The Soul of Barack Obama: Part 1

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  Mark 8:36.

Barack Obama has sold his soul. Okay… let me be more specific… he has sold the “Black” part of his soul in his bid to gain the presidency of the United States of America.

The Jeremiah Wright affair highlighted the quandary that faced Obama, if he really wanted to be president of the United States of America. American politics forces you to choose between two polar opposites, regardless of whether these opposing sides are real or perceived. Democrats vs. Republicans; Conservatives vs. Liberals; Right-wing vs. Left-wing; Blue States vs. Red States; North vs. South; Protectionism vs. Globalization; Rich vs. Poor; Tax cuts vs. Tax hikes; Religion vs. Secularism; Christian vs. Muslim; Gay vs. Straight; Young vs. Old; Urban vs. Rural; College Educated vs. Blue Collar; Male vs. Female; Black vs. White.

I believe that Obama was sincere in wanting to run a campaign that rose above these differences… to find common ground among the various parties… to build a coalition on common interests… to usher in a new kind of politics. Most importantly, Obama didn’t want his campaign to be about race. Especially his Race! He felt that he could pull this off because he… himself… is the product, the combination of polar opposites… on various levels. Africa and America. East and West. Islam and Christianity. College educated and Blue collar. Black and White. I commend him for his efforts. However “reality” came a knocking at his door… “reality” in the guise of politics… and he was asked to choose. 

In light of the history of America in regards to it’s citizens of African descent, it should come as no surprise that Obama was faced with this choice. It was simple. It was clear. “Are you a member of the Black community or are you an American?” ”Are you Black or are you White?” You cannot be both! Not in the American political arena. Certainly not if you want to be president of the United States of America.

So his relationship with the Trinity United Church of God and the Reverend Jeremiah Wright was utilized as the basis to question him on where he stood. Obama (and his handlers) were clairvoyant enough to anticipate that this would come. Obama had hoped that by withdrawing the invitation to Rev. Wright to perform the benediction at his presidential announcement on February 10th 2007,  that he could forestall the inevitable, or at least he could begin to lay the groundwork, if he had to disassociate himself from Rev. Wright. But to coin a phrase: “The best laid schemes of mice and men, go oft awry…” and the public (i.e. “white people and the media”) demanded an answer.  

Obama’s speech, entitled “A More Perfect Union”  in Philadelphia on March 18th, was targeted not to the African American community, but to reassure America, (i.e. “white” America) that he was one of them. That his associations with those in the Black community… especially those “Un-patriotic, Anti-American Negroes” who expose and dare question the validity and subjective morality of American domestic and foreign policy; especially those“Un-patriotic, Anti-American Negroes” who remind America of their history of racism and aggression against “people of colour” at home and throughout the world… which is manifested in the belief by some, whether real or perceived, that germ warfare has been utilized against African Americans… that these associations, no matter for how long or of what dynamics, these were not so entrenched nor important as his attachment to his beloved (”white”) America! And here’s the beauty of his end-game. He can make this choice without being seen as a sellout, traitor or a “House Negro” pandering to the “white” majority. He can be sincere in this claim to be one of them… not because he grew up in a “white” neighbourhood and has lifelong “white” friends and associates, and not because he dated “white” women in high school and/or college, and not because his children have “white” friends now and he and Michelle are so close with these families that they vacation together, and certainly not because he has gone around America and has had meaningful conversations with “white” people… no… no.. it’s much more basic than that. He can claim “to be at one with them” because he can honestly state that “he is one of them!”  Well at least “half” of him is.  He played the “race card” and appealed to their shared heritage… the “white” side of his soul!

So he began to answer their question and made the choice to sell the “Black” part of his soul to gain the world. This became evident when he compared the opinions expressed by Rev. Wright in regards to America’s historical and current treatment of “people of colour” at home and abroad, with those of his “lily white” grandmother who made racist statements (to him) in regards to Black men who passed by her on the street. This became evident when during his speech, he equated the frustration and anger Black people in America feel due to blatant and systemic racism which too often has deadly consequences, with the frustration and anger “white” people in America feel because they are no longer entitled and/or guaranteed the same degree of privilege which the colour of their skin afforded them in the not too distant past. 

So although (at that time) he claimed he could “no more disown him (Rev. Wright) than I can disown the black community”… nor… “no more disown him than I can my white grandmother”… he had in fact already made a political choice. He attempted to cloud it with doublespeak and equate “Black” America with “white” America and present it as just “America”… and the sale was made… and the masses bought into it… they hailed his speech as “the greatest thing since sliced bread, bell-bottoms and platform shoes!” … they anointed him as their Messiah who had come to lead them to that bi-racial paradise called America.       

To be continued… sooner rather than later….