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Is the End of Black Politics Near?????
The New York times magazines, asks a pertinent question, If Obama is elected is this the end of Black politics. I would say no that this would be the beginning. For lack of a better term in basketball when Dr. Jay (Julius Erving) began dunking and taking control of the court that wasn't the end of Black basketball was it??? No it was the beginning although he wasn’t paid as much as his counter parts to later in his career, it led to Magic Johnson, Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Lebron James . When Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier of baseball and Willie Mays began setting records left and right it wasn't the end of Black Baseball it was actually the beginning. That’s how I feel about Barack Obama and his candidacy, he is in his own way lighting a trail of success that others in the future can follow and aspire to.
In the end old ways of politics and sports have to end so that new eras can arise. The old ways and old heroes of Black Politics had to end or fall so that this new era can rise.. Is Obama the be all and end all of Black politics, No he is just the beginning of newer candidates and fresher Ideas of doing things Is this the end??? No In actuality it is the beginning of a new era of Black politics and progressivism that is unmatched.
- Jason Richberg's blog
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I think the Black left would
I think the Black left would answer the NYT with a strong "No." This is a pretty good example: http://www.voxunion.com/?p=56
After the conversation I
After the conversation we had, I was actually thinking about whether this transition between generations is actually that note worthy. Isn't this idea of a "black politics" as being something different really just residual shock that it's only since the Civil Rights era that African-Americans have been able to participate in politics.
Since they were generally disenfranchised before this point, when they were allowed to participate it had the same impact/shock as spikes in ethnic migration--irish, italian, german, etc. The system initially recoils from this "infiltration" into the system by "outsiders,"
and thus the "outsiders" become more defensive and reactionary. Eventually, however, they both reach an equilibrium--with the "outsiders" being considered, and therefore becoming more mainstream.
In modern day I'd say the Latino population is at the beginning of this phase, while the Jewish population is generally at the end--they're largely liberal with a pro-Israel slant that still doesn't define them (partly because pro-Israel is largely within the mainstream)
Let me make sure I understand you.
In your example, Dan, who are the increasingly mainstreamed members of the Jewish population?