For all of the media hype that Barack Obama is a great unifier of peoples, that was not his position on October 24, 2001, seven years ago today, when the Chicago Tribune’s David Mendell (now an Obama biographer) and Gary Washburn reported Obama was concerned at the "problem" of black people moving into the suburbs and voting there, making it harder to consolidate districts for black politicians. This leads to an odd dialogue on the political benefits of housing segregation:
Because African-Americans are slowly moving into traditionally white neighborhoods or to the suburbs, black aldermen are finding it difficult to draw a new ward map that will preserve the current number of 20 majority black districts. Black political power has always relied on blacks being massed in segregated neighborhoods.
It is becoming clearer to black political leaders that the remap struggle promises to be replayed in the future if the city continues to diversify at near the pace of the 1990s. The issue also arises as the Hispanic population is increasing dramatically, leading to a push for more Latino wards.
"As long as we have hardened racial attitudes reflected in our voting patterns for minorities--to elect one of their own--they still need to have a substantial voting-age majority in neighborhoods and communities," observed state Sen. Barack Obama (D-Chicago). "And with incremental integration, we're finding this is harder to do."
This story is not unique to Chicago. From Los Angeles to Orlando, white, black and Latino politicians are wrestling with how to divide power fairly in a country where whites are becoming a smaller proportion of the overall population, but minorities are breaking free of clustered housing patterns.
"Geographic concentration is clearly critical for political power for minorities, and that is the one benefit that segregation provides," said Roderick Harrison, a demographer with the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies in Washington. "I think there needs to be some new, sophisticated strategies to broaden political power if we are going to start seeing racially integrated suburbs."
If Obama thinks "hardened racial attitudes" about minorities electing "one of their own" is a problem to be overcome, it’s certainly not being overcome in 2008, when every pundit expects an almost-unanimous black vote for Obama in this presidential election.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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White Minority
October 24, 2008 - 10:43 ET by Chattychitothen in order for the whites to gain political power we need to geographically concentrate our population so we can unite?
Listen if whites are the Minority why is they can't qualify for a house loans under todays adminisrtation?
whites are a miniority and they will be in big trouble if Obama gets into office. and that aint no trollville either.
Obama: A divider - not a uniter
October 24, 2008 - 10:46 ET by Anchor89With no record of bipartisanship, the most liberal voting record in the Senate, a preference for segregation, and a policy of class warfare, how in the world can anyone expect that Obama is going to unite the country if he is elected?
Ugh
October 24, 2008 - 10:54 ET by JeanieRight now, Obama talks the talk. He clearly won't walk the walk.
His grandma is at deaths door, and twice in less than 6 months, Michelle declines to pay this woman a visit? Sounds to me like she can't stand the thought of visiting this "white" woman.
Michelle's college thesis alluded to her not "fitting" in, at Havard. Could it be perhaps, that it wasn't the color of her skin, but her attitude? They talk about Mrs. McCain, but Cindy is shy, Michelle is smug.
Yes indeedy. Ayres espouses we're all racists. Obama says he'd stand with Muslims.
It doesn't take a Harvard, Columbia, or even South Dakota University degree to smell the bs on this one.
Because African-Americans
October 24, 2008 - 10:50 ET by AllRightyBecause African-Americans are slowly moving into traditionally white neighborhoods or to the suburbs, black aldermen are finding it difficult to draw a new ward map that will preserve the current number of 20 majority black districts. Black political power has always relied on blacks being massed in segregated neighborhoods.
Cynthia McKinney tried to have the district lines redrawn several years ago in Georgia. Didn't get her re-elected, either, although it could have been her rather explosive personality...
BO has been working hard on trying to unite black folks all over. Cone's theory on Black Liberation Theology is really working, isn't it? Cone emerged out of a small (minute, even) town not far from here. Until Wright, I'd never even heard of Cone. What these black folks don't understand is that BO is using them for votes. He's not going to do anything to help their 'condition.'
MLK would have a stroke if he saw the state of affairs regarding everything he fought for. Most blacks don't know (or believe) that MLK was a republican and conservative. Democrats have historically been the foe of the progression of blacks.
You should see the lines of early voting in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Shall we wonder if ACORN is assisting?
Race Card Players
October 24, 2008 - 10:56 ET by CaringwhiteguyBHO is America's #1 race card player. He's done it so skillfully many are in awe. Obama's subtle pre-emptive moves struck fear into the hearts of many "enlightened" conservatives who would have normally been much more critical of him than they have.
Now here's another race card player. I don't know what rank to assign her, but my conclusion is she's not that much different than #1. In fact a better way to say it is that #1 is not much different than her. They're more than just race hustlers. Their "hustle" goes beyond race. http://www.fannation...
Unbelievable!
October 24, 2008 - 11:11 ET by Secret ConservativeThanks, CWG, for the link to the Duke story. I, too, love how people insist they are trying to "move on" with their lives - by writing a book and doing a media tour... Guess we will find this one under FICTION at B & N.
So - White Segregation, BAD...
October 24, 2008 - 11:06 ET by Secret ConservativeBlack Segregation, GOOD. I get it! Kind of like on college campuses. Can't just have ONE Student Union where all students go, you have to have a Student Union for ALL and another Black Student Union just for black students. And you can't have WHITE dorms, but you have to have all-black dorms so black students don't feel out of place. HUH???
And now we have to stop black people from moving out of the ghetto and into nicer, middle and upper class neighborhoods with better schools - because it interferes with black people getting elected? You know, I remember when WHITE people tried to do that exact same thing for different reasons and the blacks tried to burn the cities down.
On another note, in reference to Jeanie's post, is it just me, or have they been keeping Michelle out of the limelight and muzzled for the past month or so since the convention? My take on her has always been that she's an arrogant bitch, but I think maybe others were seeing that too, and she was considered a liability to Barack, except in photo ops. So if anyone has recent video, etc. of public appearances by Michelle, I'd be interested.
Soooo, 20 years of Rev Wright has sunk in.
October 24, 2008 - 11:57 ET by JIMMY1660BHO has denied he listen to the Black separatists rantings of Rev Wright. So now we see, he did listen. BHO is a black separatist, and terrorists supporter of the 1st degree. BHO association with Rev Wright, al Monsour, Bill Ayers, Min. farrakhan are valid and scary.
What have the Democrats done?? Are they that desperate to get in the White House, they will sell out America to Black separatists.
Can you imagine the military being controlled by these terrorists.
all
Sounds to me like Obama is a black separatist!
October 24, 2008 - 13:31 ET by MNotaroObama sounds just like one of those radicals that he has been linked to! He can not be trusted and I keep wondering how long it’s going to take for the left wing illuminati democrats to figure this out. He is not honest about his past and his links to these radicals, but no one is calling him out on it because the MSM is as liberal and left wing as he is!
I need a link to this where it was published
October 24, 2008 - 16:15 ET by UndercoverConservativeis there a good "legitimate" media source for this, that the leftards won't consider a "right wing rag" or something? Because with a link I can smack some racist Obama lovers down
"to call an illegal immigrant an "undocumented alien" is the same as calling a streetcorner drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist".
"You spend your money anyway you want and respect other's rights to do the same"
This helps to explain why
October 24, 2008 - 16:17 ET by Clear thinkerThis helps to explain why he is being accused of the above...
Why Obama Scares The Crap Out Of Me
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
I spent a half hour
October 24, 2008 - 16:43 ET by UndercoverConservativeon google looking for that article, using theauthor, the newspaper and the date. the *only* real hits I got were to blogs like this one.
Surely somebody has a way I can link to the article in an archive?
"to call an illegal immigrant an "undocumented alien" is the same as calling a streetcorner drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist".
"You spend your money anyway you want and respect other's rights to do the same"
Once a racist always a racist
October 24, 2008 - 20:50 ET by ChattychitoAs a washed pig returns to roll in the mud, and a dog turns to eat his own vomit. So this lepard cannot change his spots. it is always a black and white issue for political and financial gain.
All for one and one for one is BO's cry.
Cc... Yep! Spooky
October 24, 2008 - 21:06 ET by bigtimerCc...
Yep!
Spooky too...
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
The Obama Plan
October 25, 2008 - 07:36 ET by Cool ArrowChicago now has the title of Murder Capitol of the USA.
They had to work twice as hard to surpass New York City which has more than twice the population of Chicago. The record is held by the city with the most murders rather than per capita.
Why Barack Obama is so intent on genocide of his own race escapes me. Abortion stats are well documented as heavily skewed towards minorities, but here he is encouraging his race to stay congregated in the inner city for his own political ends rather than encourage them to flee the danger.
Real class Obama. Love the work you did in Chicago.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!