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An Obamanation
Obama Elementary School. Obama Boulevard. Girls named Baracka. Stop the branding madness, Mansfield Frazier pleads, before the new president loses his mystique.
Comedian Chris Rock used to do a routine that questioned why, in most cities with a substantial black population, the most crime-ridden street is always named after Martin Luther King Jr. The answer, of course, is that black folks, in our rush to honor our great civil-rights leader, usually picked the most high-profile, well-traversed thoroughfare in the urban community to rename … not pausing long enough to realize there could be a downside. Well, the Law of Unintended Consequences is about to rear its ugly head once again—this time in regard to President Barack Obama.
Black folks, please, let’s not do this. If we don’t get a grip early on, we’ll soon be seeing our kids walking to school in the morning, eating a bag of Obama Potato Chips.
A New York elementary school has already been renamed to honor Obama. There’s a Barack Obama Boulevard in St. Louis. A city in Spain's Valencia province is proposing to take a street named after one of Franco’s mentors and rename it Calle Barack Obama. And Cleveland City Councilman Zack Reed is lobbying to name the soon-to-be-rebuilt Nathan Hale Elementary School (located on—you guessed it—Martin Luther King Jr. Drive) after the president. At least the MLK Drive in Reed’s ward is relatively crime-free.
When Obama asked us to get involved, I think he was asking us to do something more substantial, like going into the schools and helping by tutoring, not just taking the easy, cheap, and hollow shot of naming a school after him. I can see a future headline now: “Reading and Math Scores at Barack Obama Elementary Among Lowest in State.”
In my own Ward 7 here in Cleveland, there is a movement to name a community building after our deceased City Councilwoman Fannie Lewis, which I think is a great idea. However, there is now talk of naming it the “Lewis-Obama Center,” which I think is a horrible idea. (Fannie deserves—and probably would want—a center named just for herself.) Then, just the other day, I got an email inviting me to join some organization entitled “Kwanzaa-Obama,” whatever the hell that is.
I can guarantee you that in the school year 2013-14, the most popular name for black boys entering kindergarten at most urban schools around the country will be Barack. That isn’t really so bad. But what sends chills of trepidation down my spine is the thought of some poor girl showing up for her first day of kindergarten, forever saddled with the name Baracka, Barackonique, or Obamanesha. What about Obamanation?
Black folks, please, please, I’m begging on bent knee, let’s not do this. You know we African-Americans have a tendency to take the joke past Broadway, but if we don’t get a grip early on, and nip this madness in the bud, we’ll soon be seeing our kids walking to school in the morning, eating a bag of Obama Potato Chips, washing them down with a can of Barack Red Pop, while carrying—what else?—Sasha and Malia dolls.
If we really want to honor Obama, why don’t we figure out a way to help these kids’ caregivers emulate his wife Michelle by teaching them how to get up early enough to fix their wards a healthy, nutritious breakfast before ushering them out the door to school in the morning—hopefully on time. Children’s brains powered by junk food learn very little—and then we wonder why they fail, and why the cycle of poverty—which ends too often with young black females pregnant, and young black males incarcerated—remains unbroken.
Moreover, have any black folks stopped to realize how much we’re getting on white folks' nerves with all of this over-the-top Obamamania? We act as if we elected the man all by ourselves. We didn’t. There just aren’t that many of us in the country. White folks put him in office—with the help of people of color. Let’s just pray that whites don’t catch the Obama fever at the corporate level. Things could get real ugly then in the marketplace: Obama fries at Mickey D’s.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not being a “player hater” in regard to the brother. I admire our president as much as the next person—and perhaps a lot more than most. I was one of the true believers in the success of his candidacy very early on. But simply because we’ve had only a scant few true heroes to worship in the black community, we shouldn’t go overboard now with the leader of the free world.
The coolest dude I ever knew was a hustler in New York City that was known by the unusual sobriquet “Seldom Seen.” He was real tight with Miles Davis. Like all rock and movie stars, he knew that in all cultures and societies, too much access deflates value and diminishes cachet—so, quite naturally, he was “seldom seen.” But he was always noticed whenever he did make an appearance at the Columbus Avenue after-hours club we frequented back in the day.
By making Obama something less than seldom seen, we’re at risk of destroying his cool mystique. We’re in danger of trivializing his brand by acting like a pack of mad paparazzi.
There is a real danger of “Obama fatigue” setting in if we’re not careful. Obama could become as omnipresent (and omniscient) as George Orwell’s “Big Brother,” and that could be a loss to both him and us. We could easily wind up overdosing on the man, and soon start wishing that he would just, please, ride off into the sunset already. Fame is indeed fickle, but the American people are far, far fickler.
I want a federal law that no one can use either of his names, Barack or Obama, in any iteration, until the man has at least finished his first term in office, and preferably his second. Not that blacks are alone in wallowing in this early hero enshrinement. Republicans rush to name airports after presidents as soon as they leave office, and I recall that some fools wanted to place Reagan’s visage on a new dollar bill, or some other denomination. Stop! Enough!
I could write more, but I have to run … it’s time for my twice-daily dusting of my complete set of Special Barack Obama Limited Edition, Hand Lettered, Monogrammed, Faux Gold-trimmed, Registered, Inaugural Dinner Plates.
Frazier writes a weekly column for CoolCleveland.com
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Mansfield Frazier is a native Clevelander and former newspaper editor. His regular column can be seen on CoolCleveland.com. An avid gardener, he resides in the Hough neighborhood of Cleveland with his wife Brenda and their two dogs, Gypsy and Ginger.
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Mansfield Frazier is a native Clevelander and former newspaper editor. His regular column can be seen on CoolCleveland.com. An avid gardener, he resides in the Hough neighborhood of Cleveland with his wife Brenda and their two dogs, Gypsy and Ginger.
The problem is, this is cult-like behavior. Very undemocratic. And very much outside the American tradition.
If we're not careful, people will be pushing to put Obama's visage on our coins and stamps. While he's still alive and still in office.
In fact, the idolization of Obama (damn, sorry Frazier) is extraordinarily democratic. It can and does include anyone who wants to be part of it -- and obviously, many people do. Try reading Tocqueville and his views on democracy and the masses.
Right on brother, right on.
There is nothing wrong with the euphoria. As a white man, I have told my white friends who have expressed disdain that we all need to understand what this must mean to african-americans. And I don't think we can. Not really.
Having said that, I think we need to resist the temptation to name a bunch of streets, schools, etc. until he has served some time as president first. If it turns out bad for the Obama Administration (i dont think it will but IF) having a bunch of things reminding us of him could do more damage than good.....for the next African-American presidential candidate as well as the rest of us......
the Jack Kennedy fan fair was similar in scope (minus our expanded information range, i.e. the Cable TV and Internet footprint)
"We act as if we elected the man all by ourselves. We didn't. There just aren't that many of us in the country. White folks put him in office-with the help of people of color"
PS first time any media has admitted to that point, but all in all ...black, white, what have you, its an exciting time to be alive.
I hope people heed your excellent advice and steer clear of the deification/beatification of our new president. He's under enough pressure. I'm hopeful that he can live up to it, but he does need more action from us than our hope in his abilities -- and a few buildings, roads and children (or potato chips!) named in his honor.
That said, I'm very excited to be living through this time in our history. As white female born post-civil-rights act, post JFK/RFK/MLK, etc. -- in fact, someone who hasn't been living witness to any of the truly redemptive or righteous historical event in our nation's history -- I was beginning to lose hope that I'd see my country do something to confound its critics...and fundamentally shake up our own beliefs about our limitations as a nation.
Thank you, Mansfield. This is out of control.
Beanie Babies has come out with two plush beanie dolls called "Sweet Sasha and Marvelous Malia," and Michelle Obama has had to issue a press release saying why she thinks this is bad. What has happened to our country? Making a buck off of Obama is bad enough, but now his daughters (who, for the record, were not elected to public office)? Three cheers for free market capitalism!
I'm surprised the writer didn't mention Obama heroin that was shown on several news web sites.The higher a pedestal someone is out on the easier it is to fall off and the more damage done when he hits the ground.We're all acting like Obama is the Messiah setting standards so high he can't possibly meet them.If and it is a big if he manages to achieve great things then sure go ahead and idolize him but all he's done is win an election not as any color man but as an American citizen just like the rest of us.The fact he is black should cause people to name their kids Martin not Barack.
Spdavid,
What the heck does heroin have to do with anything I wrote? I don't care what Obama might have used as a young person. Bush also supposedly used illegal substances as a young man, and I've never written about that ... why should I?
Obama was smart enough to defuse any controversy over what he did or used in his callow youth by writing about it in his book. But for some narrow-minded people, it will never, ever go away.
Reminds me of the young woman, from a good background, upon being offered a joint at her first college party, saying "Are you crazy? I'm not going to stick that thing in my arm."
You are absolutely correct. Too much glorification of an icon becomes a commodity by itself, and worse, become a joke when he became history. Jus look at what happened to Mao, or Castro whose face are plastered on tshirts, walls, bags and even utensils. Do you ever want to see your icon to be thrown inside the rubbish bin?
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http://thesuffocate.blogspot.com/
I totally agree when it comes to naming streets, products, etc. There was a lot of that after JFK's assassination, and some of those changed names later changed back (e.g. Cape Kennedy/Canaveral), as grief-propelled idolatry wore off. I don't think naming a child Barack is a bad idea, though: it's a good name. The female version, could be Baraka (no letter "c"), which means "blessing" in Kiswahili (Swahili). Any child is a blessing, wouldn't you say?
kahawa,
Yes, a female child could live comfortably with the name "Baraka" Let's just pray that parents stop there.
This comment has been removed by The Daily Beast's editors.
This comment has been removed by The Daily Beast's editors.
Dear Mr. Frazier,
Your article was interesting and a bit funny to read, however, I am going to have to disagree with your opinion. Many journalists and historians are comparing the current economic crisis to the Great Depression. How can you claim we are promoting Obama too much during this crisis? It is more than necessary to express the popularity of Barack Obama since this election is going to be remembered as a significant historical event. The media needs to advertise Barack Obama because his plan for change is vital in helping the suffering economy.
You are totally blowing this out of proportion by thinking we are going "overboard" when there is only legitimately a few places named after him. You cannot just assume kids will be named and food will be named after him. Roosevelt and Kennedy were elected president during an economic catastrophe that is very similar to the situation America is in now with Obama. Both of their publicity did not get out of control and that is why Obama's popularity will not either. The current presidency needs to be publicized just like it was in the past so Americans can have a better time believing. Obama has the right to be popularized since America needs to believe in this change for our world to be a better place.
Insightful and funny post! In the interest of preventing "Obamanations" in the field of girls' names, may I suggest the very pretty name Michelle in lieu of Baracka or other such tragedies.
Thank you.
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