Obama and The White Niggers of North America

As I learned more about Quebec in Canada, I learned that francophones had compared their status in Canada to that of Blacks in the U.S. They thought of themselves as "the white niggers of North America," (apparently from an old book of the same title--though I have not been able to confirm this yet)--a disenfranchised minority, discriminated against, beaten down, subjected to a history of injustices.

It struck me then, as it strikes me now, as a deeply flawed comparison. Though surely there is some hook to hang the comparison on--francophones in Canada are a minority community that has suffered discrimination--it strikes me as a comparison that either underestimates the degree of historical oppression Black America has faced or that cannot see the degree of enfranchisement of French Canada.

The core argument I used to bring out to Quebecers about the comparison's flaws always hinged on the number of Quebecers who had been Prime Minister, and of the necessity of Prime Ministerial candidates to have mastered the language no matter where they're from. In the States, I used to say, there has never been a black president, not even a viable black candidate. You do not understand, I would go on, how much French Canada has a significant voice in the life of the nation compared to Black America; I don't expect to see a black president in my lifetime!

Who would've thunk it! I was wrong. French Canadians never were the white niggers of North America, but just maybe, finally, Black America will forever more have the voice in the U.S. that French Canada has had up here. Wouldn't that be a gift?

Monday, I am taking my two sons down to D.C. to see the Inauguration. They may not understand its import much more than I understood what was going on when my father took me out of school in the 3rd grade to walk in a march with Martin Luther King. However, I do remember the day well; so will they.