Chris Matthews: ‘I Forgot Obama Was Black For An Hour’

I think that it’s a travesty that we always take race related comments negatively. When I recieved the message, which was just a portion of what Chris Matthews said I was upset. After hearing the comment in it’s entirety I have to applaud him. Isn’t this what we want, not to be judged by our skin color. I understood it as, he just saw a man standing before a diverse group making a very pointed speech.

I suppose that was suppose to be a coming up of sorts. I didn’t forget for one second he was Black. I didn’t consciously consider it in the forefront of my thoughts, but I was aware of it. I think Chris is saying that the bar for him,is when he can disregard or not be consciouly aware of the fact that you are, and pardon me for my digression, ‘Black’.

When I look at anyone White speaking, I see a White person saying something, thats what I see. When speaking generally it isn’t pertinent to mention the color of their skin as much as the content of their speech. If it should become pertinent then their race is mentioned.

Chris had an epiphany alright, they call it a Freudian Slip. He let us into his psychic. He shared his sense of comfort with a Black Leader, but he stated the condition that made him comfortable. He was uncomfortably honest at that moment.

This reminds me of a guy I was driving That ask me, ” Why don’t Black people Just forget that they are black? They would get along Better”. As I had to stop and think. I responded with this, “Most black People would like to be viewed as just another leaf we just past on one of the trees on this street, However, most of The United Stated won’t let (black People) them for get who they are, and this is the reason that most African Descendents can’t for get who they are.

Whenever I hear statements like that it’s always in the context that the absence of “blackeness” sounds like a plus. “He’s not like other black people”, “I don’t see your blackness.”.. etc. It has the effect of erasing one’s very essence in order to make a person palatable to whites. It’s insulting, but also ignorant. I like Chris Matthews. I don’t think he meant it to insult. He’s crazy about Obama, but many well-meaning whites have rubbed me the wrong way in similar fashion. Why must my being black in the boardroom be a detriment.