Rock ‘n’ Roll More Responsible than Jackson, Sharpton, and Du Bois for Obama’s Win

In an American Literature class, I was fortunate to read selections of Booker T. Washington’s Up From Slavery followed by W.E.B. Du Bois The Souls of Black Folk. As I discovered these two black American visionaries, I realized the issues facing black leaders have changed little. Blacks are divided by those who go out and do for themselves, Uncle Toms, and those who depend on self-absorbed civil rights leaders without a real record of advancing race relations in America, the victims. I realized advancements in race occurred because of contributions not protests and legislation.

In the years following the 13th Amendment, much debate took place between the beliefs of Washington and Du Bois. Washington took the let’s work hard and become productive members of American society approach. He understood that acceptance wasn’t going to come overnight. Du Bois took the radical approach of political protest. His veil promotes victimization. Interestingly enough, Du Bois’s road led to socialism and eventually communism (scary, huh?). I can’t write this any better than Ellis Washington wrote in his essay titled “Du Bois vs. Washington: Old Lessons Black People have not Learned.”

The dichotomy between Du Bois and Washington would be that of expediency versus patience; political protest verses self-help; overt activism in the streets verses the quiet assiduousness of personal and moral development in the home; seeking redress of rights in the courts of America for better jobs, schools and educational opportunities versus seeking knowledge in the libraries of America and creating our own jobs, schools, and educational opportunities; forcing Whites to accept us as equals verses showing Whites that we can first treat each other as equals. Such were (and presently are) the choices Black America must choose.

Unfortunately, in my opinion, by choosing Du Bois (the seemingly easy choice; requiring less personal capital) Black people entered a Faustian bargain with the devil which has led them down the road of frustration and pathology. Ninety years after Du Bois and other Whites founded the NAACP in 1909, Blacks are still paying for the sins of their forefathers by following the leadership of Du Bois over that of Washington.

Reading Up From Slavery saddened me. Washington passionately wrote the model for success, and yet, it goes ignored by race baiters like Jackson and Sharpton. They pray that blacks are suffering so they further stuff their bank accounts lecturing and leading protests in the footsteps of Du Bois. Any time a black, such as Clarence Thomas, has walked on the path of Washington, many blacks consider them sellouts to their race.

We know what Obama thinks of Thomas from the debates, and it wasn’t celebratory towards breaking another color barrier. Let’s celebrate Obama because he is black. Seems like a double standard for me–celebrate the liberal who used the system, protested, and organized but demonize the conservative who did it on his own.

Washington’s basic themes were work hard and the contributions that blacks make to society will promote the lives of black Americans in time. He was right. Let’s take a look at one of my favorite parts of American culture, Rock ‘n’ Roll, the music of the black man.

The 1950’s were a time that saw our nation’s children begin to rebel with rhythm and blues music rooted in black spirituals and gospel music. White kids noticed these sounds. A phenomenon called rock ‘n’ roll began to take the nation’s airwaves by storm. Rebellious children were dancing dangerously, swaying their hips to the sexually charged beats of the black music. White entertainers like Elvis Presley were singing these same rhythms trying to sound black. This black contribution started to change race relations in the United States.

Whites started to take interest in black culture through music. Entertainers like Ray Charles, Chuck Berry, and Little Richard were selling records to white teenagers faster than the records could be pressed. Unfortunately, not all whites accepted this art form as healthy for our children. Many of these entertainers still had to deal with a color line; however, one could argue that a movement had begun that helped black culture advance in this country. Even though Washington wanted blacks to be known for greater accomplishments than art, it was still a start in the right direction.

As a generation passed, more black entertainers expanded the musical movement; which in turn calmed racial tensions. Even Martin Luther King admitted this phenomenon. In 1967, he addressed a group of disc jockeys in Atlanta. “In a real sense you have paved the way for social and political change by creating a powerful, cultural bridge between black and white…. You introduced youth to that music and created a language of soul and promoted the dances which now sweep across race, class and nation.”

Du Bois forcing the issues created tensions that still exist today. The familiar names in civil rights leadership still practice these methods.

Pop culture is more responsible for black advancement than any political protest or piece of legislation. The kids who bought these records grew up appreciating black culture and its contribution. These records placed black artists in the mainstream, and this would continue to spread on TV, movies, and sports. The contributions, not the protests and laws, promoted blacks in this country. Booker T. Washington was right. I hope Obama is familiar with Washington’s lessons but knowing Obama’s past, I am not optimistic.
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