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Prescience ... Or Wishful Thinking?

Juan Williams, who often has thoughtful thinks to say, writes in the Wall Street Journal today that Obama?s election brings ?the end of an era for black politics.?

he idea of black politics now tilts away from leadership based on voicing grievance, and identity politics based on victimization and anger. In its place is an era in which it is assumed that talented, tough people of any background will find a way to their rightful seat of power in mainstream political life.

The Jesse Jacksons, Al Sharptons and Rev. Jeremiah Wrights remain. But their influence and power fade to a form of nostalgia in a world of larger political agendas, such as a common American vision of setting the nation on a steady economic course and dealing with terrorists. The market has irrevocably shrunk for Sharpton-style tirades against "the man" and "the system." The emphasis on racial threats and extortion-like demands -- all aimed at maximizing white guilt as leverage for getting government and corporate money -- has lost its moment. How does anyone waste time on racial fantasies like reparations for slavery when there is a black man who earned his way into the White House?
....
The onus now falls on individuals to take advantage of opportunities....

The ?onus,? if that?s what it is, of taking responsibility for pursuing abundantly available opportunities has, of course, been on individuals since well before Obama?s election, but if that election helps more people to assume it, so much the better.

I hope that Williams?s prediction that the influence of grievance/victim/blame-the-man politics will decline in the black community (and among liberal fellow-travelers and Democratic grievance peddlers), but I fear that he may be a bit of a Pollyanna. When has Obama ever said ?No!? the Wright-like preference pushers?

We shall see.

Full post as published by Discriminations on November 10, 2008 (boomark / email).