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Thursday, October 30, 2008 | 3:26am
Spike Lee Suggest Hip Hop Changed Political Landscape, Erased Racial Barriers
By improving race relations through music, younger Americans have opened the door for a black president.
Fresh off a very disappointing showing with his latest directorial effort, “Miracle At St. Anna”, Spike Lee recently sat down with MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough to talk what else? RACE! Spike of course is no stranger to the topic with his racially charged and controversial films like “Do the Right Thing”, “Bamboozled” and “Jungle Fever” but with his recent and very public support for Barack Obama, politics has jumped to the forefront on Lee’s talking point platform.
As the Presidential Election is inside of a week away, we’ve become inundated with the “latest polls.” Citing some scientific method, they are said to be an indicating factor of how America will vote next month. However an interesting phenomenon has developed that may have thwarted the polls accuracy and may be rooted in Racism. Known as the Bradley effect, the theory suggest that some white voters give inaccurate polling responses for fear that, by stating their true preference, they will open themselves to criticism of racial motivation. The reluctance has caused voters to lie on post-election exit polls and may be effected further by the race of the pollster conducting the interview. This “effect” has been mainly observed in elections where a white candidate and a non-white candidate run against each other.
TRANSLATION: In elections where a black dude is running the exit polls become less reliable because the voting public is less likely to be honest when interviewed due to fear of criticism or retribution based on their choice.
Spike was asked about the Bradley Effect and what role it may play in providing drama to a presidential race that by politically polling standards is all but over.
“I don’t go with this Bradley Effect. That was what, 1984? That’s last century. America’s made a seismic shift as far as race goes. These young white kids who grew up listening to Hip Hop don’t have the same views that their parents and grandparents had. I think these polls aren’t reaching these young white kids. There aren’t enough African Americans in this country to get Obama elected. He took the Iowa caucus! There’s two black people in Iowa…maybe three.“
You can’t help but laugh when Spike speaks because his words are always those of everyman. Never sugar coated or overly articulated. I do agree that Hip Hop, although its effect on this year’s election is vastly exaggerated, has had a serious effect on melting the racial barriers among younger Americans. This merge has been taking place for years and could in fact have opened the door for a black candidate like Barack Obama to be accepted by a sector of American people who 20 or 30 years ago wouldn’t have even considered him a threat.
FILED IN Movies, Need to Know
might be why he started working with goldmic?
This is somewhat off topic but I would like to suggest that someone on HN write about Black people voting for McCain. I mean no disrespect by what I am about to say but every time I see a Black person on the news stating that they are a McCain supporter I wonder if they are the equivalent of Black people that did not want to end segregation. I guess I can understand not voting for a Black candidate during the primary, if he does not seem capable, competent, or you fear his run for president is more symbolic than an honest attempt (e.g. Al Sharpton). But now that a Black person that appears competent, capable, and running on a major party ticket is making a serious attempt to be president, how can a Black American in good conscious not do every thing they can to help this man get elected. I agree with Hillary more than Barack on issues and I am a female, so it was hard choosing between the two, but I want my son to see this extremely competent, capable, intelligent man change the world. I just could not and cannot pass up my opportunity to take part in history. I am sure Black McCain supporters have good reasons for publicly announcing their endorsement but in general I wonder how they feel about not choosing Obama when they have the chance.
I’ll do some research on your story request. But to answer your question their motivation: MONEY.
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The only justifiable reason a black man could possibly give for NOT voting for Barack Obama has to be due to a potential effect on their financial standing. Sure there are other issues out there and perhaps I’m over simplifying it but most Black conservatives who oppose Barack simply do so because of the potential adverse effects on their wallet.
Well said its all about the cash.
I think that hip-hop has played a major role in destroying racial barriers, but I don’t think that it stops there. Black entertainment as a whole is responsible for this “change”. From black actors to comedians, athletes, politicians…I believe that any positive black person in a position of power that has spent their career making wise decisions in the eye of the public is responsible for this racial barrier breakdown…..I say that b/c racism still exist, but its nowhere near where it could be if not for positive blacks in the P.O.P.
-B.