I have noticed that many African Americans use racial terms to mask
class differences and educational differences. So when I hear one
Black person maligning the other as "not really Black" or "Oreo" or
some such term, I look at the class differences, the linguistic
differences, the ethnic origins of the people involved, the
educational differences, and finally (being female) take into account
good, old fashioned jealousy and envy. Much of the internecine
battles at WBAI, I believe, were based on class differences, which
got expressed in terms of color but, considering the sources of the
abusive terms, were really exhibitions of simple envy, class hatred,
and ultimately power relationships. And then there is what Armand
DeMele calls "wealthism" (coined on the model of sexism and racism),
the hatred and jealousy of people with wealth. Examine the "he's not
one of us" remarks aimed at Bill Cosby, Barack Obama, Cory Booker,
and so on - all of the above seem to apply. I suspect that people of
every ethnic group can look at the class differences within their own
ethnicity and see a parallel phenomenon. Most groups have slang
terms for people who have risen above the ordinary achievement level
of their group, and I'm sure we can all recite some of them. So what
else is new?
Carolyn
At 4:40 PM -0500 2/18/08, Robert Knight wrote:
First of all, I did not "misquote" you.
In the English language, ellipses are used to indicate the omission
of a word or phrase (three periods ...), or a sequence including a
full sentence (four periods ....). If you actually read my citation
of your claims, you will find the elisions accurately reflected your
odd and antagonistic statement.
Second, I omitted Mr. Obama's well-known "African" (actually,
Kenyan) roots in order to draw attention to your curious,
unsubstantiated and possibly erroneous claims of his "Caribbean" and
"South American" heritage.
Please, Mr. Doe, give us proof of your claims of Mr. Obama's
1. "Caribbean" roots; and
2. "South American" roots.
Please explain these unsubstantiated claims!
Furthermore, I am troubled by your invidious characterization of Mr.
Obama as an "Oreo cookie." What wisdom gives you the insight to so
malign a black man of considerable accomplishment with such a racist
term as "Oreo" -- which presumes that black success is necessarily
white behavior?
What makes you wiser than the overwhelming (and sometimes nearly
unanimous) approval for his candidacy by black voters across the
country? They clearly do not consider Mr. Obama to be an "Oreo" or
"Uncle Tom," or whatever else your enlightened, antagonistic wisdom
may consider him to be.
-RK
__.