Comments on: Ask Ed & Sugar: Got A Negro Republicans Play Racial Roulette http://afrostoshelltoes.com/word/2009/02/02/ask-ed-sugar-got-a-negro-republicans-play-racial-roulette/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:02:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Adilah Muhammad http://afrostoshelltoes.com/word/2009/02/02/ask-ed-sugar-got-a-negro-republicans-play-racial-roulette/comment-page-1/#comment-226 Adilah Muhammad Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:22:43 +0000 http://afrostoshelltoes.com/word/?p=1444#comment-226 The major underlying issue in the GOP nomination of Steele is a part of a much broader problem- the use of race as strategy. Albeit strange to see the use of race as strategy on a national scale, it's far from uncommon in everyday institutions especially those of higher learning. We see this in the recruitment of more minority professors and admissions officers to help receruit more minority students and in turn provide them a more comfortable living and learning environment. We see it in the private sector with the recruitment of more professional minorities to provide a means for better understanding the product/service needs of certain ethnic groups, etc. This type of use of race as strategy is not wholly new. The difference however is that this form of race as strategy is reciprical and born out of a demonstrated necessity. However, what the GOP has done is taken its strategic race manuevering to a different level- one that is not an effort to better serve its exisiting constituencies but as Garnes puts it to "seize Obama's power base". It's akin to a predominantly white university (or company) only resorting to recruitment of minorities when it realizes its enrollment is down and the competition is strong with diverse recruits. It's disingenuine. You've seen the lone minority recruiter at the table as if he/she is representative of the bunch. It feels downright patronizing. I don't know about you, but I feel a lot more comfortable when approached by non- blacks who get it or want to get than a black that thinks he/she already has. The GOP already blew their strategy when they pulled Bobby Jindle, Governor of Louisina from there back pockets as if to say "Look. We're not racist. We've got young colored friends too." Since then they're back pocket strategy has taken off and is certain to lead to the creation of their own magic dragons. If the GOP wants to succeed in recruitting blacks and other minorities, it's going to have to give us a sense that the folks in the breakroom are speaking our languange and not just offering us a seat. I'm sure that Steele may be more than amply qualified for the job, but I have been wandering what the folks really say when he gets up from the table. We'll see. The major underlying issue in the GOP nomination of Steele is a part of a much broader problem- the use of race as strategy. Albeit strange to see the use of race as strategy on a national scale, it’s far from uncommon in everyday institutions especially those of higher learning. We see this in the recruitment of more minority professors and admissions officers to help receruit more minority students and in turn provide them a more comfortable living and learning environment. We see it in the private sector with the recruitment of more professional minorities to provide a means for better understanding the product/service needs of certain ethnic groups, etc. This type of use of race as strategy is not wholly new. The difference however is that this form of race as strategy is reciprical and born out of a demonstrated necessity.

However, what the GOP has done is taken its strategic race manuevering to a different level- one that is not an effort to better serve its exisiting constituencies but as Garnes puts it to “seize Obama’s power base”. It’s akin to a predominantly white university (or company) only resorting to recruitment of minorities when it realizes its enrollment is down and the competition is strong with diverse recruits. It’s disingenuine. You’ve seen the lone minority recruiter at the table as if he/she is representative of the bunch. It feels downright patronizing. I don’t know about you, but I feel a lot more comfortable when approached by non- blacks who get it or want to get than a black that thinks he/she already has.

The GOP already blew their strategy when they pulled Bobby Jindle, Governor of Louisina from there back pockets as if to say “Look. We’re not racist. We’ve got young colored friends too.” Since then they’re back pocket strategy has taken off and is certain to lead to the creation of their own magic dragons.

If the GOP wants to succeed in recruitting blacks and other minorities, it’s going to have to give us a sense that the folks in the breakroom are speaking our languange and not just offering us a seat. I’m sure that Steele may be more than amply qualified for the job, but I have been wandering what the folks really say when he gets up from the table. We’ll see.

]]> By: Fahamu Pecou http://afrostoshelltoes.com/word/2009/02/02/ask-ed-sugar-got-a-negro-republicans-play-racial-roulette/comment-page-1/#comment-223 Fahamu Pecou Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:48:14 +0000 http://afrostoshelltoes.com/word/?p=1444#comment-223 A new era of politically aware, socially responsible and financially diligent American emerges from the ash of the melee of government catastrophes of recent history. The media and its pundits have yet to correctly cite the source of Obama's strength... its not that he is a cool black guy, has a pretty hot wife, smokes KOOLs, has a Blackberry or any of the ancillary hype that an out-of-touch media has tried to project. But rather that through his own honesty, confidence and compassion, Obama has awakened a sleeping beast; our consciousness. A consciousness has been stirred by his conviction and humanity. This consciousness had been lulled over decades of bullshit spouted at us by politicians, news anchors, magazines, televisions, radios and the like. This latest move on the behalf of the RNC represents that they still don't get it. The potential of our collective efforts and individual rationalizing has been revealed to us. We see ourselves, and in such, we see our power. Let these morons who have for years folded themselves into these self-appointed positions of superiority continue to strain until they find their heads inside their own asses... While the rest of us sleeping giants stir and move and make great this world... In the words of Marcus Garvey "Liberate the minds of men and ultimately you will liberate the bodies of men.". A new era of politically aware, socially responsible and financially diligent American emerges from the ash of the melee of government catastrophes of recent history. The media and its pundits have yet to correctly cite the source of Obama’s strength… its not that he is a cool black guy, has a pretty hot wife, smokes KOOLs, has a Blackberry or any of the ancillary hype that an out-of-touch media has tried to project. But rather that through his own honesty, confidence and compassion, Obama has awakened a sleeping beast; our consciousness. A consciousness has been stirred by his conviction and humanity. This consciousness had been lulled over decades of bullshit spouted at us by politicians, news anchors, magazines, televisions, radios and the like. This latest move on the behalf of the RNC represents that they still don’t get it. The potential of our collective efforts and individual rationalizing has been revealed to us. We see ourselves, and in such, we see our power. Let these morons who have for years folded themselves into these self-appointed positions of superiority continue to strain until they find their heads inside their own asses… While the rest of us sleeping giants stir and move and make great this world… In the words of Marcus Garvey “Liberate the minds of men and ultimately you will liberate the bodies of men.”.

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