The Chicago Sun-Times’ John W. Fountain puts his choice to cast a ballot for the “best man for the job” in personal, historical and racial context.
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Why wouldn’t I, as a black man — as a bona fide democratic, red-blooded African American — vote for Obama?
He is, after all, the “black” candidate, the one who looks most like me, the one who likely thinks most like me, shares my experiences. The one most likely to represent my best interest and fight to resolve those issues that uniquely and fiercely plague African-American communities.
What would be wrong with me voting “black?”
It’s not like I haven’t all these years voted “white” …
I do not think that even Obama’s calling as president is to be president of “black America.” The president of the United States is president of all of America.
But ain’t I — ain’t we — as black Americans also American?
Would it be racist for me to take pride in voting for any candidate because his skin looks like mine? Or is the real sin to vote against a candidate simply because his skin doesn’t?
Read John W. Fountain’s entire piece at the Chicago Sun-Times.
The Root aims to foster and advance conversations about issues relevant to the black Diaspora by presenting a variety of opinions from all perspectives, whether or not those opinions are shared by our editorial staff.
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