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Condi Rice . . . a Woman of Substance April, 2004
Dr. Condoleeza Rice's performance on Thursday, May 8th, hearkens back to another day almost six years ago. Another black woman who had America standing up and paying attention. The woman in question was one Cheryl Mills, then Deputy Counselor to President William Jefferson Clinton - and, the occasion was the infamous presidential impeachment hearings. Ms. Mills' stirring closing argument before the bipartisan Impeachment Committee, like Dr. Rice's on April 8th, demanded awe, respect…and, some disdain from those who had already made up their minds what the outcome should be. Both dynamic black women were called upon in historical periods in this country, to defend their presidents' actions - possibly, in one case, his inaction. Both women performed eloquently and brilliantly in defense, and in loyalty to their presidents. Yet, except for the women's ethnicities, and the fact that both have histories with Stanford University - one graduated from the law school, and the other taught and later served as its provost, the similarities pretty much end there. Francesco Guicciardini, a prolific Italian historian and philosopher wrote in the 15th Century, "One who imitates what is bad always goes beyond his model; while one who imitates what is good always comes up short of it." Guicciardini might very well have been writing about the double-edged sword of slavery, and the propensity for the chronically oppressed to seek assimilation into the oppressors' world. Mimicking the oppressor is one of the oldest forms of survival. The fact is, Dr. Rice's defense of President Bush, using hers and the administration's war rhetoric, was far more eloquently done than George Bush or others in his circle ever could. If a place at the practically all-white, all-male table is the brass ring one receives for such stellar loyalty, Dr. Rice truly earned her place on April 8th. Yet, those of us who forced ourselves to look beyond the woman's brilliance, her poise and eloquence, can't forget the real question before the 9-11 commission: Is the Bush administration guilty of doing less than it could to avert the horror of 9-11? And, did they ignore intelligence informing them of serious terrorism threats on America, weeks before it happened? Yes, the woman was every legal counsel's dream, with her well-thought out, rapid-response answers, and her seemingly open dialogue. Yet, if you ask whether Condi Rice changed America's mind about what the Bush Administration knew and when they knew it…the answer would have to be a categorical "No." And, while Miss Rice represented her boss and the Bush white house brilliantly; her performance further illuminates the conflict she arouses in black America. What we do know, after her April 8th performance, is that the attractive, articulate, highly educated black woman has taken her assimilation into conservative, white America, to the highest possible level; and, that she represents that philosophy better than many from that group, on which she modeled herself. Black America is both befuddled and repulsed by this woman of substance, who, in all appearances, has erased all traces of her race and her history. We hear she is in trouble, and as a race we tend to huddle around our own during times of troubles. The problem here is we don't know how to respond to a black woman whose ideologies we can't relate to, whose philosophies are foreign to our own history. And, most importantly, the woman hasn't given us one notion that she seeks our support. Could it be that to successfully tow the Bush line with such zeal and perfection, Rice would have to turn her back on her realities and her past? That now famous unwavering, piercing stare reminds one of a stalwart soldier, brainwashed into believing there is no right except the right she embraces…a mind-game that allows a black woman from the segregated south, to perfect the model of her oppressor…even going beyond that model. While it was admirable how, once her back was against the wall, Rice trudged valiantly up to capital hill, and took her knocks. But, even with the chronic smile and humor, the Bush arrogance was in evidence as it has been since January 2001. The fact that the woman pointedly offered no substantive apologies for any actions the Bush white house did or did not take; must not have sat well with the families of the 9-11 victims. In spite of it all, ours has always been an inclusive, forgiving community. Black America still holds out the notion that Condi is one of ours. We want to admire her even with her rabid republican philosophies…and, even though she has asked for neither our blessings, nor our approval. Condoleeza Rice is a bright star, some believe, who has lost her way; and, we're all watching and hoping that something happens to remind her of the history she has displaced. Black Republicans, however, sneer that any judgment of Condi Rice is not only an effort to put all black Americans in a "one size fits all," box; but it cuts off our nose to spite our face. They point out that the woman is an invaluable role model for our youth - a black woman in the white house who knows how to pronounce Uzbekistan, and can probably point to any Eastern European country on the map with her eyes closed. Surely, they say, we should all be thanking God…for this model of womanhood, and black America. Her credentials are for certain, un-impeachable; her service as provost at the prestigious Stanford law school; her tenured political science professorship there; her Hoover fellowship, and her service in the earlier Bush administration in the office of the Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. But, there's more to it than just that. Black Americans can't afford to forget that giving back, leaving a legacy still matters - as much, or more than the handles we carry behind our names. And, neither academic accolades, nor political appointments…or a fawning public protects us from losing our way. Ask Martha Stewart. A scary thought is that Condoleeza Rice wakes up each day telling herself that she is transformed beyond color…and, that those in her circle don't see color, just her brilliance. Oh, that it were true. Color-less is not only an impossibility…it's a childish, liberal goal that has no substance. Being gray does not move us beyond the racial fray. Pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps is not tantamount to erasing the color from our skin, or the history of racial conflicts that haunts us still. Yet, the black community needs Condi Rice…to remember her past, to talk intelligently about race, about affirmative action, about America's promises yet to be fulfilled. Be a Republican if you must, Condi Rice… but, embrace your history, and don't exchange that history for a seat at anybody's table. Janis F. Kearney is a Chicago writer, former journalist and diarist to President Bill Clinton. A Harvard W.E.B. Du Bois Fellow, she is currently completing William Jefferson Clinton from Hope to Harlem; and a personal memoir, Cotton Field of Dreams. Kearney Communications 5138 S. Kenwood Ave.#2 Chicago, IL 60615 (773) 493-2007 -- ph (773) 493-5747 -- fax janisfk@aol.com |
