September 2008 Archives

Watching the grandeur of the American presidential election reminds me that people of colour, wherever they are, often have to work harder for parity than white folks.

For the first time in a long time, the country has a viable presidential candidate who doesn't have any baggage: Senator Barack Obama has had no extra marital affairs, no negative family issues, dodgy deals or dangerous associations, In fact, the guy seems as clean as a whistle - so much so that critics have gone as far as to attack his slimness, saying his physical fitness meant that he couldn't sympathise with the many obese voters in the US.

Desperation or what? Now hear comes Governor Sarah Palin, the Republicans' vice presidential candidate, you know the one who has been built up as the ultimate woman with her large, functional family and successful political career?

It all sounded wonderful, until it was discovered shortly after she accepted the VP nomination that her unmarried teenage daughter, Bristol, was five months pregnant. I mean, this situation isn't ideal for young Bristol but this discovery would presumably put a dent in Palin's supposedly wholesome image. Right? Wrong.

Sarah must have known of her daughter's condition - why didn't she reveal it? It's not the greatest disaster in the world, but it certainly isn't ideal and is more controversial than Obama having a trim waistline. But, oh no, Palin is now seen as being just like so many other women in America who have to deal with a young daughter's unexpected pregnancy.

Do you honestly think that Barack would be afforded such sympathy if there was an undisclosed, unplanned pregnancy in his immediate family?

It reminds me of previous work colleagues of mine being shocked that I haven't got a herd of children and babymothers all over the place (I'm married with one son). It reminds me of arriving at offices in the professional services sector (law, accountancy, finance) for job interviews only to be mistaken for a deliveryman or a security guard.

I could go on ... and I'm sure many of you could too.

It's like I've always said - to be Black and successful you have to often be twice as good as your white counterparts.

Accuse me of playing the race card if you will, but this card is played every time a person of colour has the 'audacity' to try to better themselves.

I get the feeling that the presidential race will be decided by how much they judge Barack on the content of his policies rather than the colour of his skin.

Are you mad at me for what I've said?