One of Britain’s most influential black figures today accused Barack Obama of cynically exploiting America’s racial divide and gave warning that he could prolong, rather than heal the rift.Writing in Prospect, the monthly current affairs magazine, Mr Phillips suggested that guilt over transatlantic slavery was behind Mr Obama’s support from middle class whites.

"If Obama can succeed, then maybe they can imagine that [Martin Luther] King's post-racial nirvana has arrived. A vote for Obama is a pain-free negation of their own racism. So long as they don't have to live next door to him; Obama has yet to win convincingly in white districts adjacent to black communities," he wrote.

Mr Phillips compared Mr Obama to Bill Cosby and Oprah Winfrey, prominent black “bargainers” – those who strike a deal with white America not to make an issue of historical racism if their own race is not used against them.

But, in a warning to the Democratic candidate, he added that Cosby now cut a “sad and lonely figure” because he had abandoned the moral weapon used by figures such as Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X and Jesse Jackson in insisting that “in the end, salvation for blacks won’t depend on the actions of whites.”

"In truth, Obama may be helping to postpone the arrival of a post-racial America and I think he knows it," Mr Phillips wrote. "If he wins, the cynicism may be worth it to him and his party. In the end he is a politician and a very good one: his job is to win elections."

He added: "If he fulfils the hopes of whites, he must disappoint blacks – and vice versa."

He added: "If he fulfils the hopes of whites, he must disappoint blacks – and vice versa."

4 Play:


The message not the messenger,please.

Something terrible is wrong with you as a blackman if you can't see this (Obama as USA president) as a great accomplishment in Black world.

bawomolo:

what happens if obama makes a bad president, are u honestly putting your livelihood in the hands of a man just because of his race.

what happens if obama makes a bad president, are u honestly putting your livelihood in the hands of a man just because of his race.

bawomolo:

what happens if obama makes a bad president, are u honestly putting your livelihood in the hands of a man just because of his race.

Big B1:

First, McKren: You're absolutely on point!

There are 2 types of black folks:
1. We have the passive ones that give white folks opportunity to judge them equally as white. This type of black are mostly successful in general. They do not react to racism only if there is a clear reason.
White folks are also very comfortable around this type of black folks, while some black folks see them as uncle Thomas.
Examples: Oprah, Bill Cosby, Morgan Freedman, Bob Johnson, OJ, Obama, Big B1 etc.

2. We also have the challengers that automatically think all white folks are racist. They challenge white folks to first prove themselves as not being racist before accepting them. This group of black folks tend to struggle through out their lives. They are very strong and generally identified as fighters.
They mostly make white folks to feel very white and uncomfortable. They also judge passive black folks as sell-out.
Some of them get very sick when things are coming together positively between white and black societies; and pretty much prefer things to be divided into 2 (white and black). It is also OK to call this group DRAMA KINGS
Examples: Al sharpton, Farrakhan, Tavis Smileys, Spike Lee, Jessie Jackson, Mamajama etc.

Furthermore, both groups are cool; infact, it is very important and healthy to have both groups around at the same time. It balances the equation and keeps things going in United States (it keeps whiteman on his toes)

Finally, there is absolutely nothing better than witnessing Obama as the next president of United States. This accomplishment would drastically change things for better for black all around the world.
Something terrible is wrong with you as a blackman if you can't see this (Obama as USA president) as a great accomplishment in Black world.

Thinking negatively and speculating a failure of a blackman is a pure slave mentality (and this is the type of thinking that is systematically designed for us).

The !%$&*#@%^&$ currently in the White House has redefined whatever definition you may have for "bad". Obama, no matter how hard he tries, will not be a "bad" president.

bawomolo:

there are HS students that are smarter than george bush, but that doesn't mean i want an HS student to be president. george bush shouldn't be a yardstick for judging statesmen. have u looked at obama's voting record in congress for once. the man claims to be against the war but has supported war funding by voting yes.

bawomolo:

Because he did not right-wing goons to accuse him of "not giving the troops what they need". George Bush is using those sentiments to fund a war designed to enrich his friends in the oil and defense industry.
stop spreading lies, obama voted yes for the iraqi funding bill.

RichyBlacK:

Because he did not right-wing goons to accuse him of "not giving the troops what they need". George Bush is using those sentiments to fund a war designed to enrich his friends in the oil and defense industry.

bawomolo:

what happens if obama makes a bad president, are u honestly putting your livelihood in the hands of a man just because of his race.

@Big B1,
What do you mean by the statement in bold? Are you trying to surreptitiously convey the idea that those in group 1 are generally more wealthy than those in group 2 - black folks just struggling to make ends meet? Are you tacitly implying that the "ass kissers" are more upwardly mobile due to their skill in kissing the white man's ass? Are you in essence alluding to view that those who make the white man uncomfortable are sentenced to a life of perpetual "struggle"? Please make your point clearer!

If he had voted no for the funding it will be used against him now.

This is also why Kobe (passive black) is treated differently from Allan Iverson, (a challenger)

Big B1:

@RichyBlack:
Simple:
Let's take spike Lee (actor) and Morgan Freeman (actor) for example. The repercussion of Spike Lee having disagreement with a security agent at the JFK airport is different from the repercussion of Morgan Freeman doing the same.

Why:
There is a premeditated judgement that is automatically and mentally designed for the challengers (Spike Lee), while the passive group (Morgan Freeman) is treated differently by getting benefit of doubt in most cases.

FYI: you could be wealthy, but still struggle mentally and sometimes physically for many years; therefore, wealth has nothing to do with this issue.
This is also why Kobe (passive black) is treated differently from Allan Iverson, (a challenger).
Money is good, but not everything in my book!

Big B1:

First, McKren: You're absolutely on point!

There are 2 types of black folks:
1. We have the passive ones that give white folks opportunity to judge them equally as white. This type of black are mostly successful in general. They do not react to racism only if there is a clear reason.
White folks are also very comfortable around this type of black folks, while some black folks see them as uncle Thomas.
Examples: Oprah, Bill Cosby, Morgan Freedman, Bob Johnson, OJ, Obama, Big B1 etc.

2. We also have the challengers that automatically think all white folks are racist. They challenge white folks to first prove themselves as not being racist before accepting them. This group of black folks tend to struggle through out their lives. They are very strong and generally identified as fighters.
They mostly make white folks to feel very white and uncomfortable. They also judge passive black folks as sell-out.
Some of them get very sick when things are coming together positively between white and black societies; and pretty much prefer things to be divided into 2 (white and black). It is also OK to call this group DRAMA KINGS
Examples: Al sharpton, Farrakhan, Tavis Smileys, Spike Lee, Jessie Jackson, Mamajama etc.

Furthermore, both groups are cool; infact, it is very important and healthy to have both groups around at the same time. It balances the equation and keeps things going in United States (it keeps whiteman on his toes)

Finally, there is absolutely nothing better than witnessing Obama as the next president of United States. This accomplishment would drastically change things for better for black all around the world.
Something terrible is wrong with you as a blackman if you can't see this (Obama as USA president) as a great accomplishment in Black world.

Quote
If he had voted no for the funding it will be used against him now.

in other words, obama is more concerned about his political future than sticking to his message?? all rhetoric as i guessed. u can't be all anti-war then vote for a war funding bill. hypocrite.

Quote
what happens if obama makes a bad president, are u honestly putting your livelihood in the hands of a man just because of his race.

Obama is not going to be a bad president.
Thinking negatively and speculating a failure of a blackman is a pure slave mentality (and this is the type of thinking that is systematically designed for us).
There is nothing that is promised in life; hence, we must learn how to take chances, think positively and always hope for the best.

Kobojunkie:

How do you know he is not going to be a bad president?? What is to say a black man will succeed as president for the mere reason that he is black? I believe Bawomolo's question is actually a good one but your answer does not address the question posed at all.

The question we should all be asking is: how can we (black people) help Obama to become the next president or how can we (black people) help Obama to become the greatest president ever!