Reply #143: West is saying that Obama, the politician, has betrayed

[leveymg]

his race and minorities (by which he means most black Americans, the urban poor and most of those who are hanging on precariously to the lower part of the middle-class).

A further implication is and that there is something inside of Obama which has caused him to make decisions that have made the conditions of life for most black Americans worse, not better, and that Obama had a choice, and made the wrong one - wrong for most black Americans, who in disproportionate numbers are still the poorer half of America.

I'm not sure that I agree with that statement by West, even the way that I have (generously) interpreted it. Hell, I'm not even sure that the President of the United States still has any good choices in terms of basic economic policy. I am well aware of the advanced stage of crisis that we are in. But, in terms of the economics of race and class in America - and we all have to agree that such a concept is valid -- this Administration has been extremely disappointing. I understand West's bile.

It wasn't crazy talk, as some here have mistakenly concluded, it's angry insider barroom talk. Even as I wish he hadn't said what he did, publicly, and framed as a provocatively as he did (but West is a provocateur, that's his style, which works for him better sometimes than others - this time it didn't work), I have to stand up and say to others around me, chill out, and beware the urge to scapegoat that is inside of us all. Don't get played by the Powers That Be, again. I've seen this cycle of scapegoating before, and it only serves power.