I Wonder If and How He'll Respond

[wlotus]

I'm studying Dr. Cornel West's 1993 book Race Matters and am enjoying the mental stimulation very much. But as I ended Chapter 1 and began Chapter 2, I wondered what he would say has changed or remained the same since he published that book. For example, I found what I hope is his Facebook page and sent him the following message. I hope he responds; I am very interested in hearing his point of view.

Dear Dr. West:

You began Chapter 2 of "Race Matters" by criticizing black leaders for failing to admit Clarence Thomas was unqualified to be nominated for the Supreme Court. You called his academic record "undistinguished" and his career as an appellate court judge "mediocre". Yet in 2008 you campaigned for Barack Obama to become president, a man whose academic record was also undistinguished, and whose mediocre career on Capital Hill included spending more time campaigning for president than doing the job he was elected for. What changed in the 15 years since "Race Matters" was published that allowed you to justify campaigning for him, rather than denouncing him as unqualified? Do you feel that by campaigning for him, you have made the same mistake you said other black leaders made with Clarence Thomas: "rendering invisible highly qualified black [politicians] who deserve serious consideration for [election] to the [presidency]"?

Sincerely,
wlotus

Comments

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

There's an old, Italian word- "papabile" meaning "capable of becoming pope". Some people are "papabile" and some aren't. It's an intangible quality, but you sort of know it when you see it. And it doesn't have a whole lot to do with qualifications or voting record or achievement. The thing about Obama (about whom I share your reservations) is that he's eminently papabile. He has that aura. I suppose the same was true of Bush. He had something about him that made people think he was capable of filling that role.

[wlotus.livejournal.com]

They both have qualities of initially appearing to be non-threatening and approachable. Couple that with Obama's ability to make speeches that may have little substance but move people's souls--it's something black preachers do and do very well--and you have someone quite convincing.