Barack and the field Negroes.

I recently read an interesting article from Seke Ballard about Barack Obama, and he had this among other things to say:

"In the Presidential race the Democratic front-runner is a charismatic, bright and well-achieved man who has garnered the tacit support of arguably the most intelligent publication in all of Europe, The Economist, and a substantial number of American voters. Oddly enough, black Americans don’t fall into the mass of supporters itching to cast their ballots for Barack Obama. The most obvious question is why? And, however unfortunate, the most obvious answer is because of the oft-referenced ‘crab mentality’ of blacks. A credible theory that explains crab mentality among blacks points to the division of work during slavery. Generally stated, there was a strong positive correlation between how light a slave was and the likelihood that they would work in the house as maids, butlers and/or cooks - instead of being in the field with darker slaves. Typically, those who worked closer to the owners in the home were privy to better food, clothing, shelter and overall treatment. For this reason, domesticated slaves were often more accommodating to whites and accepting of their subordinate status as blacks in society. The result was a mixture of jealousy and hatred of the so-called "house Negroes" by the so-called 'field Negroes.' "

Seke, you are wrong. The field Negro is not a "crab," and he only envied the house Negro's position because of the physical comfort it brought him. For instance, while his ass was in the house with all its comforts, and the assuage that comes with it; the poor field Negro was out in the fields working his ass off in the burning sun and living in constant pain from either being whipped, or from the pain that hard work brings. There was no envy of the house Negro's looks or his smarts (Although house Negroes today would have you believe that there is). And the field Negro did not envy the house Negro's stake in the house, because the field Negro knew then, and does now, that the house Negro has no greater stake in the house than he does.

Now you are right that the "domesticated slave" or the house Negro is more accepting of his subordinate role in society. And this, I submit to you, is another reason the field Negro takes issue with him. The field Negro sees the potential the house Negro has and he is disappointed because the house Negro is not maximizing it and using it to his (or his races) advantage.

Which brings me back to Mr. Obama. I don't think field Negroes see him as a house Negro, because we know that his heart is in the right place. --And the crap about him being born in another country and therefore he cannot share the African American experience, is just bull shit rethuglican talking points being used to divide and torpedo his campaign--- But to be honest, Obama isn't moving us either, and his campaign isn't gaining traction in the fields. In truth, Obama will never get mass appeal until he starts appealing to the field Negro. But he is afraid, because he mistakenly believes that by trying to appeal the field Negro he will alienate "charlie".

"...the field Negroes, once again, have been sippin’ on their Haterade®. They've established this unreasonable idea of blackness that punishes balanced and long-term political perspective that is rightfully not militantly pro-black and opportunistic. However, paradoxically, this same critical group of people rewards reverends with perms, over-sized egos and rhetoric that could put Mother Goose to shame. Just as during slavery, a person’s blackness is being called into question for largely invalid reasons. The result is an unfortunate illustration of how blacks continue to perpetuate their own mental enslavement. My advice: if you happen to be a field Negro, take a step back and analyze exactly why you don’t support Obama."

Wrong again Seke, "Haterade" is a drink I know nothing about; and I think most other field Negroes feel the same way. You should know better, but I will tell you anyway: we do not reward Reverend Inc. for anything, although we do appreciate what they try to do at times. And with all due respect, or minds are quite free.

Finally, we are not cool towards Barack because he isn't black enough. We are cool on him because he doesn't seem genuine enough, and he fucks up every time he has a chance to show us that he is. Memo to Barak: If you can't put away the "ice Queen" with a royal bitch slap, how can you expect to deal with these rethuglicans out here and the rest of red state A-merry-ca? Folks that would have the field Negro back in the fields quicker than you can say Mississippi. Yes, a "balanced and long- term political perspective" is fine if you are teaching a political science class, but out here in this fucked up environment known as A-merry-ca, we just don't have time to wait for all of that to happen.

"My advice: if you happen to be a field Negro, take a step back and analyze exactly why you don't support Obama."

............OK, self analysis done, and I think I just gave it to you.