On Sunday David Gergen, CNN Political Analyst, suggested that Barack Obama's and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick's success is a result of their having rejected protest politics. Further, according to Gergen, they sought to bring unity to the Democratic party. By implication, this sounds as though the efforts of civil right leaders, then and now, are misguided for challenging the system in the wake of inequality and miscarriages of justice. Had there been no Montgomery Bus Boycott, March on Washington, Selma March---to name a few---where would America be? It's flattering to applaud those who choose to work within the system but, without protest, there would be little change. Privileged groups never give up their privileges voluntarily, I remember Dr. King saying more than once.
So, where would Obama be without that history and, in some quarters, continuing protests? For all that Obama has done to keep folks from pigeon-holding him as a black candidate, his rise would not be possible without this link. His post-race facade is only that; it's easier for whites to accept him that way. His family background has certainly prepared him to draw upon those broad perspectives and, as bright as he is, he can invoke the
beloved community narrative better than most. Yet, his blackness is undeniable. Were it not for his recognizable face, his chances of catching a taxi in NYC are the same as mine and he'd run the same risk of being pulled over by the police.
The truth is that Obama does not exist in a black political vacuum. Even to talk about his candidacy without mentioning Shirley Chisholm(1972)or Jesse Jackson(1984) is missing a huge historical connection. Mr. Gergen, we have reached a shining moment in America, but let's not leave out key parts of our history. Run Obama, Run.
