Black-by-Proxy vs. Black-for-Real

[EffieBlack]

For several campaign cycles, white presidential candidates have "reached out" to the black community in a number of ways. They hire consultants to poll how they fare among black voters and then hire other consultants to help them make inroads into the black community. They give speeches about civil rights. They talk about how much they love Martin Luther King. They make sure that there are plenty of black people in their photo ops. They relate stories about how they have come to terms with race in America.

One of the most popular methods for appealing to black voters - and to white voters they think will be favorably impressed with their progressive views on race - is to attract high profile black people to endorse them and move about with them so that they can show how tight and comfortable they are with people who look like the voters they are trying to woo.

So, then, why is it so alarming, why is it "playing the race card", for a black candidate to suggest that black voters take their race into account when making their decision about whom to support?

If it's ok for a white candidate to tacitly invite black voters to take into account the race of some of their high profile supporters, why is it wrong for a black candidate to invite black voters to take the candidate's race into account?

Why is it acceptable to use race "by proxy" yet unacceptable for a candidate who doesn't need to put a black person next to them to show how "down with the brothers" they are because they ARE a brother?

[EffieBlack]

1. self-serving kick

[Bullet1987]

2. "All the world's a stage...and we are merely players." - Shakespeare

I think there's definently a double-standard that needs to be addressed after this campaign season is over. Obama practically can't say the word Black without people, even on this board, becoming offended and comparing him to Al Sharpton. Yet, Hillary Clinton can play up her Gender as much as she wants. I honestly believe White people are afraid of Blacks becoming too vocal. But that's more of a social discussion.