Pam Adams Just Doesn't Get It

Journal Star columnist Pam Adams can't decide if she likes Oprah. She can't figure if she is a sellout or an inspiration. She can't decide if, by interviewing celebrities and covering topics such as "The Best Apron, The Best Cookie, The Best Sandwich" Oprah is betraying her background by primarily using her powerful platform to cater to white women.

In the whole race and equality debate there is one event that seems to be overlooked. Victory. Not complete, 100% victory, no. There are still stupid, hateful people on the planet. There are still some who are simply "ignorant" and have not been educated as how to best judge a person's worth. (Hint, it isn't the content of pigment in their skin, Jackass.)

Yet, ugly, overt racism has taken a huge beating. Not just in words, but in deeds. Many (no, not all) white people think nothing unusual in having a black boss, professor, doctor, or Secretary of State. But in this country the real proof is in the pocketbook. White women want to be like Oprah.

They want to wear the same clothes, eat the same food, read the same books and they are ready and more than willing to spend a lot of money in order to do so. In this country, that is power. White women take Oprah's advice, and embrace her wisdom. Mothers flock to the television, baby in one arm, basket of laundry in another, to listen to child rearing and marital advice from someone who has no children and isn't married. They buy cookbooks, diet books, and exercise advice from someone who isn't a size two. There is no white counterpart.

However, Pam Adams remains ambivalent about Oprah. Is a black talk show host that promotes recipes and celebrities really furthering the cause?

Are you kidding me?

It isn't like Oprah hasn't taken on many tough issues, including race, during her reign as America's talk show diva. If her show was comprised only of make overs, movie clips, and fashion shows it would still have a lot of value. The Oprah Show is proof that huge strides have been made.

I am part of a generation and socio-economic class that was raised to not to judge people by their color. It was as inherent in our upbringing as "brush your teeth", "eat your vegetables", and "look both ways before crossing the street." It was further enforced in the media and by Hollywood, watching hit shows like Sesame Street, Different Strokes, and The Cosby Show. Claire Huxtable was the ideal for many preteen girls. She was a successful lawyer, a great mom, beautiful, and yes, wealthy. The fact that she was black and rich didn't seem improbable.

After leaving the nest it has been frustrating, to say the least, to learn that many of my African American contemporaries have been raised to distrust and seemingly isolate themselves whenever possible from whites. It often feels like one side is anxious to embrace the other, while the other side is saying, "Lets keep to ourselves. We've been burned before." I can't say that such feelings are not justified, I know they most certainly are. I question their productivity.

I can already hear the voices of protest. "How do you like it?" Well, "What goes around comes around." And, of course, "You haven't experienced near the hurt and rejection we have." All valid. All true. To some extent, even deserved.

My biggest concern is what the future holds for the children that Generation X is now raising. If one side wants to embrace the other only to be rebuffed with hurt and bitterness, what will the rejected side teach today's children? I don't believe today's thirtysomething white Mothers will be teaching overt racism, but something more along the lines of, "Well, Honey, they just don't like us, and there's not a lot we can do about it."

If this nightmare becomes reality, won't that preclude the possibility of anymore black talk show hosts, secretaries of state, bosses, or newspaper columnists? I believe there are dangers by not claiming and not celebrating hard won victories. By not declaring victory in the war against overt racism, subversive racism will flourish.

Regarding Oprah's immense popularity, Adams asks, "why and why now?" Simple. Oprah Winfrey is honest, funny, strong, charming, entertaining and smart as hell. The fact that she is black does not dampen our admiration and respect for her. Frankly, if Oprah says an apron is good, I believe her. I am more willing to fork over extra money for an apron she recommends than one, say, Peter Jennings might recommend.

Pam, the wealthiest and arguably the most powerful woman in America is black. Rejoice!