RSSFear of a Black President?
Even with the swell of recent success for Camp Clinton in Ohio and Texas, and old man McCain all but having the GOP nomination on lock, the prospects of a brotha running things from DC are still very real. President Barack Obama is no longer a utopian fairytale like Chris Rock’s Head of State, but rather a strong reality. Which got me to thinking: Would a black president do more good…stay with me…or be bad for black folks across the country?
Think about it. If indeed Barry finds his way to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, that means as a whole, or at least I suppose as white Americans would view it, black people had made it to the promise land Dr. King waxed so poetically about during the Civil Rights movement. A good thing right? Maybe not. I just don’t know.
Since the shackles of slavery put black Americans on perpetual quest and uphill battle for an equal field and rights, a black President could for all intent and purposes erase this struggle from the hard drive of Americans. A black president means we have made it.
Sadly, looking across our country from rural to urban areas we know this notion is ass-backwards. One only needs to look at the inequalities that still dominate our educational system, neighborhoods and the systematic socioeconomic disadvantages black folks encounter from Main Street USA to the avenues of Brooklyn to the corporate boardroom.
In recent years we’ve already seen Affirmative Action programs on college campuses in states like California, Texas and Michigan all but eradicated (unfortunately with the lobbying of a black man, Ward Connerly). We all can vividly remember the large immigrant rallies across the country in 2006 that left many of us saying, “what about us”, when attention shifted from black to brown.
Even more stressing is that Obama pretty much refuses to incorporate any notion of race into his campaign. He wants to be judged on his resume, qualifications and his record…and I’m not mad at that. I get it and won’t knock his hustle. Once he puts race on full-blast, he risks alienating himself and being labeled a militant who blasts X-Clan cuts at rallies.
The fact is we have not made it. Once again– we have not made it. Yes, Richard Parsons has done his thing at Time Warner. Yes, Condoleeza Rice is Secretary of State. Yes, Russell Simmons is a mogul. Yes, Oprah controls the world. Yes, Clarence Thomas…never mind. And yes, there are countless other individuals who are not in the spotlight who have all but “made it.” But for each winner, we have millions of losers that have not, and with American society as it is, will not make it. This fact is depressingly painful to write.
Would a President Barack Obama change this or will America forget about us? Can a forgotten people be forgot?
19 Comments, Comment or Ping
boosy
Well it’s a tricky question,
Barack winning no doubt would change the world’s perspective of America. America, on the other hand, i don’t know. I know one thing, all the black people on welfare, broke, in the hood, not in school, are fucked.
With No Child left behind,
- actually leaving our children and all about testing,
- special ed all about preparing black folks for Jail,
They gonna be like , look at barack he Got here.
Now , shut the fuck up and go spend that Check we gave you, ….
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Ronnie B.troubl
That’s the beauty about Barack is that he superceeds race that’s why he’s doing so well I think if he gets into office it will be a great day for all Americans for all people.As well if he get into office think about what niggas can now aspire to be. I’m excited, we got niggas running for President!
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pinlight reply on June 24, 2008 2:30 pm:
I agree with your..mmmm.. i guess elatedness and yes it will be a great thing for all people and we should not need a black man (not nigga) to gain presidency for our black men to realize that they can acheive anything possible. The fear of others is that we ar a smart resourcful race of people and can do the impossible but we were over the 1200 or so years to think that we are nothing. It will be a beautiful thing when senator Obama gains the oval office and take his sit as the head of the country. The things is will we as a black race feel as if now he is there he owes us to brings us all up or do we grab his hand and pull up off his efforts to inspire and acheive greatness as he has shown us.
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Gureala
If Barack gets the top spot, I certainly believe that things in this country will change for the better…especially in Black America. Seeing a black man in the white house would definitely impact that way that many in our community view themselves (folks would take serious pride in that), and we’d finally have someone in office with knowledge of the black community that wasn’t gained through government reports or television. Its all wishful thinking now, I guess. But I do believe that the change will be tremendous.
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"A Mom"
We just have to trust and see. Our vote is important but we can also be wrong. On the other hand we need to stop second guessing. I don’t think we could do any worse than what we have seen happen to our country. Some has to change our country for the better or one day we will just be considered 3rd world. Our schools, health care and hold economy is going to the dogs. We need to believe in someone. But me can’t stop there because our new president needs us as well as we need him. We need to get in Troubl.
[Reply]
*SB*
Boosy-
you are hilarious!!! but you do have a point…
I absolutely love Obama…and believe that he does care about the black community- look at his past in grass-roots organization….BUT he is no way a radical…he will make an effort to improve the black community as well as other minority communities but it wont happen over night…and once in office he has to worry about staying in office…that wont happen if he makes these gigantic changes that solely affect the black or minority communities…it will be a slow but steady improvement…so i hope that the black community can realize this if he is elected… and not write him off as another faulty president…give Obama time…
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The R
lol
of course Ward Connerly would continue to push this idea..We have Arrived. Obama has no choice but to continue to say We Are The World cause that is what got him elected. But we are not concerned about that..
We just want a black president and just maybe we gonna get it finally….
[Reply]
Malia
People are raising questions about whether or not Americans are ready to vote for a non-White male who has a real chance at winning the presidency. That doesn’t shock me. Here’s what does: Questions are also being raised about Obama’s support in the black community. When white Democratic candidates on the national stage assume black support, these black leaders don’t say a word. But an African-American Democrat has to kiss these leaders’ butts? Not only is this kind of thinking foolish, it gives credence to the notion that too many black people are suffering from the crabs-in-the-barrel-syndrome. I mean, come on, he’s made it very clear that he doesn’t want to win the presidencey because he’s a brother, but because he’s capable!!!! I support him because he has a leader mentality not because he has a black mentality. He’s the Senator of Chicago, a huge black population. If he wasn’t community focused he wouldn’t be winning.
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Terrance L.
The game has already changed. White folks aint honoring the ism deck no more. The Conservative Revolution has silenced those voices.
Shit Negroes already screaming we have arrived. You cant lay that all on Obama’s Presidency.
The fact of the matter is this: the notion that he should help us or needs to be our savior is still outdated messiah thinking. I am not going to question anybody’s Blackness because we all have contradictions in our dealing with our people. Obama is a politician. And since he is in the game, I expect him to run it the best way he can. I’m sick of looking good losing.
Change comes from the activists and intellectuals, and the artists who simplify shit for people. Politicians pass the laws we come with.
BTW: Are any of you familiar with the definition of Black as advanced by Harold Cruse or J.D. Wright?
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mrschocolatestuff
I think the problem is the fact that a lot of black males are fucking up. if they cannot stay at home, handle home business, manage to kill, rape and stay incarcerated. .. how could they be capable of handling an entire country? the thing is that on a general scale- MEN, true men, are equated with dumb, ignorant ass males… basically ‘they all look alike’… that’s where the fear comes from…
brown skinned males=trouble on a nationwide basis…
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Alpha Male
Terrence -
no…
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"a mom"
Well now.
What if Obama was hispanic or some other race. The point I’m trying to make is that my vote is not for a black man. I was for Hiliary at first. My vote is for the best man. Before he ran for president. We didn’t here much about Obama, but this man has been Troubl behind the scene for sometime and when I started learning who he was I decided on him. I’m voting for Obama because he is Troubl (change) not because he is black. Hiliary changed my mind about her because she seems to lean more towards the conservative side. She is not like Bill at all to me. She pertends she wants change but her actions over the years show me different. Don’t get me wrong I’m sure she has done some good but she is not a Troubl maker.
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The R
People are raising the question but not until it is Obama vs Grandpa will it become a reality…Obama won red states but can he repeat that in a head to head with a Repub..the data is not looking good. He had a 10 point lead on McCain in many Red States oh a few months ago..but now that lead has become 1 point? Of course we will say it is the media trying to fool us into voting for Clinton but sorry until I see different I think white america is not ready…Hence Obama’s strategy..We are the World campaign rhetoric..Everybody ..bla bla bla,this ain’t white or black..bla bla..bad times affect us all bla bla bla…he gotta do what he gotta do..if they thought he was “Black” he would not have gotten this far..hence Jesse and Al cannot publically support him lol..note the Saturday Night Live toon…sad but true….
and sure some black folks still got Clinton Fever….some have taken a hard look at Obama’s credentials or lack thereof and found him wanting..damm Toms right? Is Nader-Aid tasty? I hope not…but Grandpa hopes so..
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Terrance L.
At this stage in my Black Nationalism and adult life I refuse to allow white issues to define my Black reality.
I also know they love money more than they hate us. Bush and co is fucking up the money on a large scale.
And seriously, you dont win an election by appealing to just one segment. The Black Community is the only group that got this ego. He didnt speak at my rally, he didnt personally say my name, blah blah blah.
Its politics. We need to get over ourselves
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The R
It’s not changed yet but the pendulum is tilting. We talk about this in Diversity meetings all the time. Conservatives and Ward Connerly have changed te conversation successfully but we still have many liberals in our corner…As long as Diversity, Affirmative Action and MWBE programs still get support $$$ then we are still ok..but when it disappears.. we got trouble..and an Obama presidency will be more arrows in their quiver to say look we don’t need those programs anymore..It’s not Obama’s fault at all..just the way the enemy works
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The R
Umm he spoke directly to Latinos in Texas and La Raza so let’s be clear and he spoke directly to their issues. Si Se Puede..Si Se Puede! he chanted all night long..in the words of EPMD…Sowhatchasay ing??
I’m a Black nationalist too and we have to move forward..but we can be honest within our community and lie to Da Man lol…..we got slighted But again I understand why..but I can still not appreciate it…I don’t smile when i get my azz whipped….. …well unless it is umm umm nevermind
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anjia
I dont think the black race is capable of leadership. we are too ignorant, obnoxious, stupid, and petty to really lead a country. until we can stop calling eachother niggers and stop dancing around like monkeys, we are not capable leaders of the best country on earth.
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pinlight reply on June 24, 2008 2:19 pm:
My first question to you… Are you black? I see you use the word “we” but are you truly black. I think that the statement that you used above was very ignorant and if you knew the history behind how the united states came about i think you would think twice about what you say. Also, others outside the black race is using the word n*****. I care not to used the word because only ignorant people use this word. As fars a Senator Obama is concerned he is the most quailified for the job but others have been brain washed to think that only whites can run this country. Until you wake up and realize the “we” do have brains of our own than you will see that anyone whether he is white, black, hispanic, etc. can do the job if quailified. If we were the best country on earth than the people in our own country would not be homeless and starving and killing each, suppressed, and uneducated. Please in the future speak only for yurself and not the entire black race, because you are truly not qualified to do that.
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"a mom"
ANJIA
I don’t think you speak for the entire black race. And as a black women you certainly don’t speak for me. None of the words you used describe me at all. We is not the word.
I also think that there are a lot of black leaders out there that can lead this country as well as Asian, Hispanic, etc. and Obama in my eyes is one of the most capable men in a longtime, who has had the courage to step up to the plate.
Question: Are you saying that only a white person is capable of leading the best country on earth? And I’d like to know do you really dance around like a monkey?
[Reply]
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