Tuesday, October 30, 2012

John Sununu, Colin Powell, and the racialization of Black American politicans

In this news article on CBS.com from October 26, the writers state that John Sununu, a Mitt Romney surrogate, said that Colin Powell, a Black American Republican political official, was supporting President Obama for re-election because Colin Powell and President Obama are both Black. Sununu said, "When you take a look at Colin Powell, you have to look at whether that's an endorsement based on issues or he's got a slightly different reason for endorsing President Obama."

Link to story: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-34222_162-57541013/sununu-suggests-colin-powells-obama-endorsement-racially-driven/

This statement is an example of racialization, the process by which non-racial things (like supporting a candidate for president) are understood to be racial issues: because of Colin Powell's skin color, and that of the President, Powell's endorsement was understood to be about skin color, rather than politics. Although it is true that race and racialization invariably play some part in politics, it is clear here that Black American politicians are held to different standards and expectations because of their perceived race. Sununu himself, for example, is never accused of (or has implied about him) that he is supporting Mitt Romney because they are both white.


1 comment:

  1. And if I were a commenter, I'd be like "What? That's also about the ideology of color-blind racism says people aren't straight out racist, they just talk about it another way. So John Sununu says "look at Colin Powell" and later says something like "seeing someone like you as President", but doesn't say that Black people are like this, or that only white people should be allowed to vote. He's just implying it." So it's more casual, but still needs to have a cultural object (new or the original one), a class term or concept, and 304 sentences.

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