Old School Racial Politics

It was already a lose, lose situation. However, Illinois Representative Bobby Rush’s comments made it more of an uncomfortable one. Rep. Rush’s statements were indicative of old school racial politics. He squashed any questioning of Blagojevich’s appointee by claiming we need more African Americans in the senate. He goes further to put on notice anyone who questions the appointment. To praise the governor simply for appointing an African American is a lame argument.

The racial overtones were clear and unfortunate. While I can understand his frustration with the lack of racial diversity in the senate, to minimize the issue and use the race of the appointee to essentially bully people into submission is unnecessary. Rush attempts to elevate the appointment of an African American to “tremendous national importance.” Sure we need more African Americans in the Senate. We need more people of color in the ranks of government in general to be more representative of our society. However, you can get that point across without using the tactic of shaming us out of questioning the details of this messy situation.

Rush continues beyond his call for numerical increases asking us not to “hang or lynch” the appointee and to separate “the appointee from the appointer.” Again, the racial connotation is clear and to me sounds like an attempt to silence interrogators. He goes a step further to state, “I don’t think any US senator… want[s] to go on record to deny one African American from being seated in the US senate.” This assertion is what got me fired up. Part of me understands that he was trying to stand up in the face of immediate allegations that Burris is tainted based on his appointment by the controversial governor. However, the comment wreaks of old school racial politics.

Historically, it was generally accepted to block the achievements of a person solely based on race. In that pre-Civil Rights Movement climate, it makes sense to call out those who dare to stand in the way of a qualified individual. However, racial politics have progressed. To be clear, racial discrimination occurs, and I’m sure blocks the progress of many. However, the issues are more complicated and to intimidate senators from coming forward to question an appointee because of his race is to send the message that you assume we live in the past tense. It misses the complexities of race today and does a number on intergroup dialogue.

To be fair, Roland Burris does have a long history of service in the state of Illinois. In many ways, it was a safe choice given the fact that the people of IL voted him into office on numerous occasions. However, he has a number of obstacles before him regardless of his race. For starters, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White stated that he would not certify the appointee and majority leader Harry Reid stated the Democratic caucus would not seat the appointee. For these reasons and more that we have yet to uncover, Rush’s use of old school racial politics to make race the front and center issue misses the mark.