Who’s the black spokesperson?
by Carmen Van Kerckhove
No seriously, the Gallup Poll wants to know.
I, along with Amani Channel of My Urban Report and Aaron Laramore of Political Season were on News and Notes today to discuss a recent Gallup poll which shows that many African Americans reject the idea of having one person speak for them on issues of race. (no duh)
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of 
Renee wrote:
There isn’t a single spokesperson because the black community is so diverse. It is the immediate that has crafted a monolithic image of what it means to be black.
Posted 06 Aug 2008 at 5:35 pm ¶
Monie wrote:
Carmen,
I listened to the show earlier and agree with your thoughts.
I also wonder if Gallup will be asking other groups who should speak for them.
The real question is; who will the MSM decide to have speak for African Americans? The media always seems to need a go to person to respond to issues dealing with race. I suppose that’s easier than actually hiring people of color as journalists, who might have unique insight into those issues.
Posted 06 Aug 2008 at 6:58 pm ¶
mdot wrote:
“Take me to your leader” is a dated request, is it not?
Posted 06 Aug 2008 at 7:43 pm ¶
Roxie wrote:
i loved the point about the white spokesperson. I can’t believe they even thought it would be a good idea to ask this question. It certainly doesn’t make me look at them in a better way…was this really news to anyone? or was it news that it was even asked?
Posted 07 Aug 2008 at 12:26 am ¶
BlkWmBlowTheTrumpet! wrote:
@ M Dot
I could not agree with you more!
I notice that the white media (also referred to as MSM) tends to portray Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton as the spokespersons for black people when most black people do not hold either of them in high regard.
In the CNN Bogus Report on Being Black In America, the same black persons were talking… where was bell hooks in that conversation?
And why is it that any time a black person makes a speech to a black audience they HAVE to quote Dr. Martin Luther King - as if there are no black scholars who have published on race and social justice since the death of King….
It’s rather distressing, I must say.
{shaking my head}
Lisa
Posted 07 Aug 2008 at 1:26 am ¶
Tariq Nelson wrote:
The media (and even many blacks) have been looking for a “leader” since the assassination of Martin Luther King.
The problem is also that some have claimed to speak for blacks since then as well.
The Paris Hilton ad was funny
Posted 07 Aug 2008 at 5:29 am ¶
Alfred Lopez wrote:
I think there can be a “Black Spokesperson”. But it has to be somebody diverse. Not too rich, not too poor. Not too educated, not too ignorant. Not too urban, not too White-washed.
Today, outsiders look at popular Blacks and try to label them as leaders. Two examples: Barack Obama and T.I. Obama because he is currently running for President and T.I. because Andrew Young has decided to take him under his wing.
Obama can’t be a Black spokesperson. He is applying for the spokesperson for all America people and it would be a conflict of interest. And while I respect what Andrew Young did and continues to do, T.I. or any other celebrity would be a horrible choice. They have exposure and are popular, but don’t have a good grasp on all Black issues.
If we want our youth to mature, become intelligent, and progress, we would pick a fresh face as our spokesperson. So they would get past this “OMG he is so Hott” or “Damn! Shawty is fine!” attitude and really listen to that person.
But what do I know…
Posted 07 Aug 2008 at 10:05 am ¶
The Cruel Secretary wrote:
@ mdot–I co-sign with BWBTT: snap-tastic response!
As much as I *know* in my heart of hearts and mind of brain that we Black folks are wonderfully diverse, I feel that we sometimes do fall into a racial-monolith rhetoric, that there’s a single way to be for the sake of “racial unity.” Be it what music hold import for communities (Chuck D’s famous statement of “rap is the CNN for Black people”), what sexualities and romantic/sexual alliances are considered correct (straight and mono-racial), and who gets to speak “for” us (that mess with what Jesses Jackson said about Barack Obama comes to my mind). Even the term “The Black Community” says “monolith.”
Those are my thoughts so far….
Posted 07 Aug 2008 at 3:16 pm ¶
Princess wrote:
As an open-minded individual, I’d like to think that there could be a “Black Spokesperson”, yet no matter how open-minded I can be, in my opinion this idea hasn’t worked very well.
It appears out of all of the meetings, think tanks, town hall meetings, and such, some so-called “Black Spokespersons” have merely become addicted to the high of being in front of the cameras and in the limelight. And MSM media controls when, where, how they can publicly speak up or speak out.
In the early 90s, one Black organization was low on funds, and had representives out on the streets soliciting donations. My girlfriend from Cleveland, OH was outraged. She called me up and said, “Here we go again, a bunch of important people sitting around in board meetings broke cause monies have possibly been mismanaged, and I’m supposed to care and assume they have my best interests at heart”.
In essence, since Blacks in America are so diverse I don’t think one single person or organization qualifies to speak for all.
Posted 07 Aug 2008 at 10:24 pm ¶
gatamala wrote:
*waves hand, taps mike* {is this thing on?}
Me!
Posted 08 Aug 2008 at 9:43 am ¶
The Cruel Secretary wrote:
@ gatamala–LOL!
Posted 08 Aug 2008 at 10:59 am ¶