Barack the magic negro
Ever since Chip Saltsman, a candidate for Republican National Committee chairman, circulated a CD with a parody on it called "Barack the Magic Negro," Republicans, pundits and more Republicans have been debating whether Saltsman's move was racist, racially insensitive, dumb or just a good ole boy's idea of clean fun.
Is the song, which has a white man posing as Al Sharpton singing along to the tune of "Puff the Magic Dragon," racist? Is it lampooning white liberal guilt and mocking other black leaders' supposed jealousy of Obama? Honestly, who cares? Rush Limbaugh referred to or played that song a bunch of times on his show and Barack Obama still won the election. Black punditry has hardly commented on this most recent flap; they're too busy picking out inaugural outfits.
But Saltsman still deserves to be raked over the coals. Not for anything to do with Obama, per se, but for campaigning with cultural references that are decades out of date.
"Puff the Magic Dragon?" You've got to be kidding. Was he on another planet Nov. 4? Did he miss how Republicans lost 66% of the vote of people age 30 and under? Thirty-year-olds weren’t even born when Peter, Paul and Mary's hit came out in 1963. Sure Limbaugh used the parody and his crowd loved it, but the average Limbaugh listener is 51. Then there's the parody itself and the faux Sharpton. Sure the Rev. deserves the disdain and disapprobation he earned for his outrageous behavior during the Tawana Brawley hoax case, but that happened in 1987. The World Wide Web wasn't even invented then, which means young people have never heard of it. To them, Sharpton is just that black guy from New York with the funny hair.
It's a given that Republicans are done trying to appeal to black voters, but are they really ready to give up everyone else who isn't white? Because if not, here's the thing: it’s not much of a stretch for Latinos and Asians -- who also voted overwhelmingly for Obama -- to imagine how a president-elect of their ethnicity also could be the target of such lighthearted Republican fun. "Mike the Magic Jap” and “Maria the Magic Mexican” probably wouldn't go over that well either.
It just goes to show that spanking is ineffective discipline. If it worked Saltsman would have learned from the party's its electoral walloping last month. By 365 to 175 electoral votes, Americans demonstrated that they want political leaders who are in tune with the themes of the current day, not the Billboard hits of 1960s.
UPDATE: An astute reader pointed out that Obama won by a larger electoral-vote margin than our post claimed. The correct total was 365 to 173.
Los Angeles Times photo
Wow, can their really be no one with a sense of humor out there? Paul Shanklin has been making political parodies for decades, and has skewered Clinton, Gore, McCain, and countless others. But he takes a LA Times article crowning Obama as the newset "magic Negro", makes a parody out of it and partisans can't wait to turn it into a branding of the GOp as racist. The song is one parody in a collection of them. What would truly be racist is to say we can't make fun of Barack.... because he's black.
There's plenty of real issues to deal with. Phony outrage over a political parody does nothing but perpetuate the notion that certain subjects are simply off limits.
Posted by: GTA | December 30, 2008 at 08:05 AM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_negro
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"now considered by many as archaic and offensive, is used intentionally to suggest that the archetype is a racist throwback, an update of the "Sambo" and "savage other" stereotypes."
Posted by: Steve | December 30, 2008 at 07:51 AM
When you assume, based on someone's skin color (or sexual orientation, or reliigion, or address) that he/she is a bigot, then you...yes, YOU... are guilty of the bigotry that you claim to despise.
Posted by: Laurie | December 30, 2008 at 07:42 AM
“When I found out what this was about I had to ask, ‘boy, what’s the big deal here?’ because there wasn’t any.”
-- Mark Ellis, Chairman of the Maine Republican Party
Mr Ellis, you are an imbecile of colossal proportions if it doesn't compute in your troglodytic brain that disseminating a song with the title "Barack The Magic Negro" is a racist, hateful, sophomoric act.
But that's just it: Deep-seated ignorance and ethnocentrism like this stunts one's sense of morality, perpetuates stupidity, and leaves one not knowing what one doesn't know. So yes, I'm sure you think this is perfectly harmless.
I can't wait until all you ethnic puritan-maniacs are retired, voted out, or six feet under. This mindset is so done.
Posted by: cbmtrx | December 30, 2008 at 07:42 AM
It is one thing to make an allegory about how the concept of the 'magic negro' in film has been used as the LA Times article suggests. It was even referenced over the weekend regarding "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" where Queenie guided Benjamin and helped him grow. Will Smith in "Bagger Vance" is another good example of the man with no past popping up with sage, wise advice.
But that's the movies.
I fully expect Rush to do such things, which is why only conservative Republicans listen to his drivel. But for some one in political office to use it is just stupid.
I agree we need at least a 2 party system, so maybe we can get a third party movement and truly open up the democratic process to all people.
Posted by: jfarley | December 30, 2008 at 07:42 AM
Larry, you are an idiot. How can you say the Democrats own the media? You mean to say that you have paranoid delusions where the media is so finely controled by a single political party SO THAT THEY RARELY WIN??? Now why would they do that? Pray tell?
Now lets not get into the idiots on either side of the fence. Since there is roughly the same number of democratic morons as independant idiots, as there are repiblican fools.
What we are talking about is the MORAL INTEGRITY OF A MAN WHO PROPOGATES SONGS DEROGOTARY OF PEOPLE WITH MORE MELANIN IN THEIR SKIN VIA ANCESTORY.
Also.
Saying "We Hate the USA" is hardly satirical... It's hate retoric and slander.
And in any case... It's about whether or not it was good for the party, and it was obviously not, it was also obvious that it would turn this kind of reaction.
Posted by: Anonymous | December 30, 2008 at 05:16 AM
WHAT? Offended? I have beed offended for 8 years, as the media at large was rude beyond mesaure to the GOP and Pres. Bush.
Hurts, don't it.
Posted by: Me not you | December 30, 2008 at 02:55 AM
Re: hypocrisy -- The "Magic Negro" reference cited from 2007 is in an op-ed by David Ehrenstein. I know this distinction is often lost on readers, but op-eds aren't the views of the Los Angeles Times. They're typically written by freelancers. The Times' opinions are expressed in editorials, which are written by staffers (the "editorial board"). The author of this piece is one of those folks, as am I.
Posted by: Jon Healey | December 30, 2008 at 12:44 AM
I didn't realize candidacy for RNC chair was the same as tryouts for open mic night at your local comedy club.
Too bad...real comedians would appear to be much more competent and better prepared.
Posted by: Bk | December 30, 2008 at 12:24 AM
This is not about racism. It's a Republican power play which unintentionally reveals some of their current weaknesses.
The Republican Party leadership thinks they've got a wedge issue they can use to divide the black community, in this case, the "magic" Obamas vs the not-so-magic Sharptons. Thus, they hope to divide (and conquer) the Democrats. It's the same approach the Republicans took with Hillary vs Obama, which led to the Republicans' cynical selection of Sarah Palin in an attempt to peel off the supposedly disaffected women voters, who it turns out never really existed in any significant numbers.
Republicans would do better to discuss their ideas for taking the country forward out of its current difficulties, rather than wistfully chasing after real or imaginary divisions in the enemy camp.
Posted by: rmw | December 30, 2008 at 12:23 AM
Boy are those idiots going to choke on their words when they find out that the true Messiah is watching and taking notes and he's a "Magic Negro" who's not a happy camper. When you keep sticking your feet in your fat mouths, eventually they're going to gag you. All together now, let everyone sing, "Woe, Woe, Woe, here comes the Magic Man, Seven Star Hand, let the winds blow, cause the Messiah's a Negro." A lousy tune that's nonetheless going to cause far more trouble than these idiots ever thought was possible.
Here is Wisdom...
http://exposing-religious-deception.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Seven Star Hand | December 29, 2008 at 11:33 PM
SALTY THE KLANSMAN - is a fairy tail they say; but the RNC aren't like you and me and they love their lies and hate. There must have been some MAGIC in that old race baiting clown; 'cuz when Rush rants in a dope fueled haze the GOP just dance around. Oh, Salty the Klansman is as real as you or me; but now we can see where real evil be; so GOP just fade away.
Posted by: oneStarman | December 29, 2008 at 11:32 PM
No Paul I'm not white, I commented!
Posted by: steve rodriguez | December 29, 2008 at 11:31 PM
Yep...they are a bunch of idiots. Rush Limbaugh promoted this racist recording on his show as did Sean Hannity. The republicans lost because the American people won't stand for this kind of nonsense. The right wingers had their chance and they blew it big time.
Posted by: Dan Scott | December 29, 2008 at 11:30 PM
Saltzman was wrong and incredibly stupid to send out this CD to members of the RNC. Whether or not is racist, whether or not it is satire, it is an act that highlights the GOP's failure at leadership.
That the L.A. Times published an op-ed by David Ehrenstein entitled "Barack the Magic Negro" is irrelevant David Ehrenstein is not part of the GOP leadership, nor is he seeking the chairmanship of the GOP. Ehrenstein is a writer whose intention was to be provocative.
I am a very disappointed Republican. If Chip Saltzman becomes the chair of the RNC I will withdraw from the GOP.
Posted by: Marcos El Malo | December 29, 2008 at 09:28 PM
Yes, it is racist and silly--That being said, there are way too many overly sensitive people who don't realize that public figures are supposed to be lampooned! No one enters the public/political life without expecting the worst of treatment--That's why only fools would ever attempt such a journey.
Posted by: Veteran | December 29, 2008 at 09:04 PM
also, santa claus, you might take note that the author of the article you bring up was written by a black guy.
Posted by: paul pernici | December 29, 2008 at 09:02 PM
Why do people like
HAHAREPUG
think it is OK to use the word "cracker"?
Don't be a hypocrite. Racial slurs are slurs.
Posted by: Robert | December 29, 2008 at 08:55 PM
my guess is that every one of you commentators on here is white.
Posted by: paul pernici | December 29, 2008 at 08:54 PM
i'd like to point out that this is an opinion column, which means that the newpaper would not have coined the term, whoever wrote an opinion article in the newspaper coined the term...if it was front page news under something other than the heading "Opinion" it may matter but seeing as it was in fact under "opinion" the newspaper did not coin said term...
Posted by: nolan | December 29, 2008 at 08:54 PM
The LA times did not coin the phrase "magic negro". It's a Chris Rock bit that basically pokes fun at mystical characters in movies and fiction who are almost always african american. The difference is.. it's funny when Chris Rock says it.. it's racial insensitivity/stupidity when a guy aiming for the RNC chairmanship does it.
Posted by: FML | December 29, 2008 at 08:54 PM
If I were to make a song like that about a co-worker I'd be fired for sexual harassment. Nothing is going to happen to the crude idiot that wrote it and then distributed it. It's funny how some people think they can do anyting while others are punished for the same behavior. It's just another desparate attempt by the Republicans to slam President elect Obama. If McCain and Palin is the best they could do to run against him then they should be vetting a suitable candidate for four years from now and not trying to make racist songs about the better man.
Posted by: Norm | December 29, 2008 at 08:53 PM
The song really is funny, more of a parody made famous by Rush. Don't forget, it was the LA Times who coined Magic Negro..
David as for hope for your daughters, you must be kidding. Your little half-breed has every opportunity and chance to shine in this country as long as you don't hold her back with your "no hope" for this country poison.
You suffer white ghettoism looking for anything that you can misconstrue as a possible racist tone because you wear your mixed marriage on your sleeve.
Posted by: half-breed | December 29, 2008 at 08:52 PM
If the Republican Party proceeds to elect this idiot, then they deserve to be run out of business permanentley. No questions asked. In addition, if they let the likes of a ( Rush Limbar and Sean Hannity), who both by the way have brains that are fried, continual to speak for them. Then the party has sold its very soul to the devil, and as you know very well. When you sell your soul to devil, you must pay up BIG, very Very BIG!!!. Moreover, boy did they pay up BIG in the last election and the next one to come. Oh, and as far as Rush Limbar is concern, when the Almighty takes your voice and hearing once and you still have not learned anything. That is a perfect case of a nut gone mad, and you know what happen when you follow a mad man. Need I say more?
Posted by: Lamont B. | December 29, 2008 at 08:52 PM
Since 1856 the GOP has been viable....now they are irrelevant...I'm going back to voting Whig next time....look up the Whig party on Wikipedia: "the Whigs supported the supremacy of Congress over the Executive Branch and favored a program of modernization and economic protectionism."...hmmmm
Posted by: Alan | December 29, 2008 at 08:51 PM