Tayari's Blog: Packer on Obama and Black Exceptionalism
Posted by TayariJones on March 18, 2008 08:26 AM
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Current Events
Z.Z. Packer makes so many good points in her brilliant essay, that I don't know which to quote! It's a long one, but worth printing out and forwarding all over the place. (You'll have to read the article yourself to see what Barak Obama has in common with Michael Jackson....) Meanwhile, here is a choice paragraph:
The horrible double standard is obvious. According to those of Ferraro's ilk: if you're a poor black man, or incarcerated, or jobless or homeless, you are where you are because of your own ineptitude and should take responsibility for your actions. However, if you've excelled at one of the top schools in the nation, then later on became a star attorney and later become a senator who inspires millions, then you're only there in spite of your ineptitude and you really shouldn't take responsibility for it. Talk about movin' on up.
More commentary to come, but I didn't want to wait to share this with you. Read the article and we'll meet back here tomorrow to talk!
(Thank you, JT, for forwarding the link!)
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There are 2 comments on "Packer on Obama and Black Exceptionalism". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.
Comment #1, by carleen ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tayarijones.com/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
Great essay, but I have to say Obama answered the critiques perfectly with his own speech yesterday: we can stay stuck in this bs and be distracted from the real issues or we can keep our eyes on the prize.
March 19, 2008 04:27 PM
Comment #2, by carleen
Great essay, but I have to say Obama answered the critics perfectly with his own speech yesterday: we can stay stuck in this bs and be distracted from the real issues or we can keep our eyes on the prize.
March 19, 2008 04:31 PM