"So, Who Are You Voting For?"

The other night at Kate O’Brien’s, a brief argument - inspired by political fervor, sociological inquiry, copious amounts of Jameson’s and the odd mind eraser - broke out over black Republicans: who are they, how many are there, what is the nature of their motivations, etc.

Predictably, the discussion degenerated into a shouting match, a series of off-color jokes and another round of shots, but as I stared up at the ceiling the next morning, replaying the previous night’s events and bemoaning my throbbing head, I gave the subject some more reflection. In the process I recalled that while growing up I only knew two non-born again black Republicans - although that's not something people admit to readily, so who knows what goes on after they enter the voting booth.

An amusing story from my long-lost youth in Pittsburgh illustrates that point. When I was maybe 13 or so, I attended a national high school all-star basketball game at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena (check out Neil Diamond on August 26^th) with my Aunt and Uncle and their son, who was probably about 9 years old. These weren't blood relatives, but close family friends who had earned the honor of the title.

So, we get to the game and settle into our seats which happen to be in front of two men who are what we know in Pittsburgh as "yinzers". They are wasted, but friendly, and my cousin, being young and not yet fully invested with the reflexive fear/distrust of poor white people makes fast friends with them. The good ole boys are yukkin’ it up, having a grand old time with the Cosby kid.

Then, at one point they ask my cousin "who are you voting for?" - a Pittsburgh way of saying "who are you rooting for?" Cous, not being fully versed in the local dialect, misinterprets the question and proudly and immediately responds "Bush! Go Bush! Bush, Bush, Bush!" I cast a sideways glance and see my Aunt and Uncle's faces absolutely stricken with terror as they realize it's now obvious to me they have been indoctrinating their son with traitorous, house nigger Republican doctrine - a development that could, conceivably, make itself known to the entire black community of Pittsburgh.

I, of course, saw only humor in the situation – particularly the look of abject horror on my relative’s faces over a child’s innocent remark – about a basic right – the right to cast your vote for whomever you see fit. But I’ll always remember how they reacted as if a family scandal had been let loose into the open; the incident really underscored the stigma attached to voting Republican. Sometimes, no matter how much you strive for objective analysis, the most evocative moments remain the anecdotal ones.