Reply #32: If people don't think some Obama supporters are pitting blacks against blacks

[Chovexani]

They aren't paying attention. Before the Borg contingent gets up in arms, note that I said SOME.

I've seen it with my own eyes and been a victim of it, from friends and family and people I respect. I didn't even say I was supporting Clinton (I didn't up until very recently, I was and am a Kucinich supporter). Just me saying "I can't support Obama because there are things about his campaign that trouble me" was enough to get me called Uncle Tom, Condi and every name but a child of God from black Obama supporters. I have had people I've loved and respected for years tell me only "self-hating house niggers" would vote for Clinton. I have heard black folks who are loyal progressive Democrats start parroting Coulterian memes about the Clintons. And if you think this is isolated, again you are not paying attention. Members of the CBC have been targets for this hate. Good men and women who have fought hard for civil rights, marched and put their lives and careers on the line for us. It doesn't matter who you support, there is a basic disrespect at work. All the women in my family (and my family is mostly women, I like to call us a tribe of Amazons) are Clinton supporters and have been targets of this, from friends and co-workers.

The irony is, when the race first started and Obama was being attacked over "not being black enough" and having to prove his street cred on black issues I defended the hell out of him. It was ridiculous then and it's ridiculous now. I'm sensitive to that kind of BS because I've faced it my whole life (please read my "Acting White" thread in the African-American group). I thought it was disgraceful the way he was being attacked. Now, months later the shoe is on the other foot. It's disgusting.

Something is going on in the black community and I'm scared this campaign has done a lot to tear it apart. I just hope when everything is said and done that we can come together and mend fences. I don't have very much hope, though.