Dreams From Malcolm X

In an effort to better understand our Premier and what he may have in store for our future, I am reading his first book, Dreams From my Father. I attempted to push through it before the election but was so frustrated by the pretentiousness and self importance of the book that I quit reading it after thirty pages. This time I am resolute and open minded, taking his words in their most favorable light and hoping to be proven wrong.

I am currently eighty pages deep and the hatred this man spews is getting more vile by the page. Barry Obama was not born in Harlem nor was he raised in South Central L.A. He was born in Hawaii, spent his childhood as an expat’s son in Indonesia, and returned to paradise for high school. His account of his experiences in Indonesia does not speak of a child subjected to racism and poverty. His step father had plenty of money in Indonesia; he loved Obama and treated him as one of his own. After his mother split with his stepfather, Obama moved to Hawaii to live with his white grandparents. He attended a prestigious prep school and lived the life of a middle class white man, which he was. The outside observer would be tempted to see Obama’s childhood as normal, even pleasant. But, he was not content to have food on the table, a loving support system, and a first class education. The budding Premier is bitter at the father who left him. He takes the few racial slights he incurs as life altering events that cause him to retreat to his room, pouring over and identifying with, Malcolm X.

His hatred has a clear origin. He describes his mother as the classic liberal- anti American, cynical. Obama recounts an exchange between his mother and her Indonesian husband. Lolo, her husband, is asking her to attend a meeting with some American oil company representatives. She is defiant so, Lolo, confused, says that she should feel comfortable attending because these are her people. “These are not, my people”, she replies. Taking this in the light most favorable to Barry, I read him as trying to say that his mother was not a fan of big business oil types. But, read in the context of his pity party, the underlying message is clear: America is bad.

The book makes this much clear: Obama does not like capitalism. He sees it as a tool that white people use to oppress black people. He sees it as the implementation of American arrogance. He despises our way of life and does not identify with the American way.

Age and maturity have made me more intelligently patriotic. I still believe America is the best place on earth but I do not blindly support American foreign policy, whether promulgated by a President I support or not. Each aspect of American life should be scrutinized and, if lacking or flawed, improved. But, capitalism is still the best way to further individual freedom. Socialism and communism have failed miserably in this goal and will not suddenly work on a 300 million person melting pot.

“You show me a capitalist and I’ll show you a bloodsucker.” –Malcolm X