January 29, 2008
Toni Morrison and the 'First Black President'
Elizabeth Alexander is fed up with the way Toni Morrison's quip about Bill Clinton being the "first black president" has been ripped out of context. The manner in which this remark is endlessly circulated in the media "steers us away from serious and long-overdue conversations about race, as well as accountability on the part of both Clintons -- as well as all of the presidential candidates -- with regard to African-Americans," writes Alexander, who is a professor of African-American and American studies at Yale University.
In an effort to provide a little context to Morrison's famous declaration, Alexander revisits the original New Yorker essay in which it appeared. (It was the only time Morrison ever used the phrase, Alexander pointedly reminds us.)
In Alexander's estimation, Morrison was not making the case that Bill Clinton is America's first black president, nor was she calling Clinton an "honorary Negro." Rather, she was comparing Clinton's treatment at the hands of his political enemies with that of black men, so often seen as "the always and already guilty 'perp.'"
"Once we stop rehashing this term out of context, we can stop accepting as a given that African-Americans have already had their black president," Alexander writes, "and focus instead on this actual African-American candidate we have before us, Barack Obama."
(And in case you missed the news, yesterday Toni Morrison endorsed Barack Obama.)
Comments
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Teh truthis Obama has no chance but blacks must support him. Kennedy killed off Carter in 1980 by running against the incumbent president and trashing him at the democratic convention.
Obama ought not take a ride over to Chap… with Teddie…or we all know what happens.
— rus jaminson Jan 29, 03:26 PM #
Hey Russ,
Do us all a favor and learn to wield the powers of grammar and spelling before you go off spouting your garbage.
— Seriously. Jan 29, 03:44 PM #
Elizabeth Alexander says that, in calling Bill Clinton the “first black president,” Toni Morrison “was [merely] comparing Clinton’s treatment at the hands of his political enemies with that of black men” — “the always and already guilty ‘perp.’”
In that case, George W. Bush must be the second black president. In fact, if “Clinton’s treatment at the hands of his political enemies” is the benchmark for blackness, most conservatives, Iraq-war supporters and veterans, evangelical Christians, pro-life activists, stay-at-home moms, and small-government libertarians, for example, are “black,” demonized, as they are, by their media and political enemies.
Long ago, everyone from civil-rights leaders to fellow historians justly criticized Kenneth Stampp when he described black men as “only white men with black skin,” carelessly sweeping the unique African-American experience into the dustbin of historiography. Did Toni Morrison do better by claiming blackness for a favored white politician — one who was educated at top schools and headed for the life of a white millionaire — simply because political opponents fought hard and rough against his policies and personal behavior? Didn’t she show more interest in a cute phrase than in her complex cultural experience?
— S. Britchky Jan 29, 04:43 PM #
Alexander may let Morrison off a hook but I won’t. Morrison’s discursus on Clinton was perhaps too subtle for some of us. Her list of Clinton’s “black” characteristics was not (e.g., he plays the sax, etc.). They played on race stereotypes that should not have been invoked by anyone who claims to be a serious observer of social life.
— The Jayhawk Jan 29, 06:16 PM #
I remember being similarly offended by the success of Elivis Presley singing bad white-boy versions of much better black (in origin and inspiring experience) music. Only culturally obtuse white people could enjoy the image that Clinton was anyone’s first Black President. The paradox, the irony, of “white” “Indian” and “black” presidents is, of course, you elect the whole person, not their race and the next President of the US has perhaps, historically speaking, the worst mess to clean up after of any prior President. He or she will have to respond to that mess, and blackness, femininity, whiteness or any other -ness will quickly become practically irrelevant, though symbolically it will still worth considerable celebration by us all.
— Richard Tabor Greene Jan 29, 08:39 PM #
Bill KKKlinton the first “Black” president! As a Black man, the first time I heard that reference, I considered it to be an INSULT to every Black man, woman and child in this country! I challenge anyone to name one thing he’s has specifically done for the Black race. Unless the author of that quote considers his new “uses” for Cuban cigars to be somehow black-related! There are many others (both male & female) out there who are more POSITIVE role models for EVERYONE of all races!
— Crispus Attucks Jan 30, 05:09 AM #
So, ‘a black president’ is a serial adulterer; a liar; an individual who refuses to accept responsibility, while espousing his own greatness. Sounds like Bill Clinton not a ‘black president.”
— Dr. Pat Jan 30, 09:14 AM #
Come on folks lighten up.
Ms. Morrison’s quip was nothing more than something similar to what Sen. Lott said of Sen. Thurmond at his 100th birthday about the nation being better off if Thurmond had won the presidency. And that is that Ms. Morrison’s comment and Lott’s were said in an atmosphere of frivolity in which things are said to placate and appease a person being honored. Everyone knew these were not true things but said lightly.
With the plethora of journalists on so many mediums there is no way everything will not be twisted way out of context when items are reported in order to get the career making headline for the journalist.
Oh for the days of fewer pundits and real journalists!
— Not a Socialist, but a pragmatist Jan 30, 09:33 AM #
I agree with Crispus Attucks. Regardless of how Toni Morrison meant her comment, I find it insulting. Surely, she has better command of the English language and could have made a better comparison.
— Dr. G Jan 30, 12:15 PM #