Five little words — "I forgot he was black" — have exposed a contradiction in the idea of a post-racial nation.

The comment came from MSNBC host Chris Matthews after President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech Wednesday.

"He is post-racial, by all appearances," the liberal host said on the air. "I forgot he was black tonight for an hour. You know, he's gone a long way to become a leader of this country, and past so much history, in just a year or two. I mean, it's something we don't even think about."

The staunch Obama supporter meant it as praise, but it caused a rapid furor, with many calling the quote a troubling sign that blackness is viewed — perhaps unconsciously — as a handicap that still needs to be overcome.

Apparently, Matthews forgot to ask black people if they WANT to be de-raced.

"As a black American I want people to remember who I am and where I come from without attaching assumptions about deficiency to it," said Dr. Imani Perry, a professor at Princeton's Center for African American Studies.

Although she thought Matthews was well-intentioned, she found his statement troubling, because "it suggests that if he had remembered Obama's blackness, that awareness would be a barrier to seeing him as a competent or able leader."

"The ideal is to be able to see and acknowledge everything that person is, including the history that he or she comes from, as well as his or her competencies and qualities, and respect all of those things," Perry said.

That's a very different vision of "transcending race" — a consistent theme of Obama's political history — than one in which race has disappeared altogether.

"It's important for us to remember that everyone has a race," Blair L.M. Kelley, an associate professor of history at North Carolina State University. "When you say we're going to transcend race, are white people called on to transcend their whiteness?"

"When (black people) transcend it, what do we become? Do we become white?" she asked. "Why would we have to stop being our race in order to solve a problem?"

Matthews didn't get that far down the post-racial road on Wednesday night. But his comments instantly exploded online, especially on Twitter. Ninety minutes later, he clarified his comments on the air.

"I'm very proud I did it, and I hope I said it the right way," Matthews said, noting that he grew up in the racially fraught 1960s.

"I walked into the room tonight, you could feel (racial tension) wasn't there tonight and that takes leadership on his part, to get us beyond those divisions, really national leadership," Matthews said. "I felt it wonderfully tonight, almost like an epiphany. I think he's done something wonderful. I think he's taken us beyond black and white in our politics."

Plenty of people supported Matthews on Thursday, saying his sentiments, although poorly worded, reflected the view that all Americans are now equal.

But for many blacks, it was hard to forget the word "forgot."

Kevin Jackson, a black conservative and author of "The BIG Black Lie," hews to the same philosophy as the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck — that people should be judged on their merits, not their color.

Yet Jackson does not want his blackness to be forgotten.

"Absolutely not," he said. "Because we have an amazing history."

He pointed out that if Don Imus had made the same comment as Matthews, "everybody on God's green earth would be out to hang him by his you-know-what."

Sophia Nelson, a black attorney, former lobbyist and founder of PoliticalIntersection.com, which focuses on politics, race and gender, said she has been offended by people calling her .....

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Nothing new. News flash!! For all the progress claimed, there really has been little made. I felt this way 10 years ago. Made these exact comments on a local tv program as my daughter marched in MLK day parade. Im no separatist or extremist, just a realist. All other nationalities would prefer us as blacks to have our own malls, grocery stores, communities, schools etc. We seem to be hell bent on being accepted when thats the last thing on most other peoples minds. We're more inclusive of others more than theyll ever be of us. JUST THE FACTS!

by   
1sobermind
January 31, 2010, 10:45 pm
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How come one never hears anything about whites transcending race? The white man's ice is always colder, his sugar is always sweeter and apparently his "race" is somewhat better.

by   
Navi12
January 31, 2010, 4:25 pm
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I used to work hard to help eleviate the stereotypes that whites held about blacks. What I discovered that they didn't give up their stereotypes but rather saw me as DIFFERENT than most black people. We don't need to transcend race as a country as much as whites need to divest themselves of false characterizations of blacks to try to make themselves superior.

by   
Drwill911
January 31, 2010, 3:07 pm
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Looking forward to the day when we can see whites "transcend" their bigotry. So sick of hearing them claim that intelligent, articulate blacks "aren't really black" - as if black=stupid. Or, "you try too hard to be black"- as if it is a choice to be eschewed in favor of "psuedo-white".

by   
Ksun
January 30, 2010, 12:11 pm
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How many times does a Democrat have to say something slightly racist before black folks understand that neither party is exempt from racism. The Democrats have been sweeping their dirty thoughts about black folks under the rug going back at least to the 60’s. That is why it is so ignorant when I hear black people say that all republicans are racist. Black folks need to learn the history of both parties. Is it that hard to go to the library or to buy a few books?

Dang!

by   
Sharran0412
January 29, 2010, 9:16 pm
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Hahahahahahaahahahahaha all of the KLANSMEN around you are melding into one. I’ve never said Obama would go down as the worst President. Nonetheless, that is the natural progression of your illness (paranoid schizophrenia) that all of the voices centralize into one. You might wanna take a double dose of your antipsychotics tonight cause if you are really going out into the real world you might scare some people with that KLANSMEN all around trying to get you thing. Alternatively, you might wanna stop sucking on that pipe

by   
Fj1200
January 29, 2010, 4:58 pm
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I’ve got to leave because part of MY contribution to my community is, I also volunteer at the center and Fridays is one of my evenings. Your contribution to the klan only consists of posing on a Black site, trying to convince Blacks you are a “negro-republican”, so keep up the futile attempt dumb white-boy. I’ll get with you & ALL YOUR OTHER usernames on Monday. I’ll yank the covers off you everytime and FORCE you to call OUR President an intelligent Black man!

by   
Sevennotrump
January 29, 2010, 4:12 pm
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WOW! I have really made your racist azz desperate. In your quest 2 try to pass-off this latest STUPID username of yours, Fj1200, you even refer to the President as an intelligent Black man (of course just an attempt to add credence to your claim for any newcomers to BAW). Every regular has read your comments where you referred to Obama as incompetent and where you claimed he’d go down in history as the worst president the U.S. had. (That’s only in klan-written history).

by   
Sevennotrump
January 29, 2010, 4:09 pm
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Fool, look at our president he is an intelligent Black man, as am I. This ignorance hidden behind racist rhetoric of yours aint gonna get it no more. You ignorant Tom. You gotta stop yes-messa to yo white dem-o-bosses.

And no, “boy” worked just fine for me back in the day to kick some punk azz like you.

by   
Fj1200
January 29, 2010, 3:46 pm
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Intelligent, NOT; Black, NOT; negro-uncletom, NOT; fool... I can’t deny you that one; you certainly prove your right to it, with every post you submit. You racist-swine! Oh, if you want to pose as a negro uncletom, try harder to get that “Boy” reference out of your lexicon…I know it’s hard as Mom & Pop Cracker used to always use it and it’s embedded in you!

by   
Sevennotrump
January 29, 2010, 3:31 pm
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That’s right boy. You’d BETTER STFU. When you go around callin Bill and Hillary Clinton racists people be thinkin yu a crackhead. BTY slowpoke, it would be YOUR “pretense” that I am a negro uncletom, not mine. MY pretense is of an intelligent Black man. Fool.

by   
Fj1200
January 29, 2010, 3:10 pm
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Like YOU said? So there is someone who is Black that is supposed to be interested in ANYTHING that YOU or any other klansman says. Just keep posting; while you are thinking you are clever, with every post, you make it easier for ANYONE with sense to see through your racist-azz and your PRETENSE of being a “negro uncletom”!

by   
Sevennotrump
January 29, 2010, 2:54 pm
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It is really amazing how people interpret things. I heard CM and I took it as him saying he does not see a Black President of the USA, but The President of the USA.

by   
Aatozz
January 29, 2010, 2:21 pm
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Thanks sevenstupidtoms for your usual angry contribution of how bad you are and how racist everyone else is. hahhahahhahaha

Like I said, anyone who accuses Bill and Hillary Clinton of being racists is a certified ignoramous.

by   
Fj1200
January 29, 2010, 2:16 pm
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Chris Matthews, like most whites still are hung up on race and are likely to judge a person before they learn of his character. These are issues that whites must deal with. If blacks are to deal with other groups, we must retain our humanity and our blackness. These are our strengths!

by   
SPF
January 29, 2010, 2:03 pm
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Sevennotrump's comment below was perfect. I too have no desire to transcend race but I do want to transcend racism. I really think that's what Chris Matthews was trying to say. I also agree with those who've said that you have to look at the person's record. His views are nothing like Limbaugh's. By the way, I moved from the midwest to the south 20 years ago and what I learned is if white people like you, they like you. If they don't they don't. They just don't pretend in the south so I actually ended up liking it better here then at home. Matthews meant no harm.

by   
MERTISD
January 29, 2010, 1:32 pm
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Lovelyhoney, Fj1200 is a klansman poser with many usernames, which he uses to attack President Obama and TRY to divide Black people. He didn’t make the comments to which you are likely referring.
I made them, he re-posted them with a few lines under them to accuse me of claiming everyone is racist. But NOT everyone is racist, just him and EVERYONE HE KNOWS.

by   
Sevennotrump
January 29, 2010, 12:36 pm
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Fj1200 & C'Amira -couldn't have said it better. My father taught me a long time ago--my race/color isn't a problem--it's a problem for white folks--they're the ones who feel that everyone is "inferior" to them. White supremacey isn't just a KKK issue it's a "white folks" issue period especially when it comes to people of African descent. Matthews' comments don't surprise me AND I'm getting tired of EVERYONE else acting so surprised when white folk like him make these asinine comments about our race.

by   
Lovelyhoney
January 29, 2010, 12:28 pm
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Liberman is arepug, in a DEM uniform. Aside from that, there is NO hatefulness inside the Democratic Party except except the ILLUSION you (& ALL your usernames) ATTEMPT to manufacture on this site. You may fool someone who visits this site for the first time. Persons who are regular visitors know that there have been white “posers” on this site for years and while few have been as insidious as you, they’ve all been as DUMB and as transparent as you.

by   
Sevennotrump
January 29, 2010, 12:27 pm
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uncletom, aka, Fj1200, aka, (too many aka[s] to try to list). Your scheme of using one username to post relentless attacks against President Obama, then using another username to TRY to complain your usernames that criticize OUR President, are being unfairly attacked, is a WASTE OF YOUR TIME. You could be ironing your hood for tonight’s klan rally. Clinton (quite the friend to Black people as President) made racist comments during the campaign. (Clinton is from AK, surprise, surprise). Lieberman is a…

by   
Sevennotrump
January 29, 2010, 12:24 pm
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Further, I have NO desire to transcend race & NEVER HAVE HAD, my desire is to transcend RACISM. NEVER FORGET, I’m Black. NEVER FORGET, Blacks have contributed much to this world & we are a mighty people, because in spite of all we’ve endured over the years, we still stand strong & racist pigs like you, still try to create a dozen usernames, attempting to pose as Blacks, who voted for President Obama and are now disenchanted. GTFOOH!
Thanks sevenlittletoms for your usual angry contribution of how strong you are and how racist everyone else is. hahhahahhahaha

by   
Fj1200
January 29, 2010, 12:02 pm
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Once we can get pass the name calling & agree to disagree in a respectful manner we can get to a point where our differences are recognized positively. No one is perfect. In every community there are people of good or ill will. Chris Matthews, while he has a way to go to recognize that his words were not the perfect choice, has shown that he is of good will. For that he gets my pass. Change doesn't happen over night. PS. for the person that says only Liberals group people in terms of race, gender and sexual orientation, you were joking,right?

by   
Lnwlf4ever
January 29, 2010, 11:52 am
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What started out as hopeful has turned into hateful. Seems many on here believe that anyone without total blind devotion to Obama is racist. It is tearing the democrat party apart. Those on the far left are trying to label centrist democrats as racists. Even as far back as the campaign, I remember people accusing the Clintons or being racists THE FING CLINTONS! This latest excuse of holding democrats/liberals to a different standard just for political advantage is hypocritical. I really don’t think Mathews meant it offensively, but this double standard makes us look prejudiced.

by   
Fj1200
January 29, 2010, 11:52 am
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The media expected for ALL Black people to be up in arms over this statement. I understood the comment, therefore I was not offended. We as thinking people have tolearn what vattles to fight. This is not a battle of the words. Are we that sensiitive that we are going to allow one's thought's to cause much ado over nothing! Look at the person's record before making a judgement.

by   
Brightwood1
January 29, 2010, 11:39 am
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I work with a lot of white people this man's age, and he doesn't seem very different from them and vice versa. They are a sad product of their times.

by   
CAmira
January 29, 2010, 11:31 am
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I'm not going to give all old white people a pass, but a lot of them attended segregated schools being taught all kinds of ignorant things about people of color. Some older whites (though not many) evolved, but most did not. Mindsets that people are taught as children sometimes stay in their minds. When I hear comments like this, I try to analyze the speaker's motives before determining whether or not I need to be offended. If this guy were 30 years younger, I might expect better of him, but this man is what he is--an old white man.

by   
CAmira
January 29, 2010, 11:29 am
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Further, I have NO desire to transcend race & NEVER HAVE HAD, my desire is to transcend RACISM. NEVER FORGET, I’m Black. NEVER FORGET, Blacks have contributed much to this world & we are a mighty people, because in spite of all we’ve endured over the years, we still stand strong & racist pigs like you, still try to create a dozen usernames, attempting to pose as Blacks, who voted for President Obama and are now disenchanted. GTFOOH!

by   
Sevennotrump
January 29, 2010, 11:25 am
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Uncletom, aka, NateTwo, aka, fj1200, aka, etc, etc, etc. It makes no difference how many usernames your kkk-azz employs, your CRAP still smells like the trailer park. The reason Blacks are not offended at Matthews is that his RECORD proves he is on our side. Don Imus, Limbaugh, YOU (with ALL your usernames) have proven you’re against us & IF either of you could think, we’d be in trouble.

by   
Sevennotrump
January 29, 2010, 11:22 am
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The reality is this. We have a long long way to go before any of us can forget that we are white or black. Comments are offensive or unoffensive based on where and who they are coming from. I understand and am not offended by Chris's comment because he has a reputation for being non racist HOWEVER I will admit that coming from Rush, Hannity, or even Clarence Thomas would have ushered a different response from me and I am sure many others.

by   
Docholland002
January 29, 2010, 11:19 am
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It seems like the very people who claim to be non-racist are the main people who brings up race. I am sure that chris matthews would not have made the same bone-head statement about a white bill clinton. Liberals are the only ones who group people in terms of ,race, gender, and sexual orientation. Why bother to comment on the obvious if it is not a problem chrs.

by   
Natetwo
January 29, 2010, 11:00 am
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