373
Trump sure seems pissed off over the Obamas’ DNC jabs
(www.huffpost.com)
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
this post was submitted on 22 Aug 2024
373 points (97.9% liked)
politics
19159 readers
4538 users here now
Welcome to the discussion of US Politics!
Rules:
- Post only links to articles, Title must fairly describe link contents. If your title differs from the site’s, it should only be to add context or be more descriptive. Do not post entire articles in the body or in the comments.
Links must be to the original source, not an aggregator like Google Amp, MSN, or Yahoo.
Example:
- Articles must be relevant to politics. Links must be to quality and original content. Articles should be worth reading. Clickbait, stub articles, and rehosted or stolen content are not allowed. Check your source for Reliability and Bias here.
- Be civil, No violations of TOS. It’s OK to say the subject of an article is behaving like a (pejorative, pejorative). It’s NOT OK to say another USER is (pejorative). Strong language is fine, just not directed at other members. Engage in good-faith and with respect! This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban.
- No memes, trolling, or low-effort comments. Reposts, misinformation, off-topic, trolling, or offensive. Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.
- Vote based on comment quality, not agreement. This community aims to foster discussion; please reward people for putting effort into articulating their viewpoint, even if you disagree with it.
- No hate speech, slurs, celebrating death, advocating violence, or abusive language. This will result in a ban. Usernames containing racist, or inappropriate slurs will be banned without warning
We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.
All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.
That's all the rules!
Civic Links
• Congressional Awards Program
• Library of Congress Legislative Resources
• U.S. House of Representatives
Partnered Communities:
• News
founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
I agree. Just a heads up
is often considered a micro-aggression
especially when using the word “articulate.”
I know that wasn’t your intent and I’m not “calling you out.”It’s just an FYI re: phrasing that easily summons a larger history of backhanded complements.
Further reading on the subject, in case you’re interested:
When the color of their skin is otherwise irrelevant, I get you, but in this instance I think it's relevant because Trump seems like a racist idiot. It's salt upon injury, not because a rare black man who happens to be articulate owned him, but because a rare articulate man who happens to be black did. The point is the same, but the latter doesn't perpetuate racism. Context matters.
Maybe I'm too naive, but that's how I interpreted OP's comment.
I hear you. To be clear I wasn’t accusing the new user of ill-intent, certainly not of racism, or even implicit bias. As you said, Obama is commonly regarded as a world-class orator, so it’s just true, and also would bother the tangerine palpatine who speaks in crayon.
It is merely insensitive, and likely due to a lack of awareness, which is why throwing a flag right away is preferred, especially in a forum where black people are less well represented (for now).
As to why it is insensitive: while it’s usually meant as a compliment, noting that a black person is well-spoken — especially when using the word “articulate” — happens to summon a long history of people being surprised that black people can speak so well. And while this example of racial insensitivity isn’t as well-known in popular culture as, say, blackface, it is not at all obscure. The links I posted above are a tiny sample of the articles, books, and memes pertaining to the subject.
In other words, simply using the phrase “articulate black man” unironically is enough to strongly suggest the author is oblivious to the fact. And judging by all the downvotes on my comment (and now throughout my comment history lol) I’m guessing many others in this forum are oblivious to it as well.
So I threw a flag, partly to make the user aware of the insensitivity, partly because I suspected many others in this forum might be similarly unaware, but mainly because I’d prefer this place be welcoming to everyone.
And damning with faint praise. Obama remains the greatest orator of this century.
Agreed. I do miss having an especially thoughtful and couth figurehead representing us on the world stage, just someone we could generally be proud of.
Of course that feeling was especially pronounced when the following act was and is a global embarrassment and weirdly consummate avatar for all our worst qualities.
"They sound articulate" is the white origin of "you sound white" for black people who've internalized that horrid take.
Right and it’s just code switching. People of all races do it without thinking. The dominant strain of English in the US can sound “white” to urban poc, “academic” to rural white people, or “yank” to white people abroad. It’s only loosely associated with aggregate identities.
Here in NYC, at least in my neighborhood, code switching is constant and routine.
So what do you do with inarticulate old white men who are successful despite themselves due to old white man privelege?
Shave their belly with a rusty razor?