Obama-Nation

Im surprised to hear some African-American people say...

'the world has changed now that Obama is President."

To me, that is just as ridiculous a notion as the people who thought (and still think) that the world changed after September 11th. How does Barack Obama's presidency change the world for the average African-American living in the United States? What does he do? How does he do it? Who is he influencing or changing the impressions of? How does Barack Obama being president, relative to any other Democrat being president... make my life better?

Whats also, funny, I've heard people say that he's going to be a "black voice" in the White House to push socio-economic ideas/programs/policies that are effectual to black America. That opinion is based on what? Its clearly not based on the bills he's created in the state or US Senate. What history of fighting for black causes does he have? I like Barack Obama, I think he's a good democratic leftist, not nearly as "FDR-leftist" as I would like to see during these trying economic times... but the jury is still out on that... and I'm still hopeful. But, he's not addressing "black issues." If anything, whenever someone tried to get a comment or position on that type of topic, he skillful ducked or dodged a direct answer. Why? Because, he is a politician... and he has a large white following that he doesn't want to alienate.

No one probably knows this better than Jesse Jackson, who got caught speaking about Obama during a commercial, while he thought the Fox "Noise" Channel microphones were off. (Thats what he gets for going on "Fox NOISE" anyway) Obama spoke on Father's Day last year about black men taking more responsibility and being better parents and role models. Im not a big fan of this "current" Jesse Jackson, but as far as his lifetime, he's spent decades fighting for better conditions in urban areas that would be more conducive to stabilizing black families and making it easier for black men to play a larger role in their families. I've criticized both white and black America on the subject (click here) but Jesse Jackson was totally offended by Obama's percieved pandering. As if to say, you've never fought on these issues, how dare you come now and try to get a few brownie points with "other voters" at our expense?

The other question, lets say that Barack Obama is one of the best presidents we've ever had. I do believe that large problems usually leave a president known as one of the best or worst ever, not just in the middle... depending on how that President handles such arduous tasks.. (ask Lincoln). And clearly Obama's presidency will be riddled with large problems. Will one of the best presidencies in American history change the perceptions of people who hold negative views of blacks?

Yes, there is a monkey with a banana on that tee shirt.

There was a poll done in late September (click here) which said that one-third of white Democrats (polled) harbored negative views towards blacks. This was not a poll in 1914, this was a poll done in 2008. And this wasn't the Republican party, which is traditionally viewed as the more polarizing, insensitive and non-inclusive of the two parties. And I do agree with that sentiment about the Republican party. Since the Democrats (Lyndon B Johnson) signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a lot of (southern?) Democrats of the 60's who were against civil rights reform left the party. LBJ himself is QUOTED as saying that signing the Civil Rights Act would give the South over to Republicans for a generation, and if you look at electoral college maps since then, it has been two generations. But, this article shows that even in the (liberal) party which welcomes minorities and homosexuals... there are still an "interesting" amount of whites in this party who harbor ill feelings towards African-Americans... as having a predispotion towards being "lazy" "violent" etc.

The fact that this toy was thought up, (just like the Obama as Curious George T-Shirt above) let alone the fact that it sold like hotcakes... doesn't make me all that optimistic either. But, how do you define racism. That is a very important question to me. Because, if you think that it only means

"i hate ALL blacks... and i'll never be friends with one, let alone... vote for one...!"

Then, number 1... you're very simple... but, number 2... yes, there has a been progress. This isn't the 1950's... a lot of those people are gone, and the old ones who are still around and think that way, at least know not to show it... unless they're being polled anonymously by msnbc, ha ha ha haa...

But, I've had people say to me, that I'm different. I'm not like other blacks they've met. Which means...

"you're not like them." (who is "them"?)

I would think even the most ardent racist will acknowledge that there are some blacks who have "civilized" themselves, or have fought off their "negro nature" their "brute" urges. For that type of person, Obama becoming president changes NOTHING. He's just one of the good ones.

How does Obama change the justice system? Does he suddenly start telling juries to view black and white defendents the same? Does Obama have the power to change the hearts of men? Now, thats some change that I can NOT believe in. It is well documented in many court, prison, incarceration studies that black men get longer sentences, on average, than white men, for the EXACT same crimes. You dont believe me, go look it up. I do believe that access to better lawyers plays a role, but I think there is also something else at play, just like this early 1900's race propaganda shows...

"Help keep my baby pure." What I didn't show is the follow up article attached to this picture (from 1914, i believe) which told of a... we'll say "crazed black man," but thats not the term that was en vogue, at that time, who attacked some white woman, either on a alcohol or cocaine binge. But, dont worry, he was brought to "justice." The article also told of the good people in his town who didn't need to wait for a court case, but... well... let's go ahead and see that article...

Now, THATS how you keep a family pure! Had you just kept liquor off the streets, we wouldn't have had that problem! They're crazy enough now... under the influence of a controlled substance? Who knows what they'll do! Almost like, when a jury sees a white man accused of a crime, there may be SOME jurors who think that there must be some weird circumstances... "what could have caused him to do this?" where as, if a black man commits the same EXACT crime... "he's only doing what comes natural to him" That would seem to be in line with the above article about the poll of white Democrats from 2008 showing that blacks are percieved to be predisposed to laziness and violence.

"We must give him a longer sentence, because we've gotta keep that animal off the streets.!"

Someone, needs to save that white woman! Because, throughout American history, if there was one race of men raping women from the other race... historically, it was black men going around raping white women... riiiiiiiiiiiiight?

I was also shocked to see a 2004 article in the New York Times (click here) that states the top colleges in the United States are now preferring to take blacks from Africa as opposed to African-Americans born in the US. That was a "wow" moment to me. As if to say... If we give college access to a black person from Los Angeles, or DC, he's just going to waste it... its good to say that we have blacks in our schools, but it would be better if we started bringing in people from Africa. They're probably not lazy and will take advantage of this opportunity.

To me, what that acknowledges without saying explicity, is the perception of growing up a descendent of slaves, and living under segregation and racism has shaped the state of the African-American. It seems contradictory to say "those events happened so long ago" and that people today shouldn't be affected by them, while at the same time... choose people of African descent, who did not go through those things, because you think they'll perform better. I will point out at this point, that Obama's father is from Kenya, his mother is from Kansas, he has no slave blood in him, and he grew up mostly with his single mother, then his white grandparents. I, personally, dont try to "define" black, Im not saying that type of background makes him any less black. I will point out that noone ever tries to define "white"... but those people who hold a higher view of Africans, compared to African-Americans... I can assure you, those type of people are well aware that Obama is not the descendent of slave ancestry.

I like Barack Obama... but his election can't be expected to fix all of that. He's not ATLAS. His shoulders are not that big. He wasn't punished by Zeus... no man, should be asked to carry that much.