Words...and their meanings

When we say things or make comments, we mean to speak clearly but that is often not what occurs. Sometimes we are careful in choosing our words to either soften what we are saying or to selectively target our audience. Good examples of this have surfaced recently in the comments made by Geraldine Ferraro and Senator Obama.

Ms Ferraro made a statement that Barack was lucky to be black at this moment in time because it was helping catapult him forward in his candidacy for the Presidency. I believe she is right and her comments should not be lifted out of context. The immediate reaction is a demand for an apology or a characterization of her words as "ridiculous". After all, how could anyone say that being born black gives you an edge over anyone in this society? True enough. But that is not what she said. Ferraro said that a woman white or black or a white man would not be in Obama's position and that is accurate. Not included but implied in Ferraro's statment is "someone with his limited experience." A good example of this is Carol Mosley Braun, an african american woman and a former senator from Illinois with a similar limited political history as Obama's who tried to run for the Presidency in 2003. She was completely ignored and withdrew after her poor showing in Iowa. Many people don't even know who she is.

It isn't "just" because Obama is AA, but it is a part of the reason. He is very bright, speaks eloquently, and is tall, always a positive for a politician and the democtatic primary voters love a liberal which he very clearly is. But the support from the AA community is critical in carrying him to wins in many states that come the general election, democrats will not win. Now, this is a discussion of facts, as if we were discussing Huckabee's evangelical support and its role in his winning certain primary contests. It is not racist but GF had to leave her supporting role in HC campaign and HC had to distance herself from the remarks.

Well, what about these words from Obama....."Don't let them HOODwink you." I watched him speak to an almost all black audience in Mississippi just before that primary and he said at least five times the word, "HOODwink" with the accent and emphasis on "HOOD". What do you think that word means to african americans? A hood brings up some very bad memories. Was Obama trying to remind his audience of what white people have done in the past and the need for AA to stick together now? The media is not discussing this but they will spend two days on Ferraro.

We will see what time they give to the words of Obama's religious mentor, Rev Wright. I will address that in another post especially since I have been asked by a friend what I think about religion in this political season.

I am having some computer problems so expect delays but I will do my best to be back on line quickly.