I have been trying to get to a post that kinda explains why I have not been commenting much on the current Republican race. Unfortunately I have been too busy to complete that post because I delve into some deep stuff that takes too long to explain.
The Race Angle (I’m over it!)
I have been blogging now for over 8 years and I have reached my limit with debating with folks, defending candidates, calling out candidates, dispelling heresy all over race in politics. I have come to the conclusion that all of it is nothing more than a distraction to the issues that matter in the long run. I go to the same Black blogs and the conversations and debates never move beyond race. Politics is a multi-faceted topic, yet the vast majority of our commentaries and rebuttals only hover around one sliver of this vast space.
I can remember back in the day when I lived in the northeast, from time to time I would end up in these useless debates with five percenters over the state of the Black community, the Bible, etc. All of those conversations were just circular and ultimately non-productive. If anything, it was nothing more than an opportunity to impress yourself on how much you thought you knew about everybody and everything. I see the same thing in the Black blogosphere. While we are hotly engaged in race debates on virtual street corners all throughout cyberspace, real money and major decisions are being made throughout DC. Think about it for a moment. How many pieces of legislation can we in the Black blogosphere take credit for helping to initiate? Outside of race-based offenses, what issues have we helped bring to the national stage? Oh sure, some of us have become the official “race man” on panels. But what real change have we brought to this medium? Now I want you to compare that number (so far I am coming up with a big fat “0″) to the amount of politicians, radio and television political commentators we have assassinated with commentaries and comments? Think of all the hours we have collectively spent debating one another. Nothing wrong with debates, but what do have to show for all of this exerted energy?
I remember when a certain group of bloggers were crying about how the White House was not paying attention to them. The White House responded with a field trip where they basically received their marching orders on how to present the president and his agenda. I also remember some time ago the Black press complaining about the same thing. So Obama eventually met with them at a “no media allowed” event.
Black tools (or fools) of the trade
When the DC political system needs to take down one of it’s own, one of the weapons of choice is alleged racism. We backflip, hoot and holla for the opportunity to be used by mainstream media as a weapon against some “evil” politician or public figure. But when the national conversation turns to economics, foreign trade, or diplomatic relations, we are rarely (if at all) called. But we can sho’ tell you how we were offended by some dumb comment. We can also give someone a good tell’n off for talking about our First Lady or our first Black president. Before someone suggests that we are being “shut out” of national conversations on economics, foreign trade, diplomatic relations, etc., I want you to look at some of the most popular and most read blogs in our neck of the woods that WE produce. Big hint: none of them deal with any of these important issues.
As we sit here, millions of dollars are being invested in ideas that both you and I could have developed in our sleep. Start ups are being funded, and dreams are coming true. My son has informed me that he wants to scratch everything off of his Christmas list (I did not know he had one) and get Rosetta Stone so he can learn Mandarin (he is in a robotics class at school, so that would be the right move for him). The world is changing all around us. I do not want to be stuck in a five percenter-type dialoge.
Yeah, whatever
by Duane on November 2nd, 2011 at 7:10 amI have been trying to get to a post that kinda explains why I have not been commenting much on the current Republican race. Unfortunately I have been too busy to complete that post because I delve into some deep stuff that takes too long to explain.
The Race Angle (I’m over it!)
I have been blogging now for over 8 years and I have reached my limit with debating with folks, defending candidates, calling out candidates, dispelling heresy all over race in politics. I have come to the conclusion that all of it is nothing more than a distraction to the issues that matter in the long run. I go to the same Black blogs and the conversations and debates never move beyond race. Politics is a multi-faceted topic, yet the vast majority of our commentaries and rebuttals only hover around one sliver of this vast space.
I can remember back in the day when I lived in the northeast, from time to time I would end up in these useless debates with five percenters over the state of the Black community, the Bible, etc. All of those conversations were just circular and ultimately non-productive. If anything, it was nothing more than an opportunity to impress yourself on how much you thought you knew about everybody and everything. I see the same thing in the Black blogosphere. While we are hotly engaged in race debates on virtual street corners all throughout cyberspace, real money and major decisions are being made throughout DC. Think about it for a moment. How many pieces of legislation can we in the Black blogosphere take credit for helping to initiate? Outside of race-based offenses, what issues have we helped bring to the national stage? Oh sure, some of us have become the official “race man” on panels. But what real change have we brought to this medium? Now I want you to compare that number (so far I am coming up with a big fat “0″) to the amount of politicians, radio and television political commentators we have assassinated with commentaries and comments? Think of all the hours we have collectively spent debating one another. Nothing wrong with debates, but what do have to show for all of this exerted energy?
I remember when a certain group of bloggers were crying about how the White House was not paying attention to them. The White House responded with a field trip where they basically received their marching orders on how to present the president and his agenda. I also remember some time ago the Black press complaining about the same thing. So Obama eventually met with them at a “no media allowed” event.
Black tools (or fools) of the trade
When the DC political system needs to take down one of it’s own, one of the weapons of choice is alleged racism. We backflip, hoot and holla for the opportunity to be used by mainstream media as a weapon against some “evil” politician or public figure. But when the national conversation turns to economics, foreign trade, or diplomatic relations, we are rarely (if at all) called. But we can sho’ tell you how we were offended by some dumb comment. We can also give someone a good tell’n off for talking about our First Lady or our first Black president. Before someone suggests that we are being “shut out” of national conversations on economics, foreign trade, diplomatic relations, etc., I want you to look at some of the most popular and most read blogs in our neck of the woods that WE produce. Big hint: none of them deal with any of these important issues.
As we sit here, millions of dollars are being invested in ideas that both you and I could have developed in our sleep. Start ups are being funded, and dreams are coming true. My son has informed me that he wants to scratch everything off of his Christmas list (I did not know he had one) and get Rosetta Stone so he can learn Mandarin (he is in a robotics class at school, so that would be the right move for him). The world is changing all around us. I do not want to be stuck in a five percenter-type dialoge.