Of course the Obamas' educational experiences alienate a great many white voters. And of course these white voters don't mind it when white people are prileged--look how they took to Yale legacy W in 2000 and 2004. But they hate it when blacks are educated--they sneer that we are "the whitest black guys" they know. They also also hate it when blacks are not educated, of course.

Hmmmm.

I guess they just aren't very fond of blacks, period--'lessin of course we knows our (very narrowly) defined place: as Carrie Bradshaw's mammy.

First of all, what does voting for Bush have anything to do with privilege? Now, who hates it when black people are educated? Define them. Name some. I'll guarantee that those people either never attended college, or didn't stick around long enough to earn a degree.

"I guess they just aren't very fond of blacks, period--'lessin of course we knows our (very narrowly) defined place: as Carrie Bradshaw's mammy."

Again, WHO are you talking about? Is it people that voted against Obama? Is it people that called him on his inconsistencies? Is it Republicans? WHO?

It's the white voters G. Ferraro claim are turned off by Barack and Michelle's education. Do pay attention, 007.

Take that up with Ferraro, not the rest of us white folks.

I have to say, the only people I have seen sneer at a black person for being educated are other black people. I have a had several friends who were hassled by friends and sometimes family for "acting white" which is a shame. Education should know no color, and is the surest way to success. But I have never heard a white person use those terms for a black, or look down on them for being educated. Not educated, well yes, and I am sure I am guilty of that myself, though not against any race. I just can't stand willful stupidity.

The issue here is that wealthy whites with Ivy League educations get to posture as normal Americans, and the American public buys that crap because it is perceived as normal, even expected, for whites to be educated (even while statistics show that a college degree is a fairly recent accoutrement for a majority of the US population, whites included). However, these very same whites feel that blacks with higher education degrees, especially from Ivy League institutions, are too uppity, and not playing their role. While many segments of the population may feel alientated from Obama (his education, his race - or conversely, his mixed parentage, his former church, etc.), the largely white media has framed the discussion of his education, and how certain bigots feel about it, in a way that plays into racist sentiments still thriving in this country.

As for blacks attacking educated blacks, it is most definately a problem. One so big that I will not take up time here to go into it.

Lord Running Clam:

Of course the Obamas' educational experiences alienate a great many white voters. And of course these white voters don't mind it when white people are prileged--look how they took to Yale legacy W in 2000 and 2004. But they hate it when blacks are educated--they sneer that we are "the whitest black guys" they know. They also also hate it when blacks are not educated, of course.

Hmmmm.

I guess they just aren't very fond of blacks, period--'lessin of course we knows our (very narrowly) defined place: as Carrie Bradshaw's mammy.

I don't know anybody who has complained about Obama's or his wife's education. In RL. I know some black people, who live in all black neighborhoods, put down educated blacks in general for "acting white".

There is a completely self defeating racist subculture in these solidly one race/ethnic neighborhoods, Black neighborhoods, or Mexican at least. It's sort of determined at self preservation, by ensuring that all who try to upgrade themselves fail. They create and pass the negative rumours, stories, give bad advice-to friends!- designed to screw up those doing too well, as validation of their own failures.