Wesley with the same educational and jobs background? I’ve often wondered that myself. I think he would have been. The climate was right, people were sick of Bush (8 years!).
It’s interesting to note that the president’s whiteness has made absolutely no difference to white folks. He is being treated like a n*gg*r straight up. It hasn’t made a difference to the birthers who keep screaming about him being a Kenyan and Malcolm X’s illegitimate son (yep).
I don’t think it figured mightily in terms of him getting elected at all.
Maybe if he looked like Malcolm Gladwell (The Tipping Point author, yes, he is part black) there might be a stronger case. But Obama looks pretty black to me. I know full black folks that look whiter than he does.
President is brown skin and receiving h**l from white and uncle toms. If you are a black or mixed you catch h**l.Why bring that conversation up.?I guess black folks will be voting for Rommey willie lynch you are winning big time.Poor Us!!!!Too bad some black folks didn’t grow up diuring Jim Crow era. That question would not
come out of your mouth.We have been through that.
I THINK IT’S ABOUT CONDITIONING. BLACKS HAVE BEEN CONDITIONED TO FEEL DARK IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND LIGHT IS PREFERRED. WHEN THOSE EUROPEANS ARRIVED HERE, THEY HAD ISSUES WITH LIGHT HAIRED FAMILY MEMBERS VS DARK HAIRED FAMILY MEMBERS. THEY UNFORTUNATELY RAPED AND FORCED AFRICANS OVER HERE, AND MADE LIGHT SKIN OFFSPRING, THEN CONDITIONING WAS INDOCTRINATED. WE ARE STILL CONDITIONED TO BELIEVE THE FAIR ONE IS THE BEST ONE.
IT’ ON AFRICAN-AMERICANS TO STOP THIS SICK THINKING ABOUT EACH ANOTHER. ONCE WE BEGIN, I FEEL CAUCASIANS WILL SEE WE HAVE COHESIVENESS.
WESLEY SNIPES IS A GOOD COMMUNICATOR, BUT PRESIDENT OBAMA IS A GREAT COMMUNICATOR.
YES, OF COURSE WESELY LOOKS LIKE THE ORIGNAL MAN AND JESUS!! dO YOUR RESEARCH OF THE OLDEST REMAINS RECENTLY FOUND IN EASTERN AFRICA AND YOUR BIBLE TELLS YOU WHAT JESUS LOOKS LIKE. DUHHH!!
The simple answer is as plain as the nose on your face….
I don’t know why things get into your head either. You are four years too late. You need to quite. You have gotten so ridiculous of late. I’m out.
Actually Obama with his light skinned privilege had a tough time winning the white house. Black women would not support him because his mother was white. Ironic because black women love light skin men.
As a dark brother with degrees in law and politics, I am discrimated against every day. Black women admire me because of my manner and dress but won’t date me because they don’t want dark babies. My light buddies get women everyday even though they are idiots and uneducated.
Professionally, white men are uncomfortable because I have more education and I am dark.
In politics dark men can be successful. They just have to wait their turn. I did.
Not all Black women want light skinned men. Personally, I prefer a dark skinned man. They look more masculine to me. Just my personal preference. Don’t lump all Black women together like that.
In my opinion color means so much in the world and in the country especially that if Jesus Christ came back with the same hue as Wesley Snipes and did all the miracles that he did in the New Testament he would be crucified once again and even by some so-called Christians just for that fact.
Just like there is “white [skin] privilege” there is also “light skin privilege.” Has been for a long time. Anyone who doesn’t want to acknowledge this is in denial. Why do women and men all over the world bleach their skin? Because they want more advantages, and more privileges, that’s why.
Would Obama have been elected if he looked like Wesley? In my opinion, probably not. So much evil, negativity, and criminality is projected onto “darkness” in Western culture in general, and on black men in particular. Given that, looking like Wesley would put you on the wrong side of the American psyche, scare the h**l out of folks who think this is a “white man’s country”, and basically cost you a whole lot of white votes. Before the conservative right started targeting Muslim terrorists, black men (esp. dark ones) were the quintessential American boogeymen. Who would put the “boogeyman” in the highest office?
(Interestingly, Obama ostensibly shares two attributes of the current, composite boogeyman: he’s black, and according to a right that refuses to let go, he’s also a Muslim. With these two perceived “strikes” against him, his half-white parentage may have helped him a whole lot…in that it made him seem safer or more worthy of trust.) Thanks for asking an interesting question.
WTF are you talking about? Barack Obama, our president, is NOT A MUSLIM. He is a Christian. Stop listening to FOX.
Dr. Watkins,
You ask the question of Oprah & Kim and now you should ask yourself the same question…This question appears desperate and should not be a part of your polling. It is ridiculous…Light skinned, Medium or Dark…what difference does it make??? We are sometimes our own worst enemies concerned about a tone of skin. It does not makes sense and should be stopped. You are far too intelleigent of a man to even introduce this subject…It is ridiculous and should be stopped. It is irritating to say the least.
The President is articulate and cunning, smart and tough, and as his VP said clean! The same can be said for Mr. Snipes. I think he the President was lucky to get elected, I’ll be surprised if he gets re-elected, I think he won 53 to 47% of the popular vote and the electoral college votes will be a very hard fought battle this time around. He now has a record, and as much as we love him and will fortunate or “Un” will vote for him know matter what, he is in trouble. Dr. Boyce, that was a stupid question!
Why do people of color always have to point out the color? People of color are their worse enemy. h**l yes I would have voted for Wesley ….why not you tell me what he lack and I can point out five white men to his one. We have more power than we accept. We give credit when it is not due. Back your own and stand firm and stop the jealous. Every race of people have something of a put down about them. Stop putting down and start putting up…..
Dr. Boyce, you’re getting real petty these days. Porcelain you hit the nail on the head… Articulation, smarts and clean were more important to getting him elected.
Why is this even relevent? The man is @ the end of his first term. Dr. Boyce, you have so much garbage on your site. You might wanna consider a job with the National Enquirer. Some of us have legimate concerns about the Pres. I don’t know if this is one.
Really!! With all the money being thrown behind Romney to get him elected, is this the best scenario that your mind can conjure up? Why do you say that Wesley Snipes is Americas’ worst Ebony nightmare? Wesley Snipes is one of the handsomest men in the movies, and is the persona of masculinity black or white. If he ran for president every black man women and child (over 18) would probably be at the polls voting, and probably more (white people) than your mind can conjure up would be voting for him also.
As for brothers who are as dark as him having to smile to keep a job, I think you are reflecting your insecurities of your blackness. I see many handsome black men in every walk of life who go about their careers with a serious face, and yes they still have their jobs.
My suggestion to you is to use this forum for more serious thought provoking conversations that will help this President, who happens to be black, get re-elected, unless you are one of the people who want to see Romney in the Whitehouse.
Well perhaps he would not get elected looking like Mr. Snipes we will have to settle for him looking more like Malcolm X instead. We just need to get the brother to sport a go tee and glasses can’t ya see it?!
@ Sheila – have you considered becoming independent and working for yourself?
Michelle Obama, a beautiful dark skinned First Lady, is more popular in the polls than her husband, I understand. I don’t give too much thought about what white people think. They just don’t have my attention that much, but it seems some of them may not like any Black person regardless of shade, because that person is Black. I also understand that darker skinned Black people may have a harder time in some instances because this colonial society portrays ‘darkness’ as being something that is bad and criminal…and by doing this, deflecting the attention of ‘criminality being associated with whiteness’. This country was founded on criminality of whites by the genocide of Native Americans, colonization of the land (criminal acts), all of the atrocities associated with slavery and Jim Crow (criminal acts), etc. Don’t let this society define you. Flip the script on them with truth. As far as Wesley, I would rather look at his handsome face anytime than Obamas.
As the ultimate priority, we should be talking about and creating preventative measures that would sheild our children and future generations from social-psychological degredation these color stratifications breed. I’ve heard “children of color” excoriate and berate each other based on skin tones. And I’m certain that they were not born with such prejudicial beliefs. Our children deserve better.
Can we do better?
The answer is, “YES WE CAN” “YES WE CAN” !!!!
SO WATZ NEW ABOUT THIS? JUST THE MERE FACT THAT WE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT THIS IS A SIGN THAT WE STILL HAVE BOUGHT INTO THIS “WHITE ZENOPHOBIA” THANG AND IT CONTINUES TO DIVIDE US TO SOME DEGREE ? DUHHH
If Wesley Snipes had the opportunity to speak at the Democratic National Convention and blow everybody’s pants off like Barack did, then maybe so.
AT least Obama has married a black woman Wesley Snipes doesn’t want his own kind himself.
This is so crazy. Find a way out of poverty and show our people how to grow their own businesses and employ our own people. Such a waste of valuable time and so elementary Watkins. What have you done for society lately. Pray and Vote.
First i have to say that this is a “deep thought” subject matter that should be heeded very closely by each and everyone of us, including our children. That said, I agree with the comment that defines how Europeans in America feel more comfortable when a lighter skinned Black is in their mist and this aspiration, according to my analysis, is “instinctive” because deep in the back of their minds or “subconsciously” they’re aware that they got where they are today through the enslavement of our “ancestors” whom had a darker skin pigmentation or hue, which is what they “fear!” In other words, the darker our skin color causes most of them to be uncomfortable or fearful because it’s a reminder of all of the killings through lynchings, burnings, beatings & other unethical, immoral, wrongful behavior “they” directed towards our “ancestors” during the enslavement process leading to “slavery,” which the former and the latter persisted during the “slavery” time frame & continues on up to this very moment, but through a different method, strategy and technique. In other words, until we become independent and develop our own “system,” controlling our own resources WE can still be deemed as economic/debt “slaves,” and we’ll remain victimized by a “government sponsored holocaust,” it’s just that simple…
Lastly, one of the first things that came to my mind immediately after Barrack Hussein Obama was selected/elected is that if he was Michelle’s complexion he wouldn’t have “never” gotten in… Therefore our situation is very real…
You and I both know that a resounding NO!!!
This question is as good as it is fair, especially for public discourse.
I do think that if Wesley Snipes can speak what is considered standard American English, could write a book as articulate as “The Audacity of Hope”, has had the visibility of being a US Senator, such exposures could get him elected, in tandem with his acting career; and especially when faced with the choice of a John McCain paring up with a Sarah Palin. We should be mindful that this duo have comparatively far less education than the the duo of Obama/Biden. Obama was elected President because of the sheer disgust the American people had with President Bush. This would not had happened for Obama if a Ronald Reagan, paired with any other White man were to be the case.
Most intelligent Whites know that Blacks – regardless of tone or hue – can be as good as they are, if given the opportunity. But for some reason, the oddities associated with colonialism and slavery appear to give Whites the societal advantage of being the vanguard of virtually all races. White people know that. This priviledged position would begin to get some bit of attrition if Obama gets, and completes a second term as POTUS.
Its crazy to even pose this question…what you’re attempting is fricking ridiculous! On one hand there is an arguement about racism and the effects of prejudice when its white vs. black…but its okay to pose the question whether a light black person vs a darker black person would make a difference in winning an election…we all know that it should be based upon which person has the better qualifications and credentials! If we expect other races not to be prejudice, we must first start to respect and embrace our own race…no matter the shade or texture!! Sometimes even “smart” people can be extremely…SIMPLE!!!!
Let me just add this one case and point…Clarence Thomas! That is one very black…non attractive(IMHO), human being that was nominated and confirmed as supreme court justice! He and all of his blackness and dirty laundry, has as long as he wants it…a life long seat as a supreme court justice! All for looks…! Once again, what a fricking ridiculous stir of the in-house racial pot!
Of course not…because if he look like Wesly Snipes…he would have been married to someone who lool more like Maryline Moore or Kimmi Su than Michelle Robinson..”Im just say’n”
more mindless chatter but it does lend a certain insight into the insecurities our culture carries around and pass onto the next generation. once the mind evolves from the simple tribalism, a new discovery will become simple fact; which is you are what you think. those who continue to tread in the messy chaos of tribalism/racism will never be anything more than a second class citizens and more importantly, your adversary will also see you as a “child” too emotional to be respected like an adult.
Dr. Boyce some one must be f*****g youre wife forcing you to have to wack off to come up with such ignorant and sad article
THE MAJORITY OF US DID NOT BELIEVE THAT A LIGHT SKIN
BROTHER COULD BECOME PRESIDENT OF THE U.S,NOW THE
MAJORITY OF US ARE SAYING THAT A DARKSKINNED BROTHER
WOULD NOT,OR CAN NOT BECOME PRESIDENT,WOW,HOW
A LOT OF BLACKS ARE SO RACIST AGAINST ONE ANOTHER.
BARACK GOT CHOSEN BECAUSE HE ARTICULATED THE PRECISE
ISSUES THAT MANY PRESIDENTS WOULD NOT ADDRESSE.
BARACK BROUGHT SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS THROUGH
SPEECH,SO IT WAS NOT ABOUT HIS SKIN COMPLEXION,AND IFIT WAS ABOUT SKIN COMPLEXION WHY WOULD WHITES EVEN
CHOOSE A BLACK PERSON IN THE FIRST PLACE,THEY COULD HAVE CHOSEN THE WHITE COMPLEXION.REMEMBER,NO ONE
WAS SAYING AND QUOTEING WHAT BARACK WAS SAYING.
I HAVE A QUESTION?.DO YOU THINK THAT WHITE PEOPLE
THINK THAT ITALIANS,CHINESE,MEXICANS ARE BETTER THAN
BLACK PEOPLE,WELL THOSE WERE THE CANDIDATES THAT
COMPETED AGAINST BARACK BEFORE HE WAS ELECTED .
IF WESLEY HAD THE EDUCATION LIKE BARACK,AND THE COURAGE TO GOFORWARD TO BECOME THE PRESIDENT OF THE
U.S.,AND WAS SAYING THE SAME THING BARACK WAS SAYING,
YELP HE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.
ONCE AGAIN BARACK WAS CHOSEN FOR BEING ARTICULATE,
VERSATILE,AND KNOWING HOW TO ADDRESSE THE AMERICAN
SITUATION.PLEASE BLACK RACIST,STOP YOUR RACIST RANTS.