I just came across an article on NYTIMES.COM. (read here)

Race Matters Less in Politics of South

I immediately stopped. Rubbed my eyes…er…eye. And re-read that sentence. What, pray tell, had the NYTIMES been smoking as of late if they feel that Race matters less in places where people are still kinda psyched about the confederate flag? 

But I started to read and it was pointing out 2 different areas down south where it was primarily white (94 and 96 percent) and they elected a black man to represent them in congress. I thought to myself “Interesting” but as they were making these points they had some quotes from people about the black guy they elected.

“You know, I don’t even see him as black,” said another of Mr. Fields’s new white constituents, Perry Ray, the mayor of one of the county’s villages, Dodge City.

Now I realize that maybe, perhaps there is a chance, that I’m reading into that. But that quote bothered me. You don’t see him as black? Why? If you DID see him as black then you would have been way more uncomfortable with that voting choice? Was he able to defuse his blackness long enough that you felt as if you could have him over for dinner and he wouldn’t immediately try to sleep with your daughter and pop up little beige children?

I understand the point though. It was almost as if she voted for him even though he was black. It was a strike against him, but because she liked him sooooo much she doesn’t even see him as black.

And then the best part. WHY they like him so much.

“…that they are at ease with him…”

“There’s two different races, in that race,” explained James Rice, a white resident describing black people, as Mr. Fields affably worked voters at Jack’s. “You got some that don’t want to be nothing, and you got some that want to help. You don’t find too many like James Field”

Ahem, I guess that only applies within the black community. Obviously no one other race has anyone who isn’t working incredibly hard at all points, especially white people. Black people are just a mass of unclean heathen folk that don’t do anything to move anything or anyone forward.

But the first quote. The “At ease” quote. Again, I may be being sensitive. I get that. I’m aware of the possibility. But it grows tiresome that as a Black Man you have to make people feel at ease otherwise there terrified. The very title of this article is nonsense. Race ABSOLUTELY matters. Because you can’t be super assertive and a black man. Thats scary. Fact is you can’t be super assertive and a woman, because that means you’re a bitch. There are still tons of things that play apart in how people view you. It may be 2008 but the the ideas that permeate through our culture still has an incredible way to go.

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