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Latino-Native American Cultural Center newspaper clippings, 1972-1988
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The dilemma of a black voter Kelvin Burton Should the black person vote for Jesse Jackson because he is black? I am black, i.e., African American. So what else is new? Not much, right? Well, before one answers the preceding questions, let us consider the 1988 presidential candidate race. For the staunch liberal, who almost always proclaims indisputable color-blindness on racial issues, I am behooved to inform you that one of the Democratic candidates this year is also black. Just like me. Lately, while wearing my illustrious "Jesse Jackson for President" buttons around town, I have been challenged, both by blacks and whites, as to whether I am supporting Jackson primarily because he is black. My first impulse is to always respond to these challenges with a question -- should I have another reason? I mean, i am sure some Greco-Americans support Michael Dukakis because he is of Greek ancestry; Pat Robertson gets support because he is a fundamentalist; Al Gore gets votes because he is from the South; George Bush gets votes from white supremacists for some strange, undefined reason; Jesse Jackson receives support because he is black. So for those who think I am implying that presidential candidate choosing isn't the most intellectual process int he world, touche! I AM challenged, however, to respond in a different fashion -- I already know what my adversaries want to hear or want not to hear. I realize I am expected to make a rational, intelligent choice on a candidate based on his platforms and stances, and not on his race. Why? If I make race my basis, i open myself up to be termed a racist, unintellectual citizen who bases his support on superficial ideals and is responsible for adding tot he discreditation of such a perfect and fair political system as the one we have. In this directed line of questioning, I and my race are expected to rise above society's current level of moral obligation in the political process and examine not only our reasons for voting for this man but also the reasons we do not want to vote for others. Other examples of similar expectations for blacks include the civil rights era and the current regime of South African apartheid, where we were and are expected to be nonviolent while protesting racist, oppressive states of existence; at the same time, our beloved U.S. supports and engages in violent protest for various reasons at home and abroad, both then and now. SO I HAVE to give my much practiced lecture on why I will vote for Jackson, this time knowing the predetermined, predestined reply from my challenger for nonsupport (no matter how convincing I am) is almost invariably the scapegoat excuse of his non-electability. My similar reply is again in the form of a question -- why wasn't electability an issue for the four other U.S. presidents who had never held public office before being elected? I can never get a clear, concise answer, but I suspect it is embedded in some shackling, subconscious belief in white superiority. The answer to the question then, is yes, I would be justified in voting for Jesse Jackson simply because he is black. i never faulted any whites for supporting other candidates just because they were white. Moreover, I am willing to be called a racist, unintellectual citizen in this society because it seems to have no consequences other than in politics, and I am not a politician. THIS LABEL does not seem to have any adverse effects for the administration and faculty of great academic institutions (i.e., the UI) and is almost an asset in our prevailing entrepreneurial and economic administration circles. I am obligated to vote for the candidate who I think will best represent me, and, along superficial lines, race is a powerful bond. Nonetheless, it is admirable and intellectually rewarding to study candidate platforms and be able to answer such probing inquiries thoroughly and convincingly. This is also the more correct and proper method to choose a candidate -- it is unfortunate that it is not the most widely practiced. I have, however, decided not to use either method in choosing my candidate. Rather, an interesting turn of events has made what would have been an otherwise difficult process an easy one. My beloved grandmother has order me to vote for Jackson, and I was taught to never, ever disobey that sweet, wise old lady. Kelvin Burton is a fourth-year UI medical student. DI April 8, 1988
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The dilemma of a black voter Kelvin Burton Should the black person vote for Jesse Jackson because he is black? I am black, i.e., African American. So what else is new? Not much, right? Well, before one answers the preceding questions, let us consider the 1988 presidential candidate race. For the staunch liberal, who almost always proclaims indisputable color-blindness on racial issues, I am behooved to inform you that one of the Democratic candidates this year is also black. Just like me. Lately, while wearing my illustrious "Jesse Jackson for President" buttons around town, I have been challenged, both by blacks and whites, as to whether I am supporting Jackson primarily because he is black. My first impulse is to always respond to these challenges with a question -- should I have another reason? I mean, i am sure some Greco-Americans support Michael Dukakis because he is of Greek ancestry; Pat Robertson gets support because he is a fundamentalist; Al Gore gets votes because he is from the South; George Bush gets votes from white supremacists for some strange, undefined reason; Jesse Jackson receives support because he is black. So for those who think I am implying that presidential candidate choosing isn't the most intellectual process int he world, touche! I AM challenged, however, to respond in a different fashion -- I already know what my adversaries want to hear or want not to hear. I realize I am expected to make a rational, intelligent choice on a candidate based on his platforms and stances, and not on his race. Why? If I make race my basis, i open myself up to be termed a racist, unintellectual citizen who bases his support on superficial ideals and is responsible for adding tot he discreditation of such a perfect and fair political system as the one we have. In this directed line of questioning, I and my race are expected to rise above society's current level of moral obligation in the political process and examine not only our reasons for voting for this man but also the reasons we do not want to vote for others. Other examples of similar expectations for blacks include the civil rights era and the current regime of South African apartheid, where we were and are expected to be nonviolent while protesting racist, oppressive states of existence; at the same time, our beloved U.S. supports and engages in violent protest for various reasons at home and abroad, both then and now. SO I HAVE to give my much practiced lecture on why I will vote for Jackson, this time knowing the predetermined, predestined reply from my challenger for nonsupport (no matter how convincing I am) is almost invariably the scapegoat excuse of his non-electability. My similar reply is again in the form of a question -- why wasn't electability an issue for the four other U.S. presidents who had never held public office before being elected? I can never get a clear, concise answer, but I suspect it is embedded in some shackling, subconscious belief in white superiority. The answer to the question then, is yes, I would be justified in voting for Jesse Jackson simply because he is black. i never faulted any whites for supporting other candidates just because they were white. Moreover, I am willing to be called a racist, unintellectual citizen in this society because it seems to have no consequences other than in politics, and I am not a politician. THIS LABEL does not seem to have any adverse effects for the administration and faculty of great academic institutions (i.e., the UI) and is almost an asset in our prevailing entrepreneurial and economic administration circles. I am obligated to vote for the candidate who I think will best represent me, and, along superficial lines, race is a powerful bond. Nonetheless, it is admirable and intellectually rewarding to study candidate platforms and be able to answer such probing inquiries thoroughly and convincingly. This is also the more correct and proper method to choose a candidate -- it is unfortunate that it is not the most widely practiced. I have, however, decided not to use either method in choosing my candidate. Rather, an interesting turn of events has made what would have been an otherwise difficult process an easy one. My beloved grandmother has order me to vote for Jackson, and I was taught to never, ever disobey that sweet, wise old lady. Kelvin Burton is a fourth-year UI medical student. DI April 8, 1988
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