Reply #43: What's The Big Deal

[iamjoy]

Sometimes I forget Chris Matthews is an idiot, then he says something like this and reminds me. :evilgrin:

Aren't we supposed to see past race? Maybe the problem is that Chris Matthews forgot for an hour. Does that mean that the rest of the time he defines Barack Obama as "black"?

I try not to define President Obama by his race, but by who he is and what he's accomplished. Shouldn't that be the goal? Or, considering the hurdles Barack Obama had to overcome because of his complexion, are we minimizing his accomplishments when we don't acknowledge his background? :shrug:

Seriously now, I don't think Matthews meant anything hostile by it. I think it's part of that unconscious stereotyping and prejudice so prevalent in our society. It is pernicious because it is so hidden that even the speaker is not aware they harbor such attitudes. "Light skinned with no Negro dialect" and "clean, articulate" anyone?