Urban Thought Collective

Barack Obama is Sidney Poitier. He is smooth and handsome, eloquent and commanding in person and on-screen. He is magnetic, polite, intelligent and refined. He is clean-shaven and physically non-threatening. He isn’t too loud or boastful. He is calm and collected, temper flaring only in response to rampant injustice.

The Oscar-winning Poitier was always cast as the exception to the “black rule.” While the overriding image of black men was that of thief, thug, animal and brute, he was the educated, clean cut guy just trying to find his place in the world. In one of Poitier’s most popular films, “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” (which, when it was released in 1967 was touted as “A love story for today”) the theme was a young white woman falling in love and wanting to marry a charismatic black man. But in order for him to pass the test and be accepted by her parents, he couldn’t be just any black man. Not a nice, well-mannered dock worker or a union guy. Not a kind man who treated her well and adhered to a strict code of moral values that would make a saint seem a sinner. No, he had to be an Ivy League genius who was this close to finding the cure for cancer. He had to be extraordinary. He had to be able to be introduced as “This is my daughter’s husband. Yes, he’s colored. But, he went to Harvard!” Always the exception.

In the days when Poitier ruled the screen, black male actors were always warned that if they wanted to get a role, they better demure a bit. Hide the “black beast” within. That means no beards, no clothing that may show off your body, keep your voice in a reasonable register. And whatever you do, don’t look at or covet a white woman in public. He was the anti Jim Brown, who flaunted his toughness, his women and his money like tomorrow would never come. Poitier was the dove to Brown’s lion.

That is what Barack Obama must be for the duration of his political career. He mustn’t be too black, or too strong. He must not talk too loud or show a whiff of righteous indignation. Heaven forbid he shows any propensity for a nice piece of jewelry. Can’t have a blingy President, you see. He better not be heard telling his wife to “give me some sugar” or call her “boo” when there is a hot mic around. I kid. The point is, he better pin his courage to the sticking place and tuck away his tendency to be what the world categorizes as a real “brotha.” He has perfected this game, the art of so-called “crossing over.”

If this improbable journey does in fact lead him to Pennsylvania Avenue, I wonder how much of his soul Obama will have to give away? I’m not speaking from a place of paranoia. I’m talking about the fact that a black man may occupy the highest office, and in order to do that, he must hide some of his natural inclinations. We all do it. When we are at home we relax, say a few more “ya’ll’s and ain’ts” than we do in mixed company. We say “what’s up” when we answer the phone, or let a “oh, hell no!” slip out. As the Prez, Obama will have to keep a tight reign on the soulfulness that comes from moving and being in the skin we are in. It is a beautiful poetry that not everyone can understand. We are a culture that is constantly inventing and bending this language to accommodate our creativity. But, when simply giving dap is labeled a “terrorist fist jab” by a major media outlet, you learn quickly that the everyday ease in which you express yourself must be quickly curtailed.

One of the most interesting developments to come out of this election season is the unveiling of a fact that black folks have known all along. Whites have never really seen us. Not to generalize, but the majority of them see us as a different species. Our mother’s can’t be as nurturing or coddling as theirs, most of our father’s are absent. Our hair is different, we tend to shout. Michelle Obama practically has to be shown nursing her kids prove that she is in fact “a real mother who loves her children.” Alas, we live with the stereotypes and roll with it. There will forever be something to get over.

So, in the words of Tupac, I ain’t mad atcha, Barack! It’s all to the good. Do you home slice, do you. In the last 19 months of grueling campaigning, he has proven something intangible to the world. The past does not have to define our future. We can move forward and at least try to change what’s wrong with our country, with ourselves. We can at least try something new and different and work together.

Should we watch with bated breath as he takes his oath in January, we’ll all know that even though he can’t show it, he is still and will always be our Soul Man.

Ellene Miles has worked as an entertainment publicist for more than 6 years. Her collections of rants are featured exclusively on UTC for the good of the people.