October 14, 2008 This afternoon when i should have been working, I over heard a conversation between three co-workers - a white guy and two black women. He's working on a story about the upcoming visit of one, Sarah Palelynn, to the area. He, very innocently, asked if he was naive for being surprised at seeing black folks in line for tickets to see the governor. Of course they, being the consummate professionals that they are, gently informed him that all black folks don't vote the same because we're black. One of the the ladies said, "You can't expect 12 million people to all vote for the same candidate because of skin color. I agree.
Also, last week, I saw three black men - two professionals, one student - being interviewed by Rick Sanchez on CNN about why they are voting for Sen. John McCain. Add to that the small cadre of people of color present during the Republican National Convention and I'll say that these ladies are extremely accurate.
Because Sen. Barack Obama, like all of us, has black blood coursing through his veins, race was injected into this presidential race very early on. Sadly, it shows no sign of exiting any time soon.
Since the 1600s when the European settlers made their voyage to the New World, there has always been this misconception that the people with darker skin tones are somehow less intelligent and unworthy of any job that is not strenuous, stressful and pure manual labor.
That could perhaps explain the tendency to enslave and cast off those of the darker hue.
Something that is even funnier to me is immediately after slavery, former slaves actually belonged tt the GOP. It wasn't until after Republicans over threw/cast out/drove away rightfully elected black Republicans that black folks started to vote Democratic. That has since become our country's method of operation.
Because a lot of my counterparts in the media tend to major in the minor, what should be a campaign focused on our country's policies has become a campaign laced with painting the Democratic candidate as a villain.
Now all of a sudden, all black people are voting for Obama because he's black. That is simply a crock. Nobody ever accused white voters of voting for past candidates simply because they're white.
Like always, this election is a matter of choosing the lesser of two evils. They're both politicians and that means there's something wrong with both of them. Obama isn't more evil because he's black. McCain isn't less evil because he's white.
Because the issue of race is hundreds of years old, we would hope that we have moved away from this backwards thinking. We haven't. It's downright pitiful that we all carry the fears and prejudices of our forefathers.
Scientists say that people - all people - are 99.9 percent the same. It's that other .01 percent that gives us our skin, hair and eye color.
When you think about it, why wouldn't we share the same DNA? If you believe in creation, we're all descendants of Adam and Eve. If you believe in evolution, we all descend from the first civilization in Africa. You read it right, Africa!
Sit in on any World Civilization class and you'll learn how there was only once civilization that became many mutated civilizations and tribes over various periods and ages.
Why the history lesson? I'm glad you asked. I feel like if we all know, understand, comprehend and accept where we come from, we can't help but get over the bullshit that is racism. That means the stereotypes, the hatred and the whole process of treating other differently based on their race or skin color.
Can you get over it? I can get over it - I've been over it. Will you join me?
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