Four black men. Four stories
December 18, 2009 2:39 AM Subscribe
Four black men. Single picture link, but what it is to imagine the uniquely American story behind how these four black men got to this same place.
This post was deleted for the following reason: Single-image links are fine but they should (mainly) stand on their own. This doesn't, not without the OP's editorializing. -- vacapinta
What it is. It is. To imagine. Is it? American stories, uniquely, imagined. Is it, uniquely American? It is. What is? It. Imagine.
posted by mek at 2:50 AM on December 18, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by mek at 2:50 AM on December 18, 2009 [2 favorites]
It is uniquely American - I can't imagine any other country electing a POTUS.
posted by Abiezer at 2:59 AM on December 18, 2009
posted by Abiezer at 2:59 AM on December 18, 2009
Good intentions here, but as a post it's on the iffley side.
posted by rudster at 3:01 AM on December 18, 2009
posted by rudster at 3:01 AM on December 18, 2009
sorry - in what way is this “uniquely American” ?
posted by silence
in the way that these are all (presumably) African Americans in one way or another. In that our period of slavery lasted 100 years longer than the rest of the western world (more if you count Jim Crow) and made us all totally insane about race, and yet the democratic ideals upon which we are based, formulated uniquely in the world by the slaveowners who founded us, made it possible for the most powerful person in the government and the man who cleans his toilet to share that history in all its shame and triumph. I think it's a pretty great picture.
Identities of the three non-presidents?
posted by Potomac Avenue at 3:03 AM on December 18, 2009 [11 favorites]
posted by silence
in the way that these are all (presumably) African Americans in one way or another. In that our period of slavery lasted 100 years longer than the rest of the western world (more if you count Jim Crow) and made us all totally insane about race, and yet the democratic ideals upon which we are based, formulated uniquely in the world by the slaveowners who founded us, made it possible for the most powerful person in the government and the man who cleans his toilet to share that history in all its shame and triumph. I think it's a pretty great picture.
Identities of the three non-presidents?
posted by Potomac Avenue at 3:03 AM on December 18, 2009 [11 favorites]
This post will make Glenn Beck cry.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:05 AM on December 18, 2009
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:05 AM on December 18, 2009
Potomac Avenue: Identities of the three non-presidents?
From Flickr photo page: "President Barack Obama fist-bumps custodian Lawrence Lipscomb in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building following the opening session of the White House Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth, Dec. 3, 2009."
One down, two to go.
posted by Kattullus at 3:09 AM on December 18, 2009
From Flickr photo page: "President Barack Obama fist-bumps custodian Lawrence Lipscomb in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building following the opening session of the White House Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth, Dec. 3, 2009."
One down, two to go.
posted by Kattullus at 3:09 AM on December 18, 2009
sorry, black man in b4 delete
posted by Eideteker at 3:13 AM on December 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Eideteker at 3:13 AM on December 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
Is there a nationwide sale on alcohol in the States or something?
posted by Paragon at 3:24 AM on December 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Paragon at 3:24 AM on December 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
hmm, US-centric navel gazing.
Seriously, your country really isn't as facinating as this post implies you think it is
posted by fatfrank at 3:29 AM on December 18, 2009 [2 favorites]
Seriously, your country really isn't as facinating as this post implies you think it is
posted by fatfrank at 3:29 AM on December 18, 2009 [2 favorites]
When I saw that photo, it was like a majestic bald eagle perched upon my heart.
posted by eatyourcellphone at 3:30 AM on December 18, 2009
posted by eatyourcellphone at 3:30 AM on December 18, 2009
US-centric navel gazing
You do realise what website you're on don't you?
posted by fire&wings at 3:36 AM on December 18, 2009
You do realise what website you're on don't you?
posted by fire&wings at 3:36 AM on December 18, 2009
black man in b4 delete
Sistah in b4 delete.
Also, 2nding Potomac. Beautifully put, dude.
posted by magstheaxe at 3:40 AM on December 18, 2009
Sistah in b4 delete.
Also, 2nding Potomac. Beautifully put, dude.
posted by magstheaxe at 3:40 AM on December 18, 2009
Replace the description with potomac's comment, add a couple more links, and I think we'll have an FPP!
posted by mmoncur at 3:41 AM on December 18, 2009
posted by mmoncur at 3:41 AM on December 18, 2009
You do realise what website you're on don't you?
Please... lets not have the "MeFi is a US website" vs "Interwebs are International" arguments again...
posted by twine42 at 3:42 AM on December 18, 2009
Please... lets not have the "MeFi is a US website" vs "Interwebs are International" arguments again...
posted by twine42 at 3:42 AM on December 18, 2009
i dunno, the janitor looks more latino to me.
posted by billybobtoo at 3:43 AM on December 18, 2009
posted by billybobtoo at 3:43 AM on December 18, 2009
You do realise what website you're on don't you?
What, you mean this isn't Horse and Hound?
posted by fatfrank at 3:43 AM on December 18, 2009
What, you mean this isn't Horse and Hound?
posted by fatfrank at 3:43 AM on December 18, 2009
President Barack Obama fist-bumps custodian Lawrence Lipscomb...
Who are the other two? The guy on the left looks like security. Who is the guy casually reading as he strolls along behind Obama? I guess he's in the administration or he wouldn't be taking things so lightly.
Also, Obama vs Brown.
posted by pracowity at 3:45 AM on December 18, 2009
Who are the other two? The guy on the left looks like security. Who is the guy casually reading as he strolls along behind Obama? I guess he's in the administration or he wouldn't be taking things so lightly.
Also, Obama vs Brown.
posted by pracowity at 3:45 AM on December 18, 2009
My dad on the phone to his aunt: "So I was looking at this old family photo, and it looks like my great-grandmother was part black.".
Aunt, from West Virginia: "Noooo! She was a very nice person!"
posted by dunkadunc at 3:48 AM on December 18, 2009
Aunt, from West Virginia: "Noooo! She was a very nice person!"
posted by dunkadunc at 3:48 AM on December 18, 2009
It's not uniquely American by any standard.
Other countries have elected people in the minority to power as well; heck, even the U.K. had Thatcher (though she was horrible) and New Zealand had Jenny Shipley.
It's uniquely American that such a picture took until 2009 to produce; showing that America is still struggling with the same issues that other, more enlightened countries dealt with and got past years if not decades - if not centuries - ago.
posted by BrianBoyko at 3:54 AM on December 18, 2009
Other countries have elected people in the minority to power as well; heck, even the U.K. had Thatcher (though she was horrible) and New Zealand had Jenny Shipley.
It's uniquely American that such a picture took until 2009 to produce; showing that America is still struggling with the same issues that other, more enlightened countries dealt with and got past years if not decades - if not centuries - ago.
posted by BrianBoyko at 3:54 AM on December 18, 2009
Um... this kind of strikes me as propagand-ish. Really, it just feels fake. Maybe I'm cynical, but I doubt it.
posted by DecemberBoy at 3:55 AM on December 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by DecemberBoy at 3:55 AM on December 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
Why DecemberBoy, whatever could lead you to believe that a photograph released in the Whitehouse's own Flickr stream is not the unvarnished, candid moment it purports to be? Are you some sort of cynic?
posted by Abiezer at 3:58 AM on December 18, 2009
posted by Abiezer at 3:58 AM on December 18, 2009
Hi. I'm a Brit, my kids are mixed-race, and Potomac Avenue nailed the feelings I had when I posted this.
When Barack Obama was born, less than half a century ago, his very conception would have been illegal in sixteen states of the USA. To pretty much the rest of the world, barring South Africa, that state of affairs was seen as a sign of lingering barbarism. (Much as the USA's pandemic use of the death penalty, disproportionately applied to black men, is seen by many of us now)
So, from four thousand miles away, from the point of view of someone for whom the USA is an object of affection, hope and occasional huge dismay, the stories of those four men - and the expressions on each of their faces - are indeed something to ponder.
(By the way, does anyone else remember the 'dating' episode of Oprah, about twenty years ago, entitled "Blue collar men; white collar women" where all-white lineups of men got to be interviewed and dated only by white women - and an all-black lineup got to be dated by black women? I'd almost believe this was my mind wandering with age, except for the fact that I remember writing to the TV channel to complain that such racist claptrap should be kept off British screens)
For the record, my country elected a Jewish Prime Minister almost 150 years ago. To my American mefite friends: your country's come a long way and is indeed a beacon of light. Now don't screw up healthcare.
posted by iffley at 4:01 AM on December 18, 2009
When Barack Obama was born, less than half a century ago, his very conception would have been illegal in sixteen states of the USA. To pretty much the rest of the world, barring South Africa, that state of affairs was seen as a sign of lingering barbarism. (Much as the USA's pandemic use of the death penalty, disproportionately applied to black men, is seen by many of us now)
So, from four thousand miles away, from the point of view of someone for whom the USA is an object of affection, hope and occasional huge dismay, the stories of those four men - and the expressions on each of their faces - are indeed something to ponder.
(By the way, does anyone else remember the 'dating' episode of Oprah, about twenty years ago, entitled "Blue collar men; white collar women" where all-white lineups of men got to be interviewed and dated only by white women - and an all-black lineup got to be dated by black women? I'd almost believe this was my mind wandering with age, except for the fact that I remember writing to the TV channel to complain that such racist claptrap should be kept off British screens)
For the record, my country elected a Jewish Prime Minister almost 150 years ago. To my American mefite friends: your country's come a long way and is indeed a beacon of light. Now don't screw up healthcare.
posted by iffley at 4:01 AM on December 18, 2009
...and yet the democratic ideals upon which we are based, formulated uniquely in the world by the slaveowners who founded us, made it possible for the most powerful person in the government and the man who cleans his toilet to share that history in all its shame and triumph.
I’m still not sure I get it. So what’s “Uniquely American” about this is just that they’re African Americans? Because the USA sure isn’t the only country in the world that has a leader of a different race than the majority of the country, or who shares his (or even (gasp) her) class or racial history with the person who cleans their toilet. Perhaps you should check out this, for instance. Is there something unique about the democratic ideals of the USA that I’m missing, or are they actually pretty much the same as everywhere else ?
posted by silence at 4:03 AM on December 18, 2009
I’m still not sure I get it. So what’s “Uniquely American” about this is just that they’re African Americans? Because the USA sure isn’t the only country in the world that has a leader of a different race than the majority of the country, or who shares his (or even (gasp) her) class or racial history with the person who cleans their toilet. Perhaps you should check out this, for instance. Is there something unique about the democratic ideals of the USA that I’m missing, or are they actually pretty much the same as everywhere else ?
posted by silence at 4:03 AM on December 18, 2009
What an awesome post, Potomac. I wish I could favorite it twice.
posted by Malor at 4:06 AM on December 18, 2009
posted by Malor at 4:06 AM on December 18, 2009
Man what a great job it being the White House photographer would be. You get all the exitment of working in the white house, except with no pressure except for taking pictures of an amazingly photogenic President. Sweet fucking gig.
posted by afu at 4:07 AM on December 18, 2009
posted by afu at 4:07 AM on December 18, 2009
The guy on the left is wearing a Secret Service pin. So we have the US president, his dogsbody, one of his guards, and a cleaner.
posted by pracowity at 4:08 AM on December 18, 2009
posted by pracowity at 4:08 AM on December 18, 2009
So what’s “Uniquely American” about this is just that they’re African Americans?
Yes exactly. Having an African American president is a big deal in a way that is unique to America.
posted by afu at 4:11 AM on December 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
Yes exactly. Having an African American president is a big deal in a way that is unique to America.
posted by afu at 4:11 AM on December 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
This is a really interesting picture to think about on about a million levels.
I don't know if it's an FPP.
posted by The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew at 4:19 AM on December 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
I don't know if it's an FPP.
posted by The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew at 4:19 AM on December 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
Second black man in b4 delete. We're gonna make quota!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:26 AM on December 18, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:26 AM on December 18, 2009 [2 favorites]
So, from four thousand miles away, from the point of view of someone for whom the USA is an object of affection, hope and occasional huge dismay, the stories of those four men - and the expressions on each of their faces - are indeed something to ponder.
We're all aware of the historic importance of the election of an African-American to the office of President of the USA. But Obama has been president for quite some time now - we've absorbed the 'how far the US has come' vibe by this point. It is amazing that a black man made it to the very top, but we can only marvel for so long at even the most extraordinary events.
The picture itself, as DecemberBoy says, is rather propaganda-ish. It's propaganda for something I agree with, but it's still a cornball, contrived-looking image. And your high-flown 'what it is to imagine' style of presentation does the picture no favors.
posted by eatyourcellphone at 4:33 AM on December 18, 2009
We're all aware of the historic importance of the election of an African-American to the office of President of the USA. But Obama has been president for quite some time now - we've absorbed the 'how far the US has come' vibe by this point. It is amazing that a black man made it to the very top, but we can only marvel for so long at even the most extraordinary events.
The picture itself, as DecemberBoy says, is rather propaganda-ish. It's propaganda for something I agree with, but it's still a cornball, contrived-looking image. And your high-flown 'what it is to imagine' style of presentation does the picture no favors.
posted by eatyourcellphone at 4:33 AM on December 18, 2009
You know, if the post had just been titled, "Four Stories", I would have found it just as interesting, in fact probably more so.
posted by bwg at 4:34 AM on December 18, 2009
posted by bwg at 4:34 AM on December 18, 2009
"Sistah in b4 delete."
Right on! *terrorist fist bump*
posted by Eideteker at 4:36 AM on December 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
Right on! *terrorist fist bump*
posted by Eideteker at 4:36 AM on December 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
Four black men.
Actually Obama is of mixed race, so is he really black?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:37 AM on December 18, 2009
Actually Obama is of mixed race, so is he really black?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:37 AM on December 18, 2009
Because the USA sure isn’t the only country in the world that has a leader of a different race than the majority of the country
I only ask because I don't know the answer - could you provide examples of this please?
I seem to remember, during the primary debates, when it was Hillary versus Barack, that there were numerous examples of women leading countries around the world, but no black man had held the highest office in a country outside of Africa. So this is something momentous, indeed.
Great photo, thin post. It feels like someone's personal blog entry and reads like it, too.
posted by crossoverman at 4:39 AM on December 18, 2009
I only ask because I don't know the answer - could you provide examples of this please?
I seem to remember, during the primary debates, when it was Hillary versus Barack, that there were numerous examples of women leading countries around the world, but no black man had held the highest office in a country outside of Africa. So this is something momentous, indeed.
Great photo, thin post. It feels like someone's personal blog entry and reads like it, too.
posted by crossoverman at 4:39 AM on December 18, 2009
I, also would have said the janitor was Hispanic. But whateveh.
I wonder what it is like to be a janitor in the corridor of powers. More fulfilling? More aggravating?
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:41 AM on December 18, 2009
I wonder what it is like to be a janitor in the corridor of powers. More fulfilling? More aggravating?
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:41 AM on December 18, 2009
Actually Obama is of mixed race, so is he really black?
In the US, pretty much. "One drop" rule and all that. Which is certainly no longer law, but it certainly shaped American thinking about what constitutes being a member of a certain race.
posted by magstheaxe at 4:45 AM on December 18, 2009
In the US, pretty much. "One drop" rule and all that. Which is certainly no longer law, but it certainly shaped American thinking about what constitutes being a member of a certain race.
posted by magstheaxe at 4:45 AM on December 18, 2009
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posted by silence at 2:42 AM on December 18, 2009