Harsh title. I know it. But, it has to be said. I can’t restrain myself any longer. Recent comments have lead me to lose all sense of decorum with my people.
Earlier this week the Gothamist ran a story entitled “Harlem turns on Bill Clinton”, being a political person, being black, and at one point of my NY life residing in Harlem, naturally my curiosity was piqued. Crossing my fingers as I scrolled through the article, I hoped against hope there were no allusions to the “1st Black President” theory that had proliferated throughout his presidency, and became a media staple once again , as Obama established himself as a credible contender for the White House.
The US’s first Black (enough to count) presumptive President has truly inspired some strong antagonism towards President William Jefferson Clinton, especially among Harlemites. Evidently, some of Mr. Clinton’s comments made during the campaign were not well received by pro-Obama Harlemites and the Gothamists quotes someone as responding “You’re part of the family. We bring you in, and then when we turn around, you kind of knifed us in the back.”After reading that I was struck by the absurdity of political fervor. Has anyone been to 125th street in a while? This is not the romantic space that we all imagined it was as youths reading about the Harlem Renaissance. There is so little of everything there, including prestige, and that is what makes this comment so absurd. This speaker is acting as if President Clinton was done a tremendous favor by being “allowed” to place his offices in Harlem. Clinton did a powerful thing for both himself (of course), his wife (to a lesser extent), and for Harlem- he invested prestige into what has become a decimated community.
Despite, what may be commonly believed in real terms, Harlem USA is not the most prestigious, or likely space for a retired president to have his offices. I remain fairly certain that other presidents, or characters of note were not banging down the door in Harlem, investing in that community, in dollars, political exposure (minimally), and media coverage. A former president, with no real connection to NYC to Harlem- chooses 125th street to launch his efforts on combating world poverty, global health initiatives, and other humanitarian efforts from our back door, and yet unsubstantiated attack are fair because now there is a “black” champion.
In all honesty I have no trouble with the criticism of authority, authority figures, or the monied class, but I’d prefer the attacks to be warranted. Why was this commenter so dismayed ? Because of this statement “Jesse Jackson won South Carolina in ‘84 and ‘88,” Clinton said at a rally in Columbia. “Jackson ran a good campaign. And Obama ran a good campaign here.” Why should this tacit acknowledgment of a successful campaign strategy by Obama’s campaign attract such ire?
Are we so afraid of race, and the specter of race that we cannot acknowledge the fact that race/ethnicity played a role in motivation African Americans to vote for Obama that day? As a native South Carolinian, I find the argument totally credible, and to a certain extent admirable. Black America wants a Black president, more than we want a progressive president, more than we want true universal health care, more than we want a president who opposes wireless wire taps and domestic spying, and more than we want a candidate who exhibits loyalty and venerates his elders.
We should celebrate the strength of black voting power in its ability to affect primaries, and hopefully general elections, and not rabidly deny that racial identity had any part to play in that primary, or this election is farcical and dangerous.
Even if we elect Barack on the back of his dubious black credentials, it was an informed decision by Black Americans, who felt that having a Black man as president was the penultimate need of the Black community was the symbolic victory of inclusion then so be it – embrace it, love it, and live with it. In the meantime leave Bill alone – he came to Harlem when few others would, and put a spotlight on a community near and dear to the African American heart and psyche. Let’s not burn bridges over symantic, scorched earth my win a battle in the short term – but is never sustainable for the peace that come next.
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