“Barack Obama and the Jim Crow Media: The Return of the Nigger Breakers” by Ishmael Reed – Spring 2010
The Torment of Barack Obama!
Under slavery, “Nigger breakers” had the job of destroying the spirits of tough black men by whatever means necessary. At age 15 Frederick Douglass was sold to Edward Covey who had the mandate to break him. Ishmael Reed makes the case that President Barack Obama is being assailed by 20th century descendants of Covey. In a series of essays written during the 2008 primaries and after Obama’s election, he shows how both Obama’s opponents and some supposed allies use modern reincarnations of those same ugly demons to break him. What’s more, statements and alliances he made during the campaign and in office have made him easy prey.
Ishmael Reed is the author of novels, books of poetry, and plays. He is also a playwright. He has won prizes in all categories. He taught at the University of California at Berkeley for thirty-five years. He has also taught at Harvard, Yale and Dartmouth. Ishmael Reed is a member of Harvard’s Signet Society and Yale’s Calhoun Society. He lives in Oakland, California.
Ishmael Reed’s previous books of essays include Airing Dirty Laundry, Writin’ is Fightin’ and Shrovetide in Old New Orleans.
ISBN 978-0-9812405-7-2 | 170 pages | trade paper
Available April 2010
I have been increasingly dismayed – no, that is too mild a word – embarrassed, ashamed, repulsed, disgusted by the overriding undercurrent of hate, racial hate being directed at President Obama. In the past, I’ve often thought I’d reached a certain inner breaking point in my opinion of our culture, my culture, my country, but this time some small, insistent voice inside is telling me that this, actually, is the time. I keep finding myself automatically saying these words internally when I read and hear stories, especially about Republican politicians: “I give up.”
These times are indeed greatly dismaying. I fear “we” are actually finally showing our true, true colors.
Robert
Reed is a bit of an extremist, but that is OK. That is what it takes to get listened to.
When will Americans understand that, notwithstanding their inbred attitudes about race relations, most of the rest of the world is NOT white. In order to do “business” in that ‘rest of the world’ they will have to change their attitude about race. If they do, it will be good for business.
Not only that, the Muslims will have to be dealt with, terrorists or not. And they aren’t white either.