Yes, I watched as much of his farewell speech as I could stand, which wasn't much. He wasn't saying anything he hasn't said over and over before, but when emotion is the driving force from which we view these types of things, its easier to hear it differently each time. And, I get where the sentimentality comes from, even from many so-called radicals and even some who claim to be revolutinoaries. I get it. I am an African in the U.S. And I'm an African who is very much aware of the degree to which white supremacy has framed this world. So, I'm not beyond being able to understand how a people who have been downtrodden, oppressed, and spat upon for centuries could find inspiration in a man, a family, that looks like them. That walks like them. That talks like them and that, at least on the surface level, even appears to sometimes be treated like them. I understand the desire to defend Obama from the legitimately racist attacks that have been aimed against him for the last eight years. The birther movement and all the manifestations of it, including the non-stop mocking of Michelle Obama in this society's continued outward contempt for African woman. I'm African too so I feel all of that, much deeper than most of you who think you are feeling it. Still, there's something very wrong with viewing Obama through any type of sentimental view and that's the part that prevents me from being able to do it. And this is connected to the fact that despite the feeling that he is experiencing the same types of things that all of us experience, which is a major reason why so many of you believe you relate better to him than previous presidents, I know that he really isn't. And, that's the part that gets smothered beneath all this talk about symbolism and what our children see in him, Michelle, Malia, Sasha, etc.
For example, one of the things that perplexes me, particularly about all the so-called "Black Nationalists" and race people within the African community is how so many of those folks who project to abhor anything that is even seminally connected to anything European, often have absolutely no interest in Africa at all. This is interesting to me because it just seems logical that if you wanted the opposite of everything European, Africa would be the natural place for you to focus. I mean, Africa is the Black manufacturing facility in the world. Everything Black comes through Africa, yet these folks often have little interest in anything African. And that same contradiction is at work as it relates to Obama concerning this so-called symbolism argument. What I'm saying is if African people in the U.S. really want symbols to bring them pride in ourselves as a people, wouldn't Africa be the logical place to look for that? There have been African presidents in Africa since the 50s. There are African, or Black societies in Africa. There is a history that extends back thousands of years. The world's first known university is in West Africa. All of the worlds major religions e.g. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, all benefitted from major contributions from Africa while having virtually no experiences in Europe at all. Africa has thousands of languages and outstanding food and art, yet, most of these African folks never even look towards Africa. It would seem that if you really wanted something to enrich your children, that would be the first place you would look. Of course, the reason why people aren't looking to Africa is because in today's dominant capitalist world vision, Africa is a loser and the U.S. is the winner. This explains why Obama, and not Africa, represents the symbol these people want because Obama won the high seat in the winner circle. And, in our sick, oppressed, and colonized mindset, there is no higher seat than the seat at the master's table. So, whether we recognize it consciously or not, I'm arguing that the fascination with Obama and the symbolization he represents is tied up into our secret desire to pass inspection from capitalist America. To finally have a seat at that master's table. Obama's victory suggested to everyone that this is possible and that's really the symbolization that people are looking for. And, after hundreds of years of being denied that seat, this is totally understanable, but that doesn't make it any less despicable.
The greater problem is that our emotional perspective on the Obamas has made it difficult for us to see the true legacy of his presidency. We are not willing to address the cold reality that all of the major obstacles to our health, safety, and ability to live such as the prison industrial complex, the military industrial complex, state sponsored terror against African people, and the miseducation of our young people, have worsened under Obama's tenure. In fact, all of these crippling systems have tightened their grip against our people under his watch. Internationally, Obama has overseen the largest proliferation of a U.S. military presence in Africa in history - approaching 100 U.S. military installations in Africa. And all this manifestation has done is turn Eastern Africa, particuarly Somalia, into chaos while Africa's shining light - the Libyan Jamihiriya - was blown into oblivion by Obama, taking with it their outstanding Sahara desert potable water facility that was supplying quality water to millions of people. So much for an African supporting African self-determination. Obama's strong support for the imperialist policies of the International Monetary Fund ushered in the elimination of social services throughout the continent which paved the way for ISIS inspired groups like al Shabad and Boko Haram to step in and attempt to fill in those gaps in dysfunctional ways. Under this landscape, Michelle Obama holding that stupid sign about "bringing our girls back" was absurd considering her husband's adminstration, with its bombing of Libya and its accerated drone strike programs, killed more African and Arab children than Boko Haram could manage in the next 20 years.
When the dust settles and the sentimentality wears off, what we will have left is a sobering reality where Africa and African people have been pushed back by the Obama administration. And what we have to show for all that suffering is him leaving us by saying we need to understand each other. Tell me one time in history where African people haven't understood our European family? We have spent centuries raising their children, cleaning their homes, carrying their luggage, entertaining them, watching their culture thrive, and learning their version of history and the world. When is it again where we haven't understood them? We have spent centuries being nothing except patient with them. While the majority of them couldn't tell you the slightest piece of information about us that isn't tainted by dysfunctional stereotypes, we can tell you everything about European people because our existence in this society has always been about knowing and understanding European people. Our survival here depends upon it. So, for him to say that last night is typical of the sham he has been running for eight years. And, the fact many of you who support him will explain it away, as you explain away all of the work he has done to advance imperialism, is testiment to just how bambozzled we allow ourselves to be. You people are willing to pay an extremely high price for this feel good symbolization you keep talking about.
Obama gets no pass on any level. He is/was president of the U.S. That means his primary job is to advance capitalism, imperialism, and white supremacy. To advance patriarchy. He gets a shining grade in all those areas. And none of the fantasy symbolism or pride you think you feel from his presence (and his rise to the throne of imperialism) can change that. And for you so-called radical people, for you to entertain any level of that at all only makes room for a subtle justification of his existence which is exactly what imperialism depends on you to do. I'm a rebellious slave. I don't want to aspire to be in the master's house. I want to burn it down. Can you imagine Nat Turner talking about how he identified with his slave master on some level? That he was inspired by him on some level? As Malcolm X told us 50 years ago, we really need our head's examined.
Even al-Queada apparently had a better understanding of our people than many of us do. They issued a statement a few months after Obama's first election that said "Barack Obama isn't the correct manifestion of what a man of African descent should be in the U.S. Malcolm X was that man." Its sad that al-Quaeda is apparently able to have a more sober and legitimate view of our people's conditions than many of us. You keep searching for that feel good spot and symbolization. While you do that, I'm looking for the kerosene.
For example, one of the things that perplexes me, particularly about all the so-called "Black Nationalists" and race people within the African community is how so many of those folks who project to abhor anything that is even seminally connected to anything European, often have absolutely no interest in Africa at all. This is interesting to me because it just seems logical that if you wanted the opposite of everything European, Africa would be the natural place for you to focus. I mean, Africa is the Black manufacturing facility in the world. Everything Black comes through Africa, yet these folks often have little interest in anything African. And that same contradiction is at work as it relates to Obama concerning this so-called symbolism argument. What I'm saying is if African people in the U.S. really want symbols to bring them pride in ourselves as a people, wouldn't Africa be the logical place to look for that? There have been African presidents in Africa since the 50s. There are African, or Black societies in Africa. There is a history that extends back thousands of years. The world's first known university is in West Africa. All of the worlds major religions e.g. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, all benefitted from major contributions from Africa while having virtually no experiences in Europe at all. Africa has thousands of languages and outstanding food and art, yet, most of these African folks never even look towards Africa. It would seem that if you really wanted something to enrich your children, that would be the first place you would look. Of course, the reason why people aren't looking to Africa is because in today's dominant capitalist world vision, Africa is a loser and the U.S. is the winner. This explains why Obama, and not Africa, represents the symbol these people want because Obama won the high seat in the winner circle. And, in our sick, oppressed, and colonized mindset, there is no higher seat than the seat at the master's table. So, whether we recognize it consciously or not, I'm arguing that the fascination with Obama and the symbolization he represents is tied up into our secret desire to pass inspection from capitalist America. To finally have a seat at that master's table. Obama's victory suggested to everyone that this is possible and that's really the symbolization that people are looking for. And, after hundreds of years of being denied that seat, this is totally understanable, but that doesn't make it any less despicable.
The greater problem is that our emotional perspective on the Obamas has made it difficult for us to see the true legacy of his presidency. We are not willing to address the cold reality that all of the major obstacles to our health, safety, and ability to live such as the prison industrial complex, the military industrial complex, state sponsored terror against African people, and the miseducation of our young people, have worsened under Obama's tenure. In fact, all of these crippling systems have tightened their grip against our people under his watch. Internationally, Obama has overseen the largest proliferation of a U.S. military presence in Africa in history - approaching 100 U.S. military installations in Africa. And all this manifestation has done is turn Eastern Africa, particuarly Somalia, into chaos while Africa's shining light - the Libyan Jamihiriya - was blown into oblivion by Obama, taking with it their outstanding Sahara desert potable water facility that was supplying quality water to millions of people. So much for an African supporting African self-determination. Obama's strong support for the imperialist policies of the International Monetary Fund ushered in the elimination of social services throughout the continent which paved the way for ISIS inspired groups like al Shabad and Boko Haram to step in and attempt to fill in those gaps in dysfunctional ways. Under this landscape, Michelle Obama holding that stupid sign about "bringing our girls back" was absurd considering her husband's adminstration, with its bombing of Libya and its accerated drone strike programs, killed more African and Arab children than Boko Haram could manage in the next 20 years.
When the dust settles and the sentimentality wears off, what we will have left is a sobering reality where Africa and African people have been pushed back by the Obama administration. And what we have to show for all that suffering is him leaving us by saying we need to understand each other. Tell me one time in history where African people haven't understood our European family? We have spent centuries raising their children, cleaning their homes, carrying their luggage, entertaining them, watching their culture thrive, and learning their version of history and the world. When is it again where we haven't understood them? We have spent centuries being nothing except patient with them. While the majority of them couldn't tell you the slightest piece of information about us that isn't tainted by dysfunctional stereotypes, we can tell you everything about European people because our existence in this society has always been about knowing and understanding European people. Our survival here depends upon it. So, for him to say that last night is typical of the sham he has been running for eight years. And, the fact many of you who support him will explain it away, as you explain away all of the work he has done to advance imperialism, is testiment to just how bambozzled we allow ourselves to be. You people are willing to pay an extremely high price for this feel good symbolization you keep talking about.
Obama gets no pass on any level. He is/was president of the U.S. That means his primary job is to advance capitalism, imperialism, and white supremacy. To advance patriarchy. He gets a shining grade in all those areas. And none of the fantasy symbolism or pride you think you feel from his presence (and his rise to the throne of imperialism) can change that. And for you so-called radical people, for you to entertain any level of that at all only makes room for a subtle justification of his existence which is exactly what imperialism depends on you to do. I'm a rebellious slave. I don't want to aspire to be in the master's house. I want to burn it down. Can you imagine Nat Turner talking about how he identified with his slave master on some level? That he was inspired by him on some level? As Malcolm X told us 50 years ago, we really need our head's examined.
Even al-Queada apparently had a better understanding of our people than many of us do. They issued a statement a few months after Obama's first election that said "Barack Obama isn't the correct manifestion of what a man of African descent should be in the U.S. Malcolm X was that man." Its sad that al-Quaeda is apparently able to have a more sober and legitimate view of our people's conditions than many of us. You keep searching for that feel good spot and symbolization. While you do that, I'm looking for the kerosene.
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