the great white hope

By now you've probably heard that Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins of Kansas just gave a speech in which she said ""Republicans are struggling right now to find the great white hope. I suggest to any of you who are concerned about that, who are Republican, there are some great young Republican minds in Washington." She mentioned three Republicans who happen to be white, and might be the "great white hope" to defeat the Democrats and Barack Obama. (thanks to Lee for the link.)

As you know Bob, the phrase "great white hope" first became popular as a rallying cry against Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight boxing champion. White boxing fans mounted a campaign to find a white boxer capable of defeating Johnson. It was explicitly racist: the goal of the "great white hope" was to return the championship to a white boxer and prove the superiority of whites. James Jeffries, the original great white hope, said "I am going into this fight for the sole purpose of proving that a white man is better than a Negro." There was a play about it in the late 60s, which was made into a movie starring James Earl Jones as Johnson.

Honestly, I don't think Jenkins intended to say something racist. I don't think she meant to say that Republicans need to find a white man strong enough to defeat Obama and return the presidency to white hands where it belongs. Even though that is precisely what "great white hope" means.

If it wasn't intentional, why did Jenkins say something so racist? I think she's just that clueless. Not only did she not know what the term meant, but it never occurred to her that when talking about opposing the first black president, the term "great white hope" might be a bad idea. I think she simply never thought about what she was saying, and she has the luxury -- the privilege, you might say -- of not having to think about it if she doesn't want to. As Ta-Nehisi Coates said, "when you don't practice talking to people who aren't like you, you tend to not be very good at it."

Granted that the word choice may have been a mistake, I have to encourage Republicans on their quest to find the great white hope. I think they should put all their energy into it, and make it their rallying cry. What could go wrong? If they can guarantee the same outcome (Jack Johnson kicked James Jeffries' ass) I'll even volunteer to help.