A possible explanation for America's love affair with African-Americans

Saying anything unflattering about someone or something that others idealize and idolize generally leads to those same others disliking you.


I have been thinking about what accounts for America's love affair with African-Americans, as it certainly does not have the intensity and breadth of this adulation for Hispanic-Americans, Anglo-Americans (Wasps), Asian-Americans, Native Americans, Italian- or Irish-Americans, Jewish-Americans or any other racial or ethnic group.

I think I have hit it on the head, though:

(1) Christian guilt:  African-American slavery is identified with the trials of Jesus and redemption of white guilt.  Obama was/is seen as the Messiah, as, before him, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. the savior.

"Love thy neighbor."  This New Testament injunction is literally taken to heart in a place like Seattle, where the sight of a black face on a bus or other public place often elicits a beam (smile of approval or encouragement) from a white person (especially a white woman)--which tends to lead to a rule that all behave this way if they are really not racist.*

* See http://seattletimes.com/html/latestnews/2022013883_ferrarisentencingxml.html

"Turn the other cheek."  (for white Americans, about 70% of the population, non-blacks follow suit)

(2) the overwhelming dominance of African-Americans in professional sports, the latter of which creates America's "true" heroes.  Boys are taught from an early that this is where they gain approval from family, acceptance from peers, and recognition by society.   
In France, the success of Zinedin Zidane (selon la BBC le meilleur joueur européen de l'histoire.)  of Algerian origins, created mass hero worship and has led to acceptance of North Africans among many, surmounting xenophobia.

Less important but still contributing to the phenomenon, lastly,
(3) Hollywood, which over the past half century, has made the black male the symbol of cool hyper-masculinity ("Men in Black," "Shaft," for example) in a flotilla of huge box-office hits (action films, not my cup of tea exactly) and others that have garnered critical acclaim, from the 1963 "Lilies of the Field" (which won Sidney Poitier the Best Actor Oscar) through 2013's "12 Years a Slave."
In between were, among others, "In the Heat of the Night," "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?", "Sounder," "Driving Miss Daisy," "Color Purple," "Do the Right Thing," "Shankshaw Redemption," "Green Mile," "Crash," "The Blind Side," "Precious," all of which (except for the latter) portrayed African-Americans in an extremely favorable light.  No bad guys (or gals) among the bunch.
Most recently, in rapid succession, have been "The Help," "Django Unchained," and "The Butler," all of which grossed more than $140 million domestically.  Americans are clearly stirred by these stories, when they are not knocked off their seats, figuratively speaking, by the hyper- and kinetic violence of the action films.
(4) the recording industry, where for years, the Top 10 have been stacked with black artists from Stevie Wonder to Michael Jackson and Beyonce.  The young have embraced "black music" with open arms and wild enthusiasm.

And, no, conservatives take note:  Obama is not responsible for this (he is  a manifestation of this).

Most intense is the feeling among liberals, especially white liberals and Hollywood, and the violent crime rate among African-Americans, which is perhaps 10 times as high as among whites, is considered a taboo subject, as it would compromise and call into question this fervent adulation and admiration without end.

Any suggestion of fault or shortcoming among African-Americans will elicit "racism!" even though most people do not even understand what racism actually is.    The word simply is a cover for "I don't agree with what you say, and I'm going to douse you with gasoline and throw a match in for good measure so I don't have to have a rational discussion with you about the merits or shortcomings of your views."

Discussion thereby is effectively muzzled with charges of racism and smearing (and the attendant suspicions akin to those of betraying the Nation and Constitution).

Not loving African-Americans and all things African-Americans leads to suspicions of being racist.

* * * * *

Not loving Jimi Hendrix, Aretha, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Michael Jackson, Oprah, Jackie Robinson, Will Smith, Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King, Jr., Tiger Woods, Beyonce, Stevie Wonder, Maya Angelou, Eddie Murphy, Barrack Obama, and Toni Morrison leads one open as well to such charges

as does having

preferred Hillary Clinton to Obama in 2008

or

not liking deep-fried chicken (must be a code-word for being anti-black)

or

referring to President Obama as Obama or "Barrack" (Thou shalt not use my name in vain)

or

professing to not wanting to adopt anything but a black cat...

or

questioned why a majority of blacks in California voted for Proposition 8 (against gay marriage)

or

admitting to being uncomfortable around African-Americans, in general, because they seem to talk very loudly and boast/bellyache a lot...

or

Wishing that African-Americans would be more sensitive to cultures other than their own.  For instance, not raising their voices (yelling, screaming, singing) in public places because there are others around who do not share their same cultural reference.

That's a racist thought.

or

I really don't think that the African-American community has failed to hear and honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s call for non-violence.

That's even more racist.   Only a black person has a right to pass judgment...

That's a lot of hoops to jump through.

I don't know of any individual or group that does not have its strengths and weaknesses.  Even my two cats whom I adore have shortcomings.

Even after the Jayson Blair affair/fiasco, the New York Times is willing and ready to hire an African-American as its chief editor.