The way I express my belief in equality is by treating Condi the same way I would treat anybody else who was in the same position and espousing the same policies. It would be wrong to criticize her more than the rest of the Bush administration (the "women should be genetically nicer" motif). But it would also be wrong to overlook her actions just because it's cool to see a black woman in a position of power.

First a disclaimer: I come from a mixed race family...and we have discussed the topic of Aissato Bey's "airing our dirty laundry" arguement.

It racist. This is exactly how racism starts. This is no different than southern US protection of the KKK. Essentially what Bey is saying is that race is more important than humanity, justice or truth. This way always leads straight to hell on earth, it is the worst kind of hypocracy and racist bull.

As a matter of fact, it is the same exact excuse that white's used to avoid prosecution of cases such as Emmett Till.

Well, it's not just about race, it's about culture. I joined a very active Girl Scout troop in a predominantly black (didn't realize that the white folks in my neighborhood who were married to black people were white until I was an adult) Catholic Parish. I've been involved in community service ever since. Even in college, I made sure I volunteered somehow/somewhere every semester because, be it the "real" Catholicism or the sense of responsibility for those less fortunate, I was taught as a member of the black community that I had to help somebody.

I think that is what Condoleeza is missing. It is fine that she's accomplished so much. But, the missing link with her, and many other Republicans, is the sense of social justice and civic responsibility.

I belong to a community service organization now and live in a place where Hispanics are a at need/risk. That is who we have to help ... despite me being black.

I "hear" that Condi's father didn't join the civil rights movement until those girls were killed in Birmingham ... They were "good negroes" who thought that things would get better on their own.

Condi still seems to play into that and her parents should be proud. She knew that she had to be three times as good to get half as far and now she is the only black woman amidst a crowd of old, privileged, white men.

Sorry, I just have a difference of opinion on what makes someone successful. Being and old white man has never been my goal.

Many successful black people believe that unless you are helping someone else, you are not accomplished. I've seen no evidence that Condi has been about anyone but herself ... just like our President.

"discussing the complicated, yet clear, role of Condoleezza in the eyes of African American and African women world-wide."

It should of said "in the eyes of LEFTIST African American and LEFTIST African women world-wide."

Successful black republicans like Condi, Clarence Thomas, and Colin Powell will always be found lacking by the left. You notice that even the compliments she is given in the article are backhanded.

I'd submit that Colin Powell does not belong in that group.

But since most blacks are 'leftist', you will see a large representation of those viewpoints in black media. (I'm not counting paid shills as rightist- so Armstrong Williams and the rest of those are out)

Actually, I think that most blacks are right wing but don't know it or won't acknowledge it with a vote. They agree with many of the GOP talking points but cannot get beyond the racist history and the same thing that drives the GOP's other opinons,drives racism. People like Condi fail to acknowledge that the party of Lincoln (which is a joke too) is now the party of Goldwater ...

"But since most blacks are 'leftist'"

That comment kinda kreeps me out. Yes it is true that the demographics of "black" folks tend to vote democratic, but that has to do with the stand of Republican Party on civil rights. My parents are a great example: White dad...he believes in public shcools, Black mon...supports school vouchers, mainly because she believes the fact that the reason black children across Amerika score lower on tests is the racism of poor expectations on the parts of schools (but still votes democratic).

Both my sisters go to chruch each Sunday, and the entire black community that I've been exposed to here in Chicago seems in general to be more religiously oriented (normally considered a conservative trait).

It's not so simple as left/right. My family has many liberal issues that they agree with, and many coservative issues they agree with.

For instance my uncle votes democratic, but is very much pro-gun, mainly because the first time gun control appeared in this country it was the KKK trying to limit gun access in Jim Crow south so that blacks could not protect themselves when they showed up to do some lynching.

It's just not so simple...and comments like "But since most blacks are 'leftist'" seem to me to sound like "most women are bad drivers" or Larry Summers assertions that it is genetics that result in fewer female scientists.

Johnny ... right... except I was a black Catholic in the days of the first Daley and knew that he was part of the reason that MLK said that Chicago was worst than Birmhingham. I knew where I could go and where I couldn't because I feared Irish Catholics (supposed to be my partners in faith) throwing bricks at my car or spitting on me. The stood outside of a Catholic church and threw stuff at Harold Washington in the early 80s. I went to a Jesuit University in Milwaukee and had to dodge beer bottles from drunk white Catholics on the way from the library back to my dorm on Saturday afternoons ... Those folks are the parents of college students now ... Black people do tend to be conservative but their white counterparts do not have their best intersts at heart.

qusan

I'm not trying to give you a hard time...really.

Yes, many whites are racist and evil. Many humans are racist and evil. Many blacks are racist and evil. (look at black Jamiaca's attitude towards gays) But the last thing you want to imply to someone with a white father and a black mother is that "all white" people "thang".

Some white counterparts do not have their best intersts at heart...more than true enough, and something best shouted from the roof tops. We have to call prejudice out where ever it is, wheter it's against "blacks" or "women" or whatever....

BUT>>>some whites do...some whites supported Washington as mayor...not enough I will certainly grant you...

BUT...this "all whites" are that way, or all "blacks" are this way, is without exception, racist trash.

Don't buy into the all anything ... I get called an "oreo" all the time and am hardly isolated into one way of thinking. I'm just stating my experience and, sadly, even on the blogs I see the same things I did 30 years ago and these people have kids.

I don't know about all that left/right blah blah blah y'all are throwing around. I do know that most people outside of the US (who aren't fascists) tend to be considered 'leftists' by mainstream america (even Germany and Italy... i mean, dang, that's ridiculous), so you can go ahead and say 'LEFTIST African women' all you want, but i'd venture to say that that statement covers a sizeable majority of African women.
As far as the political leanings of African-descended people in the US, i think it's quite a stretch to say they're all repressed right-wingers... not just because of the significant recent voting history of Black people and women and Black women, but also because of the political stances of the majority of prominent Black public figures (heck, here in NYC, we've got Charles Rangel and out in the bay there's Barbara Lee, one of the most courageous congresspeople out there) who've made their views well-known on a variety of issues aside from racism. Even Bill Cosby, who catches plenty of flak from the 'traditional' left, is quite left of what is considered center in this nation.
As far as the actual story goes, i think it's a quandary for any oppressed group of people when a member achieves some public acclaim, yet does not represent the popular sentiment of his/her background. However, i don't think Condi should be judged on a basis of her race - for good or for bad. But that's just me.

I am considering a wide variety of issues in calling most blacks leftist. Sure, there is a sad vein of homophobia in the black community, and of course we all have a lot of differing opinions on many issues- however- there are many black politicans being elected across the country by black people- but only a few of them are right wingers- the most prominent right wing blacks are either appointed by whites(Condi, Justice Thomas), paid shills(Armstrong Williams) or just people who get famous by confirming what whites already think(like John McWhorter) But I do not see them having the broad base of support that more leftist black leaders get.

If blacks were really rightist as a whole, we could produce their own right wing leaders and elect them to office. But what right wing blacks are winning the office? They can't just do it on the backs of blacks who think they are the special negro, you know?