Is Condoleezza Rice Relevant to Black America?

Posted Feb 25th 2009 11:35AM by Karen Hunter

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice just signed a $2 million deal with Crown last week for a trio of memoirs -- the first about her years in the Bush administration; the second about her extraordinary life including growing up in Birmingham, Ala.; and the third geared to young adults.

As perhaps the closest person to former president George W. Bush, Rice knows where many of the skeletons of that administration are buried. She may be able to shed some light on numerous topics such as the real reason we went to war in Iraq. But will she? And another question: Will we care?

While she has had an illustrious career (provost of Stanford, concert pianist, Russian scholar) filled with many historic firsts (first black woman national security advisor and first black woman secretary of state), she hasn't held such a welcome position within the black community.

Some have accused Rice of being a sellout just by being part of the Bush administration, while others have been confused by her disconnect from the community from which she hails. That may be the reason why she has never graced the cover of Essence magazine -- the premier magazine devoted to the African American woman. (Queen Latifah was on the cover of the issue in which Rice was featured in 2006.)

When she received an NAACP award in 2002, it sparked controversy and protests among civil rights leaders. Rice is controversial and perhaps even divisive, but does she deserve the support of blacks?

"I will definitely be buying her book," said literary agent and former senior editor for Simon & Schuster Tracy Sherrod. "While I may not agree with her politics, I feel that she is relevant, and I am interested in hearing her views on a host of different issues. I think it will be an important book. And I don't feel we have the luxury to not support her or anyone else in our community, particularly now."

With the first black president of the United States, perhaps it's time we reexamine what it means to be black. Maybe it's time to accept those who don't necessarily share the same views.

"Black people often complain about being viewed as monolithic, and here is someone who is different, and I don't think she should be attacked for being different," said Melody Guy, a senior editor at Random House's One World, who recently published 'Numbers,' a novel by rapper Dana Dane.

"Now more than ever, people are so clued into our political landscape. Her book should be as relevant to blacks as it will be to anyone else. She is a part of our community. I would love to have the opportunity to publish someone like her."