Obama & Change: Painting the Camero Black

I had to write this sort of Obama redux argument. In many ways this is an addition to the previous post on the paternalism and racism inherent in modern liberalism.  We now have a Black president, so what does this signify? In part it signifies that a large majority of Americans have decided that either race (in regard to the presidency) was not important to them, or that Obama’s gifts outway his curse.

A broader and less discussed topic amongst the general public is what this really pragmatically means for the average Black person.  I have argued in other places that the symbolism and hope that a Black President provides is a non-evaluatable factor, but hugely important none the less.  The simple fact that there is a face that looks like many of us in the White House after the history of this nation is HUGE. I am not an individual that will minimize the social cultural impact of the Obama Presidency. 

That being said, other than as a secondary “He brings us hope” change, is Obama truly representing a systemic change?  When I wrote the Liberal/Racism article a few years ago I did so because I reflected upon its position in relation to us as a race.  What I saw was a lack of empowerment strategies ala’ Marcus Garvey and Malcolm X and instead saw a big tent dole out favors and cosmetic solutions strategy.  Mind you, I am not talking about liberalism as a philosophy, but liberalism as it is practiced under the dichotomist two party system in America.

Now if my argument is true, that liberalism is paternalistic and therefore racist or elitist in that it seeks to be the “father to the child” as opposed to the “empowerer of the weak and disenfranchised” (I haven’t heard a cogent argument now or when I first posted the argument against my assertion yet) how does Obama fit?

If liberalism as it is practiced in modern America is paternalistic and racist or elitist and we now have a President who some would say represents modern liberalism is there not a contradiction? I do not believe so.

In my very strong opinion, racism is systemic and institutional. Systems or institutions be it corporate, political, or social that have been historically structured in such a way that it retains the power imbalance between Blacks and whites are passive forms of racism. If my premise is true then a Black person could (and we are) be engaged in a system that perpetuates racisms without their being systemic change to the system regardless of the Black’s position in the system.

So to the question I asked in the title of the post – If you paint a Camero black does it become a Volvo?  If a Black man is the President of the United States does it change the paternalistic system of liberal politics as practiced by the modern democratic party? On a broader level, does it change the systems and institutions in America the retain the power imbalances caused by years of disenfranchisement and racism in this nation?

So in conclusion I am not arguing that Obama will is a bad “Black man” for not being more militant. I am also not placing the burden of solving the race problem in America on his shoulders. That is simply not fair.  What I am arguing however is that for us to presume that there will be systemic change that truly empowers the everyday Black man is going to be disappointed.  Painting your Camero black may make your car look better, but underneath the hood it has the same engine.

Changes comes from below.