Blacks Pick Obama Over Jackson as Spokesman Black Americans are far more likely to choose Barack Obama as the one person they would like to speak for them on issues of race (29%) than Jesse Jackson (4%).
PRINCETON, NJ -- Twenty-nine percent of black Americans name Barack Obama as the individual or leader in the United States whom they would choose as their spokesman for race issues, but 49% name someone else and nearly a quarter produce no name. If you had to name one individual or leader in the U.S. to speak for you on issues of race, who would that be?
The issue came up last week over controversial remarks the Rev. Jesse Jackson made about Obama. Jackson criticized Obama's campaign messages of personal responsibility for blacks as "talking down to black people." Jackson claimed that Obama has not adequately emphasized the need for the government to take more responsibility and action to help blacks.
The poll, conducted before the Jackson controversy erupted, finds that Obama is clearly the most dominant individual blacks think of in terms of representing their views on racial matters. He far outpaces the Rev. Al Sharpton, mentioned by 6%; Jackson (with 4%); Bill and Hillary Clinton, each with 3%; and an array of academic, political, and entertainment icons of the black community.
However, consistent with Obama's efforts to downplay the racial symbolism of his candidacy, most blacks don't think of Obama as their racial spokesman. A total of 49% cite someone else (including 6% who name themselves). These results are from Gallup's annual Minority Rights and Relations survey, conducted each June. The 2008 survey consists of nationally representative interviews with 1,935 adults, including more than 700 non-Hispanic whites, more than 600 blacks, and more than 500 Hispanics, all weighted to represent their correct proportions in the population.
This is not to say that black Democrats are not excited about Obama's candidacy or that they don't hold out high hopes for what an Obama victory could achieve for black Americans. A remarkable 90% of black Democrats -- compared with 64% of non-Hispanic white Democrats and 36% of all Republicans -- say they are "more enthusiastic" about voting than usual this year.