“It’s Time for a Black President”
October 21, 2008 7 Comments
“It’s time for a black President.” You’ve heard it and I’ve heard. But what could possibly be a good argument for this claim?
No, I’m not a racist for asking the question. I believe it will be time for a black President when the best candidate for the office happens to be black; but it won’t be because he or she is black.
So, can somebody explain why being black is a qualifying credential for being President?
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What say you?
About Doug Geivett
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Hi Rich,
Just take every opportunity to encourage your precious students to think about what they say. Invite them to give their reasons. And follow up with more questions.
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Yeah, sighhhhh…I hear this sort of stuff lots with the school kids I teach. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, it being a public school and all, but it is annoying. They also come up with the strangest reasons for thinking McCain is racist.
I’ve been thinking about ways I can challenge them that will be succinct and that they can understand. The only things I’ve come up with have been way too verbose, so thanks for your questions: they boil it down and put it in a way I can’t. In fact, I’m slapping myself for your post’s simplicity–Sometimes we miss the most basic questions (“If it was a snake, it’dhave bit ya.”)
RB
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Thanks, Credo. I’m happy to see you’ve popped in on this discussion!
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I agree Dr. Geivett. Kudos.
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Hi Bill,
You raise a good question. I’ve always thought that affirmative action was actually patronizing. How would you like to pursue your education or career, haunted by the suspicion that the primary reason why you got the opportunity you did was your ethnicity, and not your qualifications? These thoughts are encouraged by affirmative action, and they subvert the self-confidence of minorities who are hired for their excellence.
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I am curious whether a black president, along with the multitudes of blacks now working as high-ranking military officers, military generals, CEOs, Presidents of major corporations, Hollywood directors/producers, professors, doctors, lawyers, professional athletes, etc. may finally bring an end to the unfair practices associated with affirmative action and university scholarships associated with ethnicity.
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Sounds like the same kind of logic that prompted Virginia to apologize for slavery.
With all due recognition to the inhumanity of that institution and the longstanding hardships for African Americans, an apology is not going to make much of a difference. If having a black president is supposed to show that America has risen above its past, perhaps it will make a difference – but not the one we expected.
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