As I was driving to a nearby coffee shop to do my daily writing, I decided to stop at an ATM to get some cash. I walked into the Student Center of a nearby university (not Temple or Penn) in search of a machine and saw something that was deeply shocking and disturbing: 10 White students, both male and female, were wearing sandals.

To put this in context, today is arguably the coldest day of the season in Philadelphia. Although the 50-degree temperature was far from frigid, most of the people who I passed on the streets were wearing coats, hats, hoodies, etc. The only people who were (in my opinion) underdressed were of the Caucasian persuasion.

Today’s experience wasn’t an isolated incident. Every year, when there’s an unseasonably warm winter day, i.e. it’s 54 degrees in February, I see White students on campus playing volleyball in shorts and tanktops or rocking open-toed shoes to class. Inevitably, a conversation gets sparked among Black students and faculty about White people and cold weather.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not alleging any biological link between White people and cold weather, nor am I attempting to essentialize all people who identitfy as White. Rather, I’m genuinely curious to know the cultural rules and rituals that inform this cutural difference.

Can someone explain this to me?

Today’s video of the day comes from John Legend. Distinctly different than his debut album, Get Lifted, the Penn alum’s second effort has him experimenting with a variety of sounds and traditions.

His first single, “Save Room,” stands in sharp contrast to its Get Lifted counterpart, “I Used To Love You.” While the former was an an old-school throwback made for urban radio, the latter is a more mature, sophisticated, and eclectic work.

In the single’s accompanying video, John Legend occupies a house (and a bed) with a virtual Rainbow Coalition of women. Is this a sophisticated message about the complexity of romantic attachments, a clever attempt at bolstering his crossover appeal, or a cinematic enactment of erotic fantasy?

“Everybody got baggage. I’m just looking for somebody with a matching set.”

For the past few months, everyone has been clamoring for a presidential run from Barack Obama. Numerous magazines, news shows, and even Oprah have begged Obama to shoot for the nation’s top job. After two years of firm denials, Obama appeared on “Meet the Press” and admitted that he’s “thinking about” running for the 2008 nomination. Given the delicacy of presidential positioning, this is as close to a guarantee as you’ll get from a politician two weeks before a mid-term election. Nevertheless, there’s little doubt that Barack Obama will announce his intention to run for president sooner than later.

And it’ll be the biggest mistake of his career.

Why? Because he won’t win.

Washington insiders, pundits, and everyday citizens have all promoted the freshman senator as the Democratic Party’s best chance at a return to the White House. While this likely true, this has more to do with Hillary Clinton’s inability to woo moderates away from John McCain and galvanize hardcore liberals than Obama’s winning potential. The bottom line is that Barack Obama would have a difficult time winning the nomination and an even more difficult time defeating the Republicans.

This is due to three problems.

The first problem is Obama’s lack of experience. As a freshman senator two years into his term, Obama hasn’t even discovered all of the bathrooms on Capitol Hill, much less the intricate political landscape of Washington. It’s hard enough for experienced senators to get beyond the “lack of executive experience” critique. Imagine how hard he’ll be hit with the “lack of legislative experience” arguments, particularly if he’s up against another senator in the primary or general elections.

The second problem is his image. Yes, Obama is attractive, young, and brilliant. Unfortunately, that doesn’t necessarily translate into votes. Ask John Edwards. In addition to the aforementioned qualities, successful candidates have also had an almost indefinable star quality that carries them past their competition. If there’s one thing that binds Reagan, Bushx2, and Clinton (other than their vicious stances toward welfare reform), it’s their ability to reach people at a visceral level. Although he is a compelling and non-threatening figure (no doubt aided by his light skin complexion), he lacks the je ne sais quoi that is requisite for a successful campaign.

The third problem is the biggest and most insurmountable: Barack Obama is Black. No matter how articulate, well-educated, sober, or experienced he may be, Barack Obama is still considering a run for president in a country where overt racists like George Allen are able to launch credible bids for re-election. How likely is it that the same people who vote for Allen (or even Joe Lieberman) would be willing to make Obama their commander-in-chief? Although Republican confederates clearly aren’t his primary base, Obama would certainly need to attract moderate Republicans into his camp in order to win a few crucial red states. There is little reason to believe that they would choose Obama over John McCain. Also, like all national-level Black candidates over the years, Barack Obama will be forced to pay the well-documented “Black tax” at the polls. Despite his high approval ratings, close to 10% of people who express support for him will vote against him behind the voting curtain. After all, no one can call you racist in the voting booth.

Unlike the presidential bids of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, who launched campaigns to open doors, consolidate power, and increase their earning potential, and Obama ticket would be considered viable and palatable to mainstream Americans. It is for this reason that Obama should be extremely prudent about how, why, and when he makes a run for the White House.

Instead of running too early, Obama should sit tight, gain experience in the Senate, and pick the perfect time to make a move. If he plays his cards right, he may even earn a vice-presidential nod for 2008. This would give him the national credibility and political momentum necessary for a future run. Otherwise, he may find himself at the losing end of the general election.

And Americans hate losers.

Run, Barack Obama, Run! The Wave Is Building and the Cries Are Getting Louder
By Deborah Mathis

Already slipping, my skepticism about a Barack Obama presidential bid in 2008 fell away completely Sunday morning. As far as I’m concerned, the operative question now is no longer “Should he run?” but rather “Why shouldn’t he?”

Ah, yes; something about Barack. He’s transparently smart but not pedantic; he’s cool and sober without being aloof; he’s passionate about issues that matter — the economy, the war, America’s image in the world, discrimination and other institutional habits that thwart opportunity — and there’s a dash of “I-know-how-to-get-down” in that dignified mien. As the old saying goes, what’s not to like?

He was Illinois’ secret until he burst onto the national scene two years ago, sweeping past first, a Republican who got himself in trouble and then a Republican who parachuted in from Maryland and tried to fight a heavyweight match with lightweight gloves.

And how quickly the country claimed him as a favorite son! You had only to be there on the first day of the 109th Congress back in January 2005 to realize a star had been born. You could hardly find him in the media scrum; his office was besieged by visitors and curious bystanders; and every national newscast carried a bit on the junior senator from The Prairie State, partly because of his oddity as only the fifth black American in all history to take a seat in the U.S. Senate and, in that regard, currently a soloist. And the whirl of attention that swallowed Obama in his summer sojourn to Africa was the stuff of presidential or princely visits.

For the rest of the story, click here.