The Affirmative Action Peace Prize
by Linda Leigh Hargrove ~ October 20th, 2009. Filed under: racial healing, racial identity.I’m not old enough to have witnessed the road Dr. King walked towards his goal of equal rights for every American. But I do remember the televised struggles of dark-skinned South Africans like Bishop Tutu and Nelson Mandela against a racist regime. And how could I ever forget Lech Walesa’s struggle against communism in Poland? As a college student, I found Mr. Walesa’s ordeal heart-rending.
King, Tutu, Mandela, and Walesa. Four men that all walked the long and hard road to peace for country and for all mankind. They risked life and achieved measurable peace, in some way or another.
This year, the 44th U.S. President won the Nobel Peace Prize. To tell the truth, it was a shock. My response of ‘He won what?’ was not much different from some of the responses found on Ed Gilbreath’s post.
Many world peace leaders weighed in on the award. It seems everyone from Desmond Tutu to a spokeperson from the Taliban registered an opinion: read them here.
On another site, I found Poland’s response, in particular Lech Walesa’s comments, the most interesting.
“Who? What? So fast?” said Mr. Walesa.
I agree to the Polish leader 100%. Is it an award for what we hope you will do based on a handful of accomplishments and your long-range goals? Of course not. If that’s the case then Poland, South Africa, and black America would still be frozen under the grip of state-led oppression.
Lately I’ve been made to feel that for a black American to question the award to Obama somehow makes one a sell out.
I’m only asking that we apply the same principle to everyone across the board.
Or do we apply a different standard when you make an international award to a black man in post-racial America?
