Reply #12: One also has to keep in mind history [View All]

[IndyHatedByBothSides]

1 - For a long time blacks were prohibited from organizing their own social groups, events, organizations, etc. The one exception was church. Thus the church became the center of the African-American community, fulfilling all the other social and political functions as well. Thus the pulpit became the means through which the African-American community addressed controversy.

2 - One of the reasons Obama's race speech was a hit is that he realized the reality with which most of us live. That is, most older folks with racist views are not bad people, they are simply from another era. Thus we're better off embracing them where they are and bringing them along on the issue, then condemning them. It's the carrot and the stick approach. Obama transcends race because he makes older white people feel comfortable about how far we have come on race, before urging them to go a little further.

I can understand exactly how Obama feels. My own grandmother was as WASP as they came, and her views initially reflected the era in which she was raised. My cousin fell in love with and married an African-American. My cousin's spouse is a wonderful addition to our family, and this allowed my grandmother to progress on the issue, because my cousin's spouse put a face on the issue. However, Gramma still makes an uncomfortable remark on occasion. However, these moments are of the "I bought you this outfit dear because I thought it would look nice with your dark colour" variety.

They are not motivated by intentional prejudice, but by Gramma trying to make cousin's spouse feel welcome in the family. Which is why cousin's spouse, who always responds gracefully and takes Gramma for where she is at, is so beloved of the family. I have heard older white voters describe Obama in much the same way.