archived: 5 - 11 Dec, 2004 Back Next
LEUTISHA STILLS
Calling Blackwell An "Uncle Tom" Is An Insult...To Uncle
Tom
In my opinion, given that Ohio was as hotly contested as it was, to call Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell an "Uncle Tom" is an insult...to the beloved character of Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, "Uncle Tom's Cabin". As you know, to call an African-American an "Uncle Tom" was a derisive slur because it indicated that an African-American has sold out the values of his race in order to conspire against other members of his race with the white man. However, upon being assigned to read "Uncle Tom's Cabin" in 8th grade, the moral of Ms. Stowe's novel was an attempt to bestow heroism upon the main character, the slave named Uncle Tom. He stayed behind and took beatings from his master in order for other slaves to escape to freedom. Somewhere, the true meaning of Uncle Tom's sacrifice got lost in modern rhetoric.
Therefore, as I, an African-American woman, think about the ramifications of Ken Blackwell's actions, and in response to the open letter posted in Junkie, I am deeply ashamed that this man, merely by virtue of genetics, is an African-American. I am ashamed that there are still members of my ethnic race that are so ashamed of being of African descent, that they would willingly sell out not only African-Americans, but other ethnic Americans, including white Americans not drunk on Bush's kool-aid, in exchange for money, prestige, elevation in a political party that reminds me of Hitler's Third Reich.
It's not like Mr. Blackwell is unfamiliar with the struggles of minorities, and the privileges he enjoys that allowed him to be elevated to a Secretary of State position in a Midwestern state like the Buckeye State. He is familiar with it. But obviously not familiar enough, because how can you invoke Ronald Reagan and Martin Luther King in the same sentence (that was a Mylanta moment, big time)?
But somewhere in his psyche, Mr. Blackwell abandoned everything he has been taught; every struggle he endured simply because of his race - simply to tote Bush's water and gift wrap him the election.
I served as a poll watcher in Oakland yesterday. I witnessed the thousands of people, many of them newly registered voters, cast a ballot for the first time in their lives. Many were the hip-hop generation. Some came dressed in pajamas and house shoes - others in professional work clothes, and still, others in work gear; but you could sense that air of importance, of urgency that they had to DO SOMETHING TO GET RID OF BUSH. Individuals like Ken Blackwell, Clarence Thomas, Ward Connerly, Linda Chavez, Condoleezza Rice, and yes, Colin Powell - we watch them sell their souls, and then sell out those of us who can ill-afford to be sold out.
Junkie's open letter is one of poignancy - but I know it fell on deaf ears. I watched 53% of this country say with their vote that they would rather have four more years of wars, poverty, discrimination, polarization, and class warfare not seen since the early 20th Century. I watched John Kerry take the coward's way out and concede - over the objections of his own running mate. I watched Kerry lie to us, his supporters, when he said that every vote would be counted. His concession just made Ken Blackwell's job that much simpler.
I would add to Junkie's letter: Enjoy your victory, Mr. Blackwell, hollow and short-lived though it may be. Once the shock wears off, look for revolution sure to come in the next few years. I hope you sleep at night, knowing once again, you assisted in the theft of an election, and a disenfranchisement of voters who died for you to have the right to even cast a vote, let alone oversee an election. May the travesty of 2004 rest squarely at your door and in your lap; you worked hard and you deserve it. Just don't come knocking on the door of the African-American community when you wake up and find out you were used to advance an agenda that may no longer include you, because of your race.
Junkie: TPJ wrote an “open letter” to Ohio’s Secretary of State, Republican Ken Blackwell, that received some national replay. A link to TPJ’s letter is here – Letter to Ken Blackwell. NOTE: Document will open up in a separate window.
“TAR HEEL TEACHER”
“Missed”
Junkie is greatly missed by this Democratic junkie. Don't give up the fight. Remember these truths. Even at the federal level there are many good Democrats buried in many agencies. Also remember that John Kerry received the second largest number of votes ever cast. We must be louder and stronger than ever before.
Junkie: TPJ received numerous emails of encouragement following the election with inquiries as to TPJ’s return.
TPJ is back and ready to prepare for 2006. The shock, denial and anger over our loss in November is starting to wear off and a more reasoned discussion of the future of the Democratic Party can begin in earnest. Perhaps the sagest counsel comes from a poem about a Scottish warlord during battle:
I am cut;
I shall lie down and bleed awhile;
Then, I shall rise;
And fight again!
Last Update: 03/23/2006