Hold Up!

If Governor Palin was Black and her daughter was pregnant outside of wedlock the debate about her fitness to be the vice president of the US would be entirely different.

Black teenage pregnancy (Latino too) is often described in terms that ascribe racial dysfunction. The roots of Black teenage pregnancy, for example, is often blamed on the break-up of the family, absent fathers and, of course, thuggish brothers who are inherently irresponsible.

In the case of Palin's daughter there is hardly any of this kind of nonsensical assertions. Sharp shooter Palin is white and the white family is not described with such pathological concern.

Instead, her pregnant daughter made a 'personal mistake' for which she will take responsibility by getting married and raising the child.

No white person, anywhere, is implicated by her mistake. Palin and her husband's parenting skills are not questioned. The face of the father is not even known.

There is also not a word about the detrimental effects of Rap music or the fact that Palin's daughter dropped out of high school since becoming pregnant.

I agree that this pregnancy should not be the stuff of politics but Obama should hardly be applauded for taking this stance. It is, afterall, Obama who launched an attack on the Black family, and Black men in particular, in terms that support the racist imagery above.

I expect that Palin will face tough questions about her Christian values and her parenting values in the days to come.

Still, you know the fallout would be so different if Palin was Black.

Onward!

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