Condoleeza, et al, role models?

[msgadget]

I found this blog via a post regarding his premier entry, Bringing Down the Hope: Condoleezza Rice, Black Capitalism and War, which can be found here, http://bringingdownhope.blogspot.com/">Bringing Down the Hope. The DU discussion is here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x91895

The author has very adeptly detailed the folly of falling for the diversity of the current administration's cabinets. For some reason, the participants in the thread referenced above didn't take the time to read this lengthy treatment all the way to its end but I urge all of you to do so.

Here's a teaser clip:

>If you’d never seen a photograph or watched her on television, her first name alone might reveal to you who she was. Condoleezza Rice is an American black woman.

Which is the reason why the racism that she represents is so elusive, and that much more maddening. There is no question that Dr. Rice’s achievements will be marked in the annals of black capitalism as a triumph. She is a talented woman, a successful business person, a military hawk; dedicated and fiercely loyal to her country and her president. She represents American progress, and specifically black American progress. Yet something is painfully, deeply wrong. <

Let's discuss this because, as you should know, its s my all time favorite gripe! :mad:

[ecstatic]

1. I'm going to go out on a limb here

I hate everything she stands for and I hate the fact that she works for Bush--BUT she is a role model in a sense. A little black girl or boy learning history in class will note that we have had a black Secretary of State and a black National Security Advisor. Really, it's not about Condi or Colin, it's about the symbolism. Kids really do need to see people who look like them doing well, otherwise it's easy to take on the attitude of <fill in blank> being "a white thing."

[msgadget]

2. I grant them their due as 'firsts'

but cannot accept them as role models. Fortunately, there are other blacks to hold up as role models without falling into the trap the GOP laid with these two accomplished figures. And, unless our veep's wife succeeds in having all the history books rewritten, I'm sure their names will also have astericks beside them.