Karla J. Strand, DPhil, MLIS Profile picture
Feminist librarian, historian, writer, and educator. @msmagazine

Sep 3, 2020, 7 tweets

Duchess Harris @harris_duchess asks of the panelists: Why didn't Obama save us?? #asalh2020

Albright: Obama was the US president but racism is the original US sin. Some will say that when you attack racism, you attack the US. Obama was the leader of a racist system. Unreasonable to think that in a 8yr period he could change the entire structure of the US. #asalh2020

Albright: He can make improvements but can't change the entire system in that period of time. We can be critical and say he should've gone further or done something differently on different issues. But it's about entire systems. #asalh2020

Albright: Look long-term and be strategic. Not a week goes by that he doesn't ask himself: Am I integrating my people into a burning house (HT MLK Jr)? Has to believe in the process of work and power-building. That will have benefits. #asalh2020

Albright: The process of capacity- and power-building is going to be important in the long run, wherever we end up and whoever we elect. #asalh2020

Dr. JZ: Obama was up against lots of power structures. He wasn't a progressive politician. Example: He advocated marriage as an answer to Black poverty. He wasn't our savior re: policy. But he did what he was supposed to do in the moment. #asalh2020

Dr. JZ: People have access to different venues and structures. Black people protest in the streets. White people protest in policy. Want to see white protest? Look at policy. #asalh2020

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