March 28, 2008
Who the hell cares what James Carville thinks? Carville, a political operative for the Democratic Party, blasted New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson because he endorsed Presidential candidate Barack Obama. Carville, who looks somewhat like death warmed over – sorry, I just had to get that one in – called Richardson a “Judas.”
Does Carville mean, Judas? As in Judas Iscariot? The betrayer of Jesus Christ? Is Carville then comparing Hillary Clinton to Jesus Christ? What gives with Carville? If, as Clinton has stated, endorsements are practically worthless, why is Richardson’s endorsement of Obama being blasted by Clinton supporters? When Senator Evan Bayh endorsed Clinton recently, she didn’t denounce or denigrate the endorsement. She played it for all its worth and accepted, with great fanfare, the endorsement.
Well, Carville and Hillary, I’ve got news for you. This Chicano from El Paso, Texas also supports Barack Obama and I’m proud of Gov. Richardson for his endorsement. To me, both gentlemen represent what I consider to be a Dream Team. At least, it’s my Dream Team. Make no mistake, if Obama was not in the race, I’d probably be supporting her. But, sorry, here’s a chance for our nation to truly become color-blind.
One of El Paso’s favorite sons, Nolan Richardson, said in 1990 in an article in USA Today just before his Arkansas Razorbacks were to play in the NCAA Basketball Championship game that El Paso is a color-blind city. And, Richardson, who is black, should know. He played on some of El Paso’s greatest teams, and played for the then-Texas Western College Miners. Richardson was one of the first blacks to play sports for the Miners. He went on to play pro football, but retired for health reasons. His tenure as coach then began, a tenure which he took to the highest planes.
Nolan Richardson knows El Paso. He knows that El Paso is, indeed, color-blind. My city has always welcomed African Americans. Well, let me qualify that and say that Chicanos in El Paso have always welcomed blacks into the city’s folds. From its earliest beginnings, El Paso Chicanos welcomed blacks into their neighborhoods and, in 1959, into their schools.
In fact, the welcome was so complete that, in only two years after desegregation, Jefferson High School, my alma mater, elected a black student, Chance Williams as its
first black student body president. Chance Williams was indubitably the first black student body president anywhere. Remember, this was in 1959, a time when the U.S. was still being overwhelmed by its race problems. But, not in El Paso, and, certainly, not between Chicanos and blacks.
You see, we had to watch each other’s backs. Although the schools had been desegregated, living in the city had not. Many blacks were not allowed to purchase homes in such Anglo conclaves as Thomas Manor. Neither were Mexicans for that matter. Thus, we stayed in our barrios where we were allowed to be ourselves. Many blacks, fresh out of the U.S. military, wanted to stay in El Paso. They loved our city for the freedom it gave them. They loved our city because Chicanos were color-blind. So, they stayed.
Many black youths learned to speak Spanish. I remember being on the basketball team at La Jeff with such stalwarts as Freddie Jackson, Wallace Maginnis, Ira House, et al. They could speak Spanish. So could other black students, who learned our second language so that they could communicate with us. Anybody who says that El Paso Chicanos and blacks don’t get along just doesn’t know what the hell he’s talking about.
So it is with Richardson endorsing Obama. Richardson is color blind and is, in fact, of a dual racial background. Obama’s mother is white, while his father is black. Obama understands what it is to grow up in two worlds. So does Richardson. Richardson’s father is white, while his mother is Mexican who still lives in Mexico City. Richardson was my favorite candidate initially and I did everything I could to get him the nomination, but it just didn’t work. I think all the angst and anger over Mexican immigration clouded his candidacy. Some voters couldn’t see beyond his Mexican identity.
But, that’s okay. Now that Richardson is out of the race, I think that Obama is the best choice for president. In one year, folks, we had three minority candidates running for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. We had Obama – a black; we had Richardson – a Chicano, and we had Hillary – a woman. When have we ever had such choices? Actually, never. Until now that is. One great thing about America is that our nation is able to change. It has the ability to come full circle, to offer opportunities to people no matter their ethnicity. How great is that?
You say, you don’t like America because of its racist past? Well, here’s our chance to remedy the situation. Once Obama/Richardson are elected, how many people will be able to say that America is racist? None, ninguno, nada, zilch, ni maquina. Yes, you heard me right. Remember, Obama/Richardson. The Dream Team. We need both of them running our nation. The time has come and I’m so happy over our choices.
Sin Fin