BB and AB

The Independent asked prominent African-Americans what they think of the prospect of an Obama presidency.

Maya Angelou:

What it means if Mr Obama is voted in, is that my country has agreed to grow up, and move beyond the childish idea that human beings are different. . . .

I'm talking to friends in the UK, in Italy, in China who can't vote, who cannot press anything other than the point home, so I know the world is watching. We have lain so long in the undergrowth of ignorance. Can we really be saved from the rage of consumerism where we identify ourselves by our spending: 'I'm a shopper'. What kind of stupidness is that? Buying things we cannot afford and do not need.

The undergrowth of ignorance. The rage of consumerism. You can see why she's a best-selling author. But of course that's the multi-millionaire Maya Angelou talking. Favorite wiki line: "In 2002, Angelou lent her name and writings to a line of products from the Hallmark Greeting Card Company." Bet she made them pay for forcing her to sell out like that. At least we can be sure she didn't use the money to buy things she doesn't need.

But how exactly does she expect Obama to stop "our" consumerist rage, anyway?

Toni Morrison (I always confuse her and Angelou, probably because I'm a fucking racist) has been bobbing for apples in the kool-aid again:

I think the situation is dire, I cannot think of a large issue where things are going right, and Senator Obama will have an extremely difficult time. But there are two things that one should remember. The first is a cliché, but he himself has said it, 'It's not about me, it's about other people'. He cannot do it on his own, he needs the force of those who voted for him. The second thing – and one of the reasons I really respect him – is that he surrounds himself with really smart people, and not just smart people that say what he wants to hear. He likes the dialogue, the questioning, the one who tells him the truth as opposed to the one who strokes ego.

Why Toni (to totally steal from Iowahawk), I believe you just had an orgasm!

Samuel L. Jackson:

We have been through eight years of pretty much lunacy and madness. In America, we have tended to think that we are the greatest living things on the planet and our leadership has exemplified that. There's been a sort of warrior culture here, and it's time that ended.

That's Samuel L. Jackson--who's played hero cops and military types (not to mention murdering but hip psychopaths) in a score of movies--decrying our "warrior culture."

Stevie Wonder, while no murdering psychopath (thank God for behavioral therapy), is completely insane:

He's a combination of JFK and Martin Luther King. With that, he can't lose. I see a time when we will have a united people of the United States. And that is why I support Barack Obama.

Tiger Woods, on the other hand, is uncomfortable to the point of imbecility:

I've seen him speak. He's extremely articulate [black people are allowed to call each other "articulate"], very thoughtful, I'm just impressed at how well, basically all politicians really do, how well they think on their feet. Especially those debates. It's pretty phenomenal to see them get their point across. But I just think that he's really inspired a bunch of people in our country and we'll see what happens down the road.

That we will, Tiger!

Update:

Barack Obama’s senior advisers have drawn up plans to lower expectations for his presidency if he wins next week’s election, amid concerns that many of his euphoric supporters are harbouring unrealistic hopes of what he can achieve.

(via the noneuphoric--but cheery--Tim Blair)