Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Who will Biden choose as VP

there will always be a reason why it isn't time to choose a black woman for presidential candidate, but i see this as a good time. biden is a centrist. a strong progressive voice might alienate the almighty suburban women voters, but i don't think kamala harris would. she is closer to the center than bass, say, who is unknown. but she was a significant candidate in the primaries, and what burdens she might carry are being too pro-police, which no longer marks her present positions.

i think she'd bring enough to the ticket to give people enthusiasm. as for the racists, it's time to take them on directly.

ken

kenneth harrow

professor emeritus

dept of english

michigan state university

517 803-8839

harrow@msu.edu

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From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Gloria Emeagwali <gloria.emeagwali@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, August 10, 2020 1:44 PM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Who will Biden choose as VP

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/08/07/biden-is-about-choose-his-vp-this-is-who-it-will-be/

I hate to say this but the biggest mistake Biden could make would be to choose a Black woman as VP at this point in time, even in an era of triumph with respect to the Black Lives Matter movement,  and apparent sentiments of solidarity across racial lines. This  may be a no - brainer in a different country and at a different time. Recall that as early as 1916 - 1930, Ethiopia had a woman head of state, namely, Empress Zawditu, and the current Ethiopian President is a woman. African women have held numerous distinguished positions as  monarchs, fighters in the anti-colonial liberation struggles and so on. As far as I know, the first Black female Presidential candidate in the United States was  Shirley Chisholm in 1972. Carole Moseley Braun was a candidate in 2004. Cynthia McKinney made a bid in 2008.

At this point in time, though, many White women would run to the hills Election Day, rather than vote for 

a Black woman - who could become the First female president of the United States. Such an election would be viewed as a slap in the face, given the fiasco of  Hilary Clinton's presidential bid, and the deplorable state of true gender solidarity across  racial  lines when you get down to brass tacks.

To cut a long story short, it may be that someone like Elizabeth Warren is Biden's best bet to beat Trump, in the present circumstances,  especially since the Evangelical women are fully behind Trump, and racism trumps gender,  in numerous  circumstances, historically.  Warren's agenda seems to be supportive of Black empowerment, somewhat,  but of course the proof of the goat head pepper soup is in the eating.

GE

Gloriaemeagwali.com

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