No More Mamas for Obama: Outdated Stereotypes are Alive and Well
In my car this morning in St. Louis, Missouri, I saw a bumper sticker on another vehicle that read: “No More Mamas for Obama.” Sadly, the bumper sticker emblemizes the perspective that President Obama will go to great lengths to let all those lazy black people stay home and live off the government. The laziest of all are those Welfare Mamas, having lots of kids just to get more government money. If we’d only cut the cord, the Welfare Mamas would straighten up, lose weight (after all, the stereotype is that most of them are overweight), don business suits and go to work like the rest of us.
Another friend, driving near Springfield, Missouri, reported seeing a bumper sticker that read: “Don’t Re-Nig on Obama.” All this time, I thought the “N” word had been removed from our national vocabulary. At the very least, I thought it was a word you didn’t use in public. But in some circles, it is apparently a fine word to use on bumper stickers, and thus probably in conversations, speeches and billboards.
Racial prejudice seethes and and is tearing apart our national identity. At the very time when we should be coming together to innovate, inspire and motivate the underprivileged, there are many who find it easy to assign labels, and revert to outdated stereotypes.
President Obama is leading by example, and daily proving that these stereotypes are wrong. We should follow his lead, and then speak out against any prejudice around us.
mary nobel
7:56 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
What makes you think "No More Mama's for Obama" is referring to black, welfare, moms?? Mamas of all color and classes supported Obama in 2008. The bumper sticker is stating that moms are not supporting him this time because of his economic policies that will leave no promising future for their children! For the first time in our history, most parents believe that our children will not be better off than we are! Mamas rhyme with Obama, making it a catchy slogan -that's it!. When millions of(able-bodied) people in our country are giving up on finding jobs and then become dependent on welfare, we are becoming a hopeless country. It has nothing to do with President's Obama's color!
The "re-nig" sticker does sound suspicious, but that is coming from someone who supports him! I'm not sure what your point is? I am not denying that there is still racial prejudice, but please don't make accuse people of being racist just because we don't support the president's policies. I don't agree with you on the president leading by example. He has no problem using the race card when it benefits him.
Scott Simon
1:25 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Why was this blog approved? The writer is not identified by name or image. This is NOT a blog, it's secret drive-by opinion and should be removed.
Lincoln Douglas
8:40 pm on Monday, October 1, 2012
I have to concur with Mr. Simon. Patch Editors, you continue to do your brand and your readers a disservice by allowing unqualified hacks to write in your blog section. This concern is similar to the one I raised regarding a blog post by Rich Pope (http://maplewood-brentwood.patch.com/blog_posts/obama-the-coward). I don't understand your thinking behind this forum, but it seems as though it showcases the worst of St. Louis and diminishes the relevance of Patch as a news source.
Christine Stewart Mehigh
4:24 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
I agree, and I also believe that people should be using their own names to sign in and make comments. Please, Patch, go to the commenting rules used by other publications and make it work so that people can't hide behind this awful stuff.
Doug
3:26 pm on Monday, October 1, 2012
"President Obama is leading by example, and daily proving that these stereotypes are wrong. We should follow his lead, and then speak out against any prejudice around us."
Author obviously missed this "lead" from Barry.
March 2012 - "If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon"
If that's a man leading us to racial peace and understanding, then we're all really screwed.
Caffeinated
3:30 pm on Monday, October 1, 2012
"If that's a man leading us to racial peace and understanding, then we're all really screwed"
What are you talking about? Say it, don't simply imply it. Say what you mean.
Doug
3:46 pm on Monday, October 1, 2012
What am I talking about? Seriously? Trayvon Martin was a while back, but not THAT long ago. Have you already forgotten?
The Missourian
4:29 pm on Monday, October 1, 2012
What exactly IS it you are saying, Doug? I'm kind of bad at filling in the blanks and I have a short memory...
Caffeinated
5:10 pm on Monday, October 1, 2012
I know who Trayvon Martin was, now explain explicitly what your interpretation of that quote is, please.
MIKE K
11:02 pm on Monday, October 1, 2012
The truth will set you free
Caffeinated
5:53 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Why was mike's comment deleted? Because it made someone uncomfortable, we can't face racism? Isn't that the topic of the blog?
Patch has every right to delete objectionable material (or anything it likes, really), but I personally think it was instructional. By deleting mike k's racist rants, Patch is avoiding an opportunity to explore a prevalent issue in a portion of the electorate. It has everything to do with the topic of this "blog."
Very disappointing.