Obama, Johnson, and Racial Politics

As a liberalist and a Democrat, I am amazed hearing the acceptance speech delivered by Barack Obama in his presidential nominee in last-week party convention. He highlights his core pledge: Change we can believe in.

However, he describes in details some typical policies-to-strive, e.g., health assurance for all, improvement on education quality, increase on economic growth and distribution, decrease on self-dependency on Mid-East oil, withdrawal of US Army from Iraq, and alleviation on the Government of Afghanistan.

To start a national campaign, the speech is comprehensive and faultless. That is my conclusion watching Obama’s speech that night. But, morning papers carry other news. Indeed, I do not represent my whole party. There are many activists, especially Afro-American, questioning Obama’s approach.

Juan Williams is an example, renowned commentator for radio and public television, a historical author for Afro-American people led by Martin Luther King Jr. in second-half of 20^th century. His complain is that Obama has become a stealth candidate, a candidate who keeps in secret his true view on the resolve of racial issue in America. In resentful tone, Williams insists on Obama take a role as the heart of nation during his campaign. Racial justice is beyond bargaining.

Instead of Williams counsel, I prefer the approach of Robert Caro, a Pulitzer Winner, and the author of four-volume-autobiography of Lyndon Johnson, Democrat politician elected as US President 1963-1968. According to Caro, rather than overacting statement on the early, what does matter is the end of the struggle. For him, Johnson is ‘politics genius’ who enables Obama’s candidacy years later.

Before elected as a president, Johnson represented State of Texas in Congress for years and became ‘a tough guy’ in Senat. The power he gradually developed was built upon two things. He knew very well how to employ political resources he had to persuade or to force others to go after his willss. And, he did on purpose to rely his life on the support of senators from South, white politicians supporting for racism.

Histories

Johnson then was changed. In 1957, with all his political ability he strived for first code on civil rights, which was passed to codified (though very fragile) in Senat in 1870.

In 1965, as the movement on civil right led by Martin Luther Jr. went to its climax, Johnson as a president acted more drastically. He sent the Congress a voting rights act, a historical proposal for voting rights, to eliminate all codes preventing Afro-American from voting in South.

Many Americans cried, including King, as Johnson said sublime words on civil rights act: we shall overcome. I, myself, am impressed, and startled as well, however, Johnson is white guy born and raised in racist environment in South.

Caro connects directly the passed Code with the present fact. He emphasizes that Barack Obama is elected as Democrat candidate for, partly, in 2008 all Afro-American have rights to vote.

What did transform Lyndon B Johnson, a racism defender, into chief champion for Afro-American rights? Personally, Johnson had no bad tendency against these people. Since he was child, he believed that we all are equally created by God.

In Johnson’s mind, according to Caro’s version, ambition and compassion met in 1957. Johnson realized that to be elected US President he must abandon ‘the scent of Magnolia,’ a perfumed-flower as a sign reactionary political culture in South.

Caro’s book is intended to prove that Lyndon B Johnson took significant role to win the struggle of civil rights for Afro-American people.

He is right, but, there is important lesson for us all. In politics, big triumph is not always in straight ways. Barrack Obama does not announce racial justice for one pillar of his campaign.

However, I believe, racial justice, and social justice, will be better if Obama is elected as US President in November 4.

Source Language:

R William Liddle. Obama, Johnson, dan Politik Ras. Kompas: 10 September 2008