Spring Break
Sen. Biden insults African-Americans
Olivia Sanders
Issue date: 2/8/07 Section: OPINION
I wish I had $10 for every time an Anglo-American has called an African-American articulate or well-mannered. Contrary to popular belief, many African-Americans dislike when that happens. Being articulate has nothing to do with race, but everything to do with education/socio-economic levels and a myriad of other factors.
In an interview with the New York Observer, Sen. Joseph R. Biden, Jr., D-Del., described Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., as "the first mainstream African-American [presidential candidate] who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that's a storybook, man." There are many issues that arise when one reads that statement.
What is a mainstream African-American? Is it one who bathes frequently like most people? Is it one who has a college education? Is it one who doesn't remind white Americans of America's racist past? I asked Beverly Davenport, a professor in the anthropology department, what a mainstream African-American was. She gave me this quote: "A mainstream African-American is someone clean-cut, doesn't regularly speak Ebonics. It's basically somebody that white people can relate. Bill Cosby would be another example, so would Michael Jordan." For me that quote shed light on what Sen. Biden meant with his comment. But in my opinion, it still remains somewhat of an insult.
" … who is articulate and bright, and clean and a nice looking guy." Pardon me, but there are much better ways to pay a compliment to someone whom you respect. I may be reaching here with this assumption, but I assume that Sen. Biden has respect for Sen. Obama. Articulate is a word that some white people have used time and time again to describe African-Americans. I've always taken this compliment as an insult and with a grain of salt. Sure, there are some African-Americans today that may not have a great command of the English language, but why must some Anglo-Americans feel the need to point it out when they come across an African-American who speaks English fluently and with a large vocabulary? We are aware of the various education levels that exist in this country. More often than not, education level will determine your earning potential.
In an interview with the New York Observer, Sen. Joseph R. Biden, Jr., D-Del., described Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., as "the first mainstream African-American [presidential candidate] who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that's a storybook, man." There are many issues that arise when one reads that statement.
What is a mainstream African-American? Is it one who bathes frequently like most people? Is it one who has a college education? Is it one who doesn't remind white Americans of America's racist past? I asked Beverly Davenport, a professor in the anthropology department, what a mainstream African-American was. She gave me this quote: "A mainstream African-American is someone clean-cut, doesn't regularly speak Ebonics. It's basically somebody that white people can relate. Bill Cosby would be another example, so would Michael Jordan." For me that quote shed light on what Sen. Biden meant with his comment. But in my opinion, it still remains somewhat of an insult.
" … who is articulate and bright, and clean and a nice looking guy." Pardon me, but there are much better ways to pay a compliment to someone whom you respect. I may be reaching here with this assumption, but I assume that Sen. Biden has respect for Sen. Obama. Articulate is a word that some white people have used time and time again to describe African-Americans. I've always taken this compliment as an insult and with a grain of salt. Sure, there are some African-Americans today that may not have a great command of the English language, but why must some Anglo-Americans feel the need to point it out when they come across an African-American who speaks English fluently and with a large vocabulary? We are aware of the various education levels that exist in this country. More often than not, education level will determine your earning potential.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Derrick
posted 2/08/07 @ 7:45 AM CST
I guess in Biden's mind, Alan Keyes doesn't count. Dr. Keyes ran for President- he holds an undergrad degree from Cornell, a doctorate in Government Affairs from Harvard, served as a UN diplomat and assistant Secretary of State. (Continued…)
Bart
posted 2/08/07 @ 2:22 PM CST
When will the DNC address the institutionalized racism that exists inside the Democratic Party. It is nothing less than shamefull.
Mike D.
posted 2/08/07 @ 4:27 PM CST
Why do race relations suck. Because minorities simply look for reasons to scream racism. Sen. Obama is the only Dem. that I would ever consider voting for. (Continued…)
Eric
posted 2/08/07 @ 5:20 PM CST
First off, I take your meaning. People sometimes use such "compliments" in a way that serve more to reinforce inaccurate stereoyptes than to pay any respect to the person being addressed. (Continued…)
Roman Sionis
posted 2/08/07 @ 9:59 PM CST
I really don't think Sen. Biden was reinforcing (or, at the very least, intended to reinforce) any racial stereotypes. It's really a wrongheaded misconception perpetrated on the public imagination, that compliments a white man might give a black man carry ill intentions. (Continued…)
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