Our president-elect showed just how momentous this milestone is during his acceptance speech when he told of a 106-year-old voter from Atlanta named Ann Nixon Cooper who "was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons -- because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin." Obama's election is truly a time for celebration for the African-American community and, I'd argue, the nation.
Did I vote for Obama just because he is black? Certainly not. But he definitely won and lost votes solely for this reason. Yes, he is of mixed race, but let's be honest, we all see a black man.
Our economy -- the number one issue for me in this election -- is in shambles. As the business news editor for AOL, I've watched in horror this year as we've covered a beaten down stock market, the collapse of once-venerable firms like Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns and the changing landscape on Wall Street. We've seen a real estate crisis that has resulted in record-level foreclosures and plunging home prices and close to a million jobs lost. I have no doubt that between Obama and John McCain, Obama is the right person for the job during this troubled time for our country.
While few have had the courage to say that our nation is in a recession, the signs are clear. The latest reading on economic growth showed that our economy shrank by 0.3 percent over the past three months. And for the black community, we are nearly in a depression. Foreclosures, which continue to pile up, are disproportionately much higher for African Americans and Hispanics than whites. The national unemployment rate for the nation stands at 6.1%. For African Americans, that number is nearly double at 11.4%, according to Sept. figures. Without enough jobs to go around, crime rates will surely rise. A prosperous America is a safer America.
There are enormous challenges ahead -- we cannot expect Obama to cure them all in a day. But I truly believe that Obama can guide this country in the right direction, from reducing the tax burden for those who need it most, to improving our healthcare system.
One true test of leadership is having the fortitude to surround yourself with people whose expertise will aid in good decision-making. Obama's decisions on VP Joe Biden and his economic advisers (many from the Clinton administration) have proven that he has the judgment to lead. Obama is no slouch himself, however. He is an educated man -- a graduate of Columbia and tops in his class from Harvard Law.
Obama's win adds to a legacy of leaders from the African American community, although little of it is taught in our public school system. They include my distant relative Lewis Latimer (Latimer being my mother's maiden name, who coincidentally married my father whose surname is Lewis). He invented the carbon filament for the light bulb. More recently in business, we see leaders like Kenneth Chenault who is the CEO of American Express, the largest credit-card company in the U.S. according to purchases. Shirley Chisholm, in 1968, became the first African American woman elected to Congress. And now Barack Obama, who has been elected to serve in the highest job in the land.
But barriers have always existed and blatant prejudice remains alive and well in our country. In October, FBI agents revealed that they had foiled a potential plot to kill nearly 100 blacks, including Obama. Since Obama announced his candidacy, he has been labeled as a Muslim, which he is not. But what if he happened to be? The fear-mongering tactic intended to somehow make him appear as a radical figure has irritated me to no end. The campaign has, unfortunately, shed light on plenty of other subtle acts of racism.
One thing that Obama's campaign has certainly done is forced a new dialogue on race in America that will hopefully lead to more tolerance of different cultures, religions, races and ethnic groups. I'll sum things up with a one-line email I received from a friend several days ago. It read: "Rosa (Parks) sat so Martin (Luther King, Jr.) could walk... Martin walked so Obama could run... Obama is running so our children CAN FLY."
There are enormous challenges ahead -- we cannot expect Obama to cure them all in a day. But I truly believe that Obama can guide this country in the right direction, from reducing the tax burden for those who need it most, to improving our healthcare system.
One true test of leadership is having the fortitude to surround yourself with people whose expertise will aid in good decision-making. Obama's decisions on VP Joe Biden and his economic advisers (many from the Clinton administration) have proven that he has the judgment to lead. Obama is no slouch himself, however. He is an educated man -- a graduate of Columbia and tops in his class from Harvard Law.
Obama's win adds to a legacy of leaders from the African American community, although little of it is taught in our public school system. They include my distant relative Lewis Latimer (Latimer being my mother's maiden name, who coincidentally married my father whose surname is Lewis). He invented the carbon filament for the light bulb. More recently in business, we see leaders like Kenneth Chenault who is the CEO of American Express, the largest credit-card company in the U.S. according to purchases. Shirley Chisholm, in 1968, became the first African American woman elected to Congress. And now Barack Obama, who has been elected to serve in the highest job in the land.
But barriers have always existed and blatant prejudice remains alive and well in our country. In October, FBI agents revealed that they had foiled a potential plot to kill nearly 100 blacks, including Obama. Since Obama announced his candidacy, he has been labeled as a Muslim, which he is not. But what if he happened to be? The fear-mongering tactic intended to somehow make him appear as a radical figure has irritated me to no end. The campaign has, unfortunately, shed light on plenty of other subtle acts of racism.
One thing that Obama's campaign has certainly done is forced a new dialogue on race in America that will hopefully lead to more tolerance of different cultures, religions, races and ethnic groups. I'll sum things up with a one-line email I received from a friend several days ago. It read: "Rosa (Parks) sat so Martin (Luther King, Jr.) could walk... Martin walked so Obama could run... Obama is running so our children CAN FLY."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
11-05-2008 @ 7:39AM
Kathy said...
Great article Latif. Obama has set the bar high. God bless.
11-05-2008 @ 8:16AM
Bob B said...
I too voted for Obama. I voted for the man I believe is best qualified to lead our nation in these difficult times. That man happens to be black.
11-05-2008 @ 8:59AM
alex averette said...
My thoughts are: God help us God help america
11-05-2008 @ 9:03AM
nick said...
Want to hear from you in a year sister. Your bubble won't last, once this thug has to walk and chew gum at the same time and answer questions instead of hiding behind someone you won't be so cherry. To me his a empty suit and hasn't done anything but say change and change again. REP PELOSI AND SEN REID will tie this guy up in knots. The unions will take their pound of flesh. When he comes out with this bull that radical REP MAXINE WATERS and slime ball REP JOHN LEWIS want the the whites to give you walk around money all hell will break loose. As I said this is another JIMMIE CARTER waiting to happen. And remember he don't control himself, they don't do those things in CHI town, the thugs behind the curtain control the movement.
11-05-2008 @ 9:06AM
Fred said...
Hopefully Obama will have a low tolerance for the race to send jobs to foreign countries.
:)
11-05-2008 @ 9:07AM
Helen Walsh said...
Just to those narrow minded religious people God did help us and God is putting America back on the right course. America has been an evil country for 8 years and we have had evil leadership. God helped most Americans see that.
11-05-2008 @ 9:10AM
Hope said...
Let's see if the AOL Financial Editor takes as much pleasure in reporting bad news with the new President as she has done over the past 8 years.
11-06-2008 @ 4:03PM
lavelle said...
CHANGE... IS ALL YOU'LL HAVE LEFT IN YOUR POCKETS....
11-05-2008 @ 9:12AM
MCL said...
Now the fun begins. The democrats, who incidently run Wall Street and the investment banking businesses, now have to fix the mess they created. Yet, you will see a divided America, one that can now point to Black America as its own "country within a country". The fact that Obama got somewhere near 97% of the black vote only demonstrates what I have been saying for years...racism exists in America, only it is in the ghettos and projects, not rural America.
Bill O'Reilly tried to point out the dangers of social progressive idiologies. Few listened. Talk to those you came to America to escape socialism and you will find people angry and upset that America has taken the wrong fork in the road. Now, we get what we have sown and the Kool-Aid will not taste as good as you thought.
11-05-2008 @ 9:13AM
Kim said...
All I have to say is, hold on America! We are in for a bumpy ride for the next 4 years. Those who voted for Obama will see the light by the next election.
11-05-2008 @ 9:51AM
lynnette said...
Nick....Are you kidding!! People like you are the reason we need change. Why would you call Obama a thug? What have you accomplished in your life. Have you even graduate from college? I don't think Obama made it to office by being a thug, unlike our current president. I guess when old man Mc Cain passed away, you would have rather had Gov. Palin as the vice president...what a joke!!
11-05-2008 @ 9:22AM
Elaine said...
"Rosa (Parks) sat so Martin (Luther King, Jr.) could walk... Martin walked so Obama could run... Obama is running so our children CAN FLY." What a beautiful quotation. I must know who said it so I can add it to my forthcoming collection of quotes. Please post if you know the source. Thanks.
11-05-2008 @ 9:25AM
JCH said...
No, those reckless individuals who care so little for their own country that they would actually vote to put Sarah Palin a heartbeat away from the Presidency are going see how it's done right.
It was insane to vote for McCain.
11-05-2008 @ 9:27AM
proud american said...
Last night while with my entire school tears started to flow down my eyes when the announcement was made that Obama was our next president. I am a young black college student and I realize that this is an election that will promote change, and I am praying that everyone did not just vote because he was a particular race. I have already realized that everyone will not accept who was elected, but the ignorant comments are not neccessary; everyone just needs to wait and see. All of the outcomes will show the exact position we stand in and President Obama can not change everything without our help as Americans. God bless all of you guys and I pray that America can rise out of this turmoil no matter who is leading us.
11-05-2008 @ 9:28AM
jim said...
hey no matter who won, it is going to be a rough ride. you say the dem. are the cause of wall street, that did not happen over night. it was going on for quite awhile. we need change, we should change pelosi, i think she is going to be the biggest problem.
11-05-2008 @ 9:28AM
rodney holland said...
Is everyone forgetting the fact that O'bama's mother is white? All you hear is Afican-American. How is this the only race he is identified with? Does this make sense? he is as much White as he is African-American.
11-05-2008 @ 9:29AM
Lou said...
Yipee! Now we can end all the minority advantage programs! It's time we are all treated equal! White boys should have the same opportunity to enter a college as a black girl! If Obama makes true equality his legacy, he will do a lot to unite our country!
11-05-2008 @ 9:30AM
Mel said...
Obama is a Man why do we always have to add the race card to everything.
The blacks say oh it is because he is black
The whites say they only got it cause hes black lets let RACE go
Slavery happened many years ago it is over done Quit calling each other nuggas quit calling whites crakers honkeys etc...
Try to Be happy God gave us a leader Color should not matter Let Race go and let the Man do his job
11-05-2008 @ 9:33AM
chris said...
I agree we are in for a bumby ride and those you supported Obama will be sorry very shortly, all his big plans to tax corporate America and give all middle class a tax break you will all soon see that the rose colored glasses will be coming off when inflation sky rockets Corporate America will make money and it will be at our expense. Think about it if you increase taxes on the Chicken Corporations they will pass that on to you when you buy it in the store.. you better start saving every penny or get ready to starve...
11-05-2008 @ 9:34AM
mike said...
Congratulations to Obama! I pray that he will have the integrity to lead this country for the people and not for his own ego. And that he will be able to deliver the change he has promised..we'll see. If not, will everyone wake up and see it's time for a third party president?
And how come everyone is saying he's the first "black" president? He's the first mixed race president. His mother was white, his father was black.