Black Oppression in Modern America - A Matter of Perception? Cureton, Wells Explain

The audience was mostly young, black, female, smartly dressed, and-if their body language, ranging from heavy lids to crossed arms to slouched posture---was any indication, bored. Bored, that is, until the last five minutes of the event.

It was then that Crystal Bland, moderator of sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha's political discussion, "Black Caucus Presents Black in America: The Importance of the Minority Vote," paused at the podium. Visibly relieved that the talk was ending, she sighed and uttered the catalyst question of evening: "Any last words on the importance of the minority vote?" A silence lingered but not for long.

It was up to guest speakers Karl Cureton, a black Republican and Chairman of the National Minority Technology Council, and Dr. Mabel Gilbert Wells, a black liberal and social worker, to break that silence and answer with emotion. The restless crowd deserved it.

After all, it had been an evening of relatively tame and objective responses---more of a presentation of facts than opinions. Alpha Kappa Alpha carefully scripted all the previous questions---mostly about the young black vote and what distinguishes this election from past ones---and presented them to the guests days before the discussion. The guests even brought notes up with them to stage. The audience had the chance to write out questions on index cards, but the sorority had to approve of them before Bland read them aloud. Consequently, the talk flowed less than organically. It was their guests' chance to finally turn the night around with the open-ended question before even more of the audience members left.

Although the talk ran from 7 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 23 in the University Student Commons, as many as five students slipped out just after the first 25 minutes. The clicking of their high heels against the hardwood floor and the sound of the heavy ballroom doors opening and closing announced their exit. At that point, at least one of the remaining 60 or so students began to drift off.

That is, until an half and a half later. After thinking about Bland's question---again, the only impromptu one of the night---Wells, she of the yellow lily perched behind her ear, opened her mouth. Suddenly, the crowd and drew in a little closer to better hear the woman. The room grew slightly warmer, noticeably and instantly as she explained that the minority vote is always important, regardless of the nature of a presidential election. Well's earnestness, including her steam of tears, only became more evident as she continued. She said that black voters should particularly consider what each candidate plans to do to help them in their situation of oppression. Mocking Cureton, who the whole night kept repeating the command "Think critically," Wells told the audience to "Think personally" to best serve the minority group's collective needs.

Cureton argued that oppression does not necessarily exist in black America and that it is more so a state of mind. "Be a mechanic," Cureton said, explaining that African-Americans should again "think critically" about how to vote in the 2008 elections. He cracked that "being broke is not oppression." Although the audience reaction was relatively discreet, the room felt tense as Cureton continued. He said that he, as a black man in America, is not oppressed because of all the financial opportunities available to him here that he could not pursue in his home country of Canada. A couple students coughed and cleared their throats, seemingly out of discomfort.

Then Wells argued that all African-Americans are still oppressed. She mentioned that the overwhelming majority of children in Richmond public schools, which she describes as inadequate, are black. She called for amendments to the No Child Left Behind program and more resources, specifically "warm-bodied people."

Wells ended the discussion with the statement that, "Just because Obama's running doesn't mean [black] oppression's over." Applause ensued and the audience dispersed to the back of the room for the post-discussion reception.

Later, during the reception, Cureton distinguished between the ideas of actively being oppressed and then feeling oppressed. He said that it is important to examine the actual dictionary definition of 'oppression.' While he may feel oppressed, nobody in this country is trying to oppress him because he has the same economic rights as other Americans. He has the chance to "think critically" and act for himself.

Also during the reception, Keith Robinson, who works with Cureton, said, "[Even] as we move forward as black people, as a human race, as Americans, oppression's definitely still on the table to some degree. We have to be careful not to be our own oppressors, as---not to put words in his mouth---Karl said. No one's going to necessarily pull you out of your bed and beat you but someone may say, 'Hey, this is a good mortgage...and it's ¾ of your income.' In order to grow to the next step

In response to the question of whether today's African-Americans are still oppressed, Kenneisha Harwood, Alpha Kappa Alpha president, said, "I think some are [but] only the people who let [racist comments] get to them." She went on to say that she does not feel oppressed and that racist comments have only strengthened her character.

Donald Knight, a double Political Science and Criminal Justice major and Student Director of Political Affairs at VCU partially agrees with Harwood. "I think depending on who you are and where you're from, you define oppression differently...Oppression exists and always will. We have hope to reach the point [in which] we will all be treated equally. Hope is what drives out the volatile acts of the past [like lynching]. Certain experiences I've been through were direct causes of oppression but they have made and molded me into the individual that I am today."