Obama to put basketball court in White House

[DSTCHAOS]

All the bullisht aside, this has gotten the reacton that it's gotten (not by people in this thread) because:

BASKETBALL = BLACK
BASKETBALL = STREET
BASKETBALL = NONELITE
BASKETBALL = LOWER CLASS
blahzey blah

The Repubs and nonRepubs who have made this into a silly "issue" are using these images because of the threat of a black man, who is a Democrat, possibly becoming POTUS. Politics is never just about politics.

[tld221]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

All the bullisht aside, this has gotten the reacton that it's gotten (not by people in this thread) because:

BASKETBALL = BLACK
BASKETBALL = STREET
BASKETBALL = NONELITE
BASKETBALL = LOWER CLASS
blahzey blah

The Repubs and nonRepubs who have made this into a silly "issue" are using these images because of the threat of a black man, who is a Democrat, possibly becoming POTUS. Politics is never just about politics.

see, i thought this was a given and we just weren't addressing it. i mean this is where my head was from the start.

[KarmaKarma]

Obama is a good man

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by tld221

see, i thought this was a given and we just weren't addressing it. i mean this is where my head was from the start.

It's a given to people who aren't in denial. If not for denial, this would be nontopic.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

All the bullisht aside, this has gotten the reacton that it's gotten (not by people in this thread) because:

BASKETBALL = BLACK
BASKETBALL = STREET
BASKETBALL = NONELITE
BASKETBALL = LOWER CLASS
blahzey blah

The Repubs and nonRepubs who have made this into a silly "issue" are using these images because of the threat of a black man, who is a Democrat, possibly becoming POTUS. Politics is never just about politics.

EXACTLY. It's also the same thing with Fox News referrring to Michelle Obama as a "baby mama." It's not enough that both Obamas are double-Ivy graduates who have worked at one of the nation's top law firms, or that they're overachievers by anyone's standard. For all that, the media wants to knock them down to look ghetto. I experience it in my daily life, and I'm sick and tired of it.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

EXACTLY. It's also the same thing with Fox News referrring to Michelle Obama as a "baby mama." It's not enough that both Obamas are double-Ivy graduates who have worked at one of the nation's top law firms, or that they're overachievers by anyone's standard. For all that, the media wants to knock them down to look ghetto. I experience it in my daily life, and I'm sick and tired of it.

On one side:
This is yet another reminder to minorities that no matter how far you've come, you're still an (insert slur for racial, gender, or sexual orientation minority group) in "most" people's eyes. A black lawyer getting pulled over for DWB gets the same kind of reminders. It's just a question of when and how you'll be reminded. So we can try harder than the rest to be on level ground, but we must always remember not to get lost or swayed by the nonsense.

On the other side:
This is a way of frightening whites into believing that the Obamas aren't any "different" than any other black person who they wouldn't want working for their company, playing with their kids, or coming over for dinner. Just a regular black person in a suit who "talks white."

"Look!! He's going to have a BASKETBALL COURT with loud blasting music. He wasn't joking!! Don't believe that. He will also hold fish fries and Madea family reunions at the White House. We've got bigger fish to fry, (white) Americans, and can't let this country become GHETTOIZED!"

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

BASKETBALL = BLACK
BASKETBALL = STREET
BASKETBALL = NONELITE
BASKETBALL = LOWER CLASS
blahzey blah

Absolutely true, but it doesn't make much sense to hook it to Obama until he did it himself. Obama seems to be incredibly elitist, higher class, and the least street person. He's not even fully black.

I'm not saying it's good, but it seems Obama postures himself to be a "regular black guy", which is not the case. The little "fist bump" and talking about "baby mamma" and putting in a basketball court seems to be evidences of this. He's not a commoner, but pretends to be. Dubya did this sort of thing. Bill Clinton did this to a much greater degree. The only difference is Obama tries to play to his "stereotypical black" roots, whereas Dubya and Clinton were cowboy/country respectively.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

Absolutely true, but it doesn't make much sense to hook it to Obama until he did it himself. Obama seems to be incredibly elitist, higher class, and the least street person. He's not even fully black.

I'm not saying it's good, but it seems Obama postures himself to be a "regular black guy", which is not the case. The little "fist bump" and talking about "baby mamma" and putting in a basketball court seems to be evidences of this. He's not a commoner, but pretends to be. Dubya did this sort of thing. Bill Clinton did this to a much greater degree. The only difference is Obama tries to play to his "stereotypical black" roots, whereas Dubya and Clinton were cowboy/country respectively.

Being biracial doesn't make Obama not black or less black. Race is a social construct. I would've never guessed that he was biracial until it was disclosed to me.

Dubya and Bill Clinton are products of their country arse environments. Being wealthy and elite doesn't preclude enjoying many things that others from their areas enjoy. It doesn't mean they are faking it or trying to be something they're not.

Growing up in middle class and wealthy black circles has never meant that blacks could not relate to and enjoy things that blacks in other socioeconomic strata relate to and enjoy. Class differences across race don't have the magnitude that people assume they do.

I agree with you that it seems that some of the stereotypes are being played up by Obama and that may be an attempt to appeal to the average non-elitist American and his constituency. However, The ISSUE is that the naysayers are playing on the negative stereotypes of blackness and acting like black is something that SHOULD be ignored or downplayed. If Obama was the blackest of the blackenest black, but had the same class standing and credentials, why is that a problem whereas whiteness is never a problem?

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Being biracial doesn't make Obama not black or less black. Race is a social construct. I would've never guessed that he was biracial until it was disclosed to me.

Dubya and Bill Clinton are products of their country arse environments. Being wealthy and elite doesn't preclude enjoying many things that others from their areas enjoy. It doesn't mean they are faking it or trying to be something they're not.

Growing up in middle class and wealthy black circles has never meant that blacks could not relate to and enjoy things that blacks in other socioeconomic strata relate to and enjoy. Class differences across race don't have the magnitude that people assume they do.

I agree with you that it seems that some of the stereotypes are being played up by Obama and that may be an attempt to appeal to the average non-elitist American and his constituency. However, The ISSUE is that the naysayers are playing on the negative stereotypes of blackness and acting like black is something that SHOULD be ignored or downplayed. If Obama was the blackest of the blackenest black, but had the same class standing and credentials, why is that a problem whereas whiteness is never a problem?

I just see the watermelon and chicken jokes coming......

That reminds me...Curious George analogy is rising up in a different form....

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_9587847?source=rss

http://www.thesockobama.com/

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

I just see the watermelon and chicken jokes coming......

Uh...they started early in his life and got stronger when he announced his candidancy for president.

[ree-Xi]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

All the bullisht aside, this has gotten the reacton that it's gotten (not by people in this thread) because:

BASKETBALL = BLACK
BASKETBALL = STREET
BASKETBALL = NONELITE
BASKETBALL = LOWER CLASS
blahzey blah

The Repubs and nonRepubs who have made this into a silly "issue" are using these images because of the threat of a black man, who is a Democrat, possibly becoming POTUS. Politics is never just about politics.

You know, I just don't buy that this is THAT much more than just basketball. Sure, it's a great sound bite. Yes, Obama is (how do I say this) part black. But does that make this all about race?

At least half the guys I know, white/black/whatever, teenager or father of four, suburb or city dwellers - they are playing basketball in their driveways, in pickup games on the school courts, or even in evening basketball leagues. Three out of my five nieces and nephews (ages 8, 9, 13) play basketball, with two older ones on two teams each.

I stand by my statement that the game is an equalizer. You can play with minimal skill (and lose, but still play), with two people or ten, as long as you have something round to throw the ball into. I think that this should be taken just as it is - some guy saying that it would be cool to have a bball court at "home".

[starang21]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

You know, I just don't buy that this is THAT much more than just basketball. Sure, it's a great sound bite. Yes, Obama is (how do I say this) part black. But does that make this all about race?

At least half the guys I know, white/black/whatever, teenager or father of four, suburb or city dwellers - they are playing basketball in their driveways, in pickup games on the school courts, or even in evening basketball leagues. Three out of my five nieces and nephews (ages 8, 9, 13) play basketball, with two older ones on two teams each.

I stand by my statement that the game is an equalizer. You can play with minimal skill (and lose, but still play), with two people or ten, as long as you have something round to throw the ball into. I think that this should be taken just as it is - some guy saying that it would be cool to have a bball court at "home".

uhhhhh......

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by starang21

uhhhhh......

Yes, there are women and men of various cultures and races who play basketball at home, work, organized leagues, etc. Hell, the NBA used to be "white man city" so of course blacks aren't the only ones who play basketball.

But people know what images "streetball" conjures up in many minds and they also know the images that conjured up when the NBA stopped being "white man city." Basketball has always been listed as one of the sports where one doesn't need money or influence to play (perhaps what ree means by the "great equalizer") and class and race are very linked in this society.

Let's not act brand new up in here. Or were the racial comments in the original link a figment of everyone's imagination?

[starang21]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Yes, there are women and men of various cultures and races who play basketball at home, work, organized leagues, etc. Hell, the NBA used to be "white man city" so of course blacks aren't the only ones who play basketball.

But people know what images "streetball" conjures up in many minds and they also know the images that conjured up when the NBA stopped being "white man city." Basketball has always been listed as one of the sports where one doesn't need money or influence to play (perhaps what ree means by the "great equalizer") and class and race are very linked in this society.

Let's not act brand new up in here. Or were the racial comments in the original link a figment of everyone's imagination?

minorities are just a bunch of crazy, wily, people.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by starang21

minorities are just a bunch of crazy, wily, people.

Yes. :hallucinating: