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Loading ...Many African-Americans are feeling an enormous sense of pride when it comes to Barack Obama and his chance of becoming the President of the United States. The office itself is a great honor, but becoming the first of any group to do something is understandably monumental. In many areas we celebrate firsts. Whether it is Jackie Robinson or Neil Armstrong, we remember people for ages who are brave enough or competent enough to hold an honor before anyone else. The pride a black person might feel if someone of their own heritage becomes the leader of the free world just 50 years after televisions showed sit-ins, attack dogs and firehoses, is something that many of us are not able to fully understand. Maybe Catholic voters can tell of similar stories in regards to JFK, but I do not think it would be as profound.
However, I urge the African-American community to be weary of the person being chosen right now to hold their banner and be forever immortalized in history. The almost certain failure of his presidency will hardly be attributed to his failed policies, even though they will be the culprit. Critics will certainly blame America’s racism for Obama’s failures, and it will forever stain something that should most certainly be celebrated as a moment of triumph over our homeland’s past transgressions.
The yoke of the first black president will undoubtedly be heavy and the person ultimately chosen to bear that burden will have to be a man of great character; not one who has a past of shady real estate deals, terrorist friendships, drug use, a racist spouse, and a conspiracy theorizing pastor. As our country finally feels like it is ready to step forward, do not allow a misguided man, and your overwhelming emotions of pride, to hobble progress for African-Americans and give anyone reason to doubt the abilities or judgment of African-Americans.
Obama will not be a leader, or a man, to be proud of. Please think carefully about the choice of standard bearer for the African-American community forever more. Please think carefully before putting the name of Barack Obama on the same pedestal of Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King, Jr., Booker T. Washington, Crispus Attucks, and Thurgood Marshall.
He will almost certainly dissapoint you and the rest of your country.
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May 22nd, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Looks like the fear ridden scared right whiners are out in force. Is there anyhting in this post that says anything new or substantial?
Nope, same old, same old.
What is new is the tone of worry thatObama is really going to win.
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
The tone of worry has been around for months. The only people who are not worried about him winning is Hamas, Iran, Hezbollah and the rest of our enemies. The post is not neccessarily about new and substantial. Its about asking a group of people that are, on average, voting 90% in favor of someone, potentionally because they share the same heritage and not because they think he will be a great leader and role model for them to look up to.
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:57 pm
As an African American, I often wonder why others who share my race don’t lend a helping hand when one of us is in need. For instance, while my family was attemping to get validated parking for an elderly aunt of mine at a Lexington hospital recently, the African-American attendant was adamant about being unable to offer validation to us. We knew that he was being dishonest with us, as we had been told, just as we approached the garage elevators, that validated parking was available to the elderly and disabled. It was white EMS employees of good conscience who told us this! So, my cousin stated how it was such a shame that “we” don’t help each other out like people of other races do. Well, the guilt trip must have been the magic words the attendant needed to hear, for not only did he validate the parking upon hearing these words, he even threw in a pass for two tickets to a Lexington Legends game to boot! I should note that he didn’t literally make a projectile of the pass by launching into the vehicle.
The point I am making here in this case of the Barack Obama candidacy is that sometimes the guilt of not helping another African American out is severely misplaced. Under no circumstances should the election of the leader of the free world be based upon helping out a “brother” just because some want the election of the first African-American president to occur now. The adage if not I then whom, if not now then when does not apply to Sen. Obama. I cannot in good conscience support his candidacy simply because we are both African-American men. Moreover, I have a hard time believing the most upstanding African-American leaders of paramount significance would be supportive of him as well. His character has too many flaws. His wife is too controversial. His value of unborn life is too limited.
When I vote for an Afican American to be President of the United States, I will be doing so with the conviction that I cast my vote based not upon the color of the candidate’s skin; but solely upon the content of the candidate’s character.