In both 2008 and 2012, I was proud to be an Ohio delegate for President Barack Obama. So I was shocked to hear what former President Obama had to say while speaking to Black men during a surprise visit to Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign field office in Pittsburgh.
His words made my jaw hit the floor. In fact, they made my blood boil.
President Obama had some choice words for the enthusiasm gap for Vice President Harris specifically when it comes to Black men. "My understanding, based on reports I'm getting from campaigns and communities, is that we have not yet seen the same kinds of energy and turnout in all quarters of our neighborhoods and communities as we saw when I was running," President Obama said, and then went on to lecture Black men about their lack of support for Harris. "Part of it makes me think—and I'm speaking to men directly—part of it makes me think that, well, you just aren't feeling the idea of having a woman as president, and you're coming up with other alternatives and other reasons for that."
I was infuriated to hear these remarks. No other group of voters is talked to like this, as if they are children. But it's not just the paternalistic tone that had me enraged. It's the underlying message in his words—that Black men are misogynistic and can't bring themselves to vote for a woman.
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