Iconic Journalist and Culture Critic Toure’
Four years ago, America elected “Superman” to be president of the United States. This time around, people voted in Clark Kent, according to author and journalist Toure’, who spoke last night at Southern University Edwardsville Morris University Center Meridian Ballroom.
“An Evening with Toure’: Iconic Journalist, Culture Critic and Television Host” was part of SIUE’s 2013 Black Heritage Month. Toure’ authored “Who’s Afraid of Post-Blackness? What It Means to be Black Now.” Toure’s novel was named one of the Most Notable Books of 2011 by the New York Times and the Washington Post, and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work of Non-Fiction.
Toure’ also co-hosts MSNBC’s “The Cycle,” which airs at 2 p.m. CST weekdays. He is a columnist for Time.com and is currently writing a book on musical artist Prince, and co-writing the autobiography of legendary rapper Nas.
“What was amazing to me was that a black man could get re-elected after showing that he was human,” Toure’ said. “This past election also showed that the white percentage vote has dropped. The browning of America is here.”
The culture critic and journalist gave his assessment of the state of politics and some politicians in the country. His critique of the Republican Party was mostly blunt and less than favorable.
“The GOP cannot win elections being hostile to black and brown people,” Toure’ said.
Toure’ said it has been the practice of the Republican Party to stir up and feed into fear and resentment of some voters. For instance, the extending of power can be seen as an encroachment on other people’s power.
“But giving power and advantages to blacks, women and others do not take away from whites,” said Toure.’ “And letting Bob and Fred get married doesn’t take away anything from my marriage.”
The reality of having an African-American president has had a profound spiritual affect for Black America, but it hasn’t changed everyday life for blacks, Toure’ said.
“There were blacks who, for the first time in this country, felt at home and fully a part of America with the election of Obama,” he said. “But the problems of day-to-day life for Black America are far greater than Obama or any president can fix singularly.”
And as long as the republicans have control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the democrats maintain a slim majority in the U.S. Senate, things will remain gridlocked, Toure’ said.
He also gave his opinion about the next president, “It’s going to be Hillary Clinton. I truly believe that.”
At the end of Toure’s presentation, he responded to several questions. Among them was a query about his position on gun control.
“I’m a huge gun control supporter,” Toure’ said. “The NRA (National Rifle Association) is such a bad faith actor. The NRA is one of the most vile organizations. They represent gun and bullet manufacturers.”
Toure’s presentation was sponsored by the University’s 2013 Black Heritage Month Committee and its Campus Activities Board.