Pundits talk of black votes as though it is this homogeneous cohort that is up for grab by anybody just like that. Black leaders following Dr. King have essentially done a disservice to their constituent by failing to advocate for mainstream issues such as economic injustice, skewed unemployment, equal opportunity, etc. These leaders for their opportunistic reasons have tended to represent black people only on the fringes: expanding of welfare programs and vigilante policing.
Their motives may in part be because these are trigger issues that assert their prominence in the community, nonetheless, their actions have had a far-reaching effect on status of black people in America. It was no surprising black leaders were not so enthusiastic about candidate Obama in large part because he refused to introduce himself as black presidential candidate. The rift was so pronounced to the extent that the media started writing about obituary of black politics soon after Obama won the election in 2008 with amusing captions such as "Obama victory symbolizes the dead of black politics". If anything, Obama's presidency represents a moment of decency in black politics in America.
Along came the spoiler, Herman Cain, who is quintessential black man compared to President Obama with mixed background and his father hailing from Kenya, interestingly, Mr. Cain speaks more like rich white republican than President Obama does look white. So now we know of one thing: it is not always the color that makes one black/minority in America, it is economic status. The take home from this is that, econemic justice in America is color blind, period.
It was interesting for Herman Cain of all breeds to play the black card when the going got though for him. Thanks goodness no black person in America sided with him. This is indicative of how black politics has come of age in America.
