the negro humor police

I'm hoping Barack Obama will begin his inaugural speech by telling black folk that there is nothing to be embarrassed about but embarrassment itself. Among the more endearing traits of my people is our willingness to go to the mat for our own -- even when we know they're dead wrong or when we're clearly over-reacting.

I had to remind myself of that when I got this email purporting to be from the National President of Delta Sigma Theta warning black people to act right and stop forwarding inside jokes about the incoming President-elect. (I got a voicemail when I called to verify that it was from her.) The key points:

We cannot allow our President-elect to be made a mockery of, especially by his own people. Not only does he represent everything that is great about our nation; Barack Obama literally personifies how awesome we are as a people.

His wisdom, his poise, his eloquence, his fortitude,
even his swagger...illustrate the greatness of a people who have been dismissed, discarded, discouraged, and disregarded by not only "the majority," but also by our own.

 It is funny how we can't stand Rush Limbaugh, Sean
 Hannity, or Bill O'Reilly for their condescending and surreptitious attacks on Obama; but we email and
text blast everyone from the 'hood about "free BBQ on the White House lawn" and messages of the like...

I understand her point but ultimately disagree with this. All presidents are subjected to humor and a good bit of it is distasteful. And truthfully, people have gotten it way worse than Obama has so far. Andrew Jackson's wife was ridiculed as a bigamist and Harry Truman's daughter was a target of jabs from his political rivals and the press. John McCain once joked that "the reason Chelsea Clinton is so ugly is Janet Reno is her father."

I haven't received any of the jokes personally but it's the kind of thing I'd probably find distasteful. But that's beside the point. At the end of the day this sounds like more of the old elite Negroes telling other black folk how they should be behaving. For instance:

We are in the midst of one of the most significant events in our nation's history and how WE carry
ourselves is more important than ever before.

Even if this isn't from the National President the line highlights one of the least endearing traits of my people: we often fear embarrassment more than racism. There's a thread of black thought that holds that the progress of the race has been the hostage not of narrow-minded among whites but by the absence of social ettiquette among black people.

Underlying this email is a basic fear of the fragility of this moment, of Barack Obama and, by extension, every one of our melinated kinfolk in this country. Anyone who has read the table of contents in From Slavery to Freedom understands where that fear comes from. But even then there's such a thing paranoia.

Obama survived a brutal 22 month campaign, attacks by every major media outlet over the Jeremiah Wright connection, a bruising schedule, questions about his patriotism and a relentless microscope of public life entails. And he came away with more than double the number of electoral votes that John McCain won while raising nearly $800 million.

A few silly jokes will not undermine his presidency. In short, President-elect Obama is not that delicate.

Neither are we.

Comments

[MichaelOR]

I like to think that no one uses humor more often than myself to engage an issue or to think about serious topics from alternative perspectives. But, for a while at least, I would love to be serious about my government. I would like to respect my President, to be his partner in the face of challenging times. It has been, going back to Lewinsky, a very long time since I have felt anything approaching pride about the person working in the Oval Office.

I have no doubt that PE Obama can take the humor and I very much believe he is the type of man that can laugh along with it. That being said, I would prefer we save the jokes. I do not want to boil a man who I have put a lot of hopes and dreams to the color of his skin or the most convenient stereotype for the sake of a cheap laugh.

[jelani c.]

I agree completely. But there's a difference between wanting people pass up the cheap joke and believing that such humor is somehow damaging to us and/or PE Obama.

[MichaelOR]

You're right. Damaging? Certainly not.

I would just like us all, and by us I quite literally mean everyone, to be better. Just for a while. I was so proud of my country in November. I want it to last for as long as possible. It was a novel sensation.

[Juba]

I once heard John Hope Franklin speak at Duke, on the question of Blacks having to be twice as competent or successful in order to succeed. He (to my surprise) pointed out how deeply racist--as in internalized racism--that concept was. One student should not have to bear the weight of his entire race every waking moment of his public life--it isnt what is asked of White students, and it shouldnt be what is asked of us.

And I dont think that undermines the individual drive of a student to excel, either--dont work your behind off to get an A so you dont embarrass your race, do it so you dont disappoint yourself or your family. Big difference there.

Same goes for any claims over the next four years about embarrassing the President. He speaks for all Americans, not just Blacks. Let's say it, and lets mean it.

[MichaelAllen]

This woman is sending outraged e-mails over this nonsense? I can think of three young Black men being shot that would warrant a lot more outrage than free barbeque on the White House Lawn. However if there was mention of chitterlings then all bets are off.

[Kjen]

1. The fact that she uses the word 'swagger' really discredits the letter to me.
2. Next, this attitude of 'racism is caused because of the way Blacks act' isn't just prevalent among the Negro elite. I've found people from nearly socioeconomic bracket spouting some version of this 'truth'. I still think this is some brand of internal racism no matter who says it, but when it does come from one of the upper-upper class Blacks it seems to burn (get me angry) a LITTLE bit more.
3. Finally, wouldn't this be a great time in our history if we could finally hedge away from the fear that if one Black does something one it reflects (badly) upon all of us. But if we do that right now, would we also have to not look at Barack Obama as the "personification" of the greatness of the race?

[Anich]

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