
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."
Facebook's IPO Debacle, Day 3: Un-Friended and Dis-Liked on Wall…
Former Olympic Rower Turned to Minimalism to Pay Down $82,000 in Debt


Reader Comments (Page 6 of 6)
11-19-2008 @ 2:36AM
Jerry said...
Well if someone is going to point fingers it wasn't Bush that messed up the dem congress done more then him hello and then Clinton when he was in office they have said is where most of the problems came from because the bills and practices that got us into the problems were instated when he was in office NOT Bush so if some people would just think instead of listening to the one sided news reporters people would be upset with the right people instead of just who the news says to be upset with so hm I hope he does something right but dems fix dems problems well maybe they might this time hopefull
11-18-2008 @ 10:46AM
ANTHONY said...
In a perfect economy you can not give money to people who do not work cause when you stop giving they starve again. maybe Obama can pass on the message that Bill Cosbie got hung out to dry for in that blacks cant control racisum, or discrimination, but 1 thing that they can control is that when you have a child you stay with that child cause 79% of blacks in this country are born out of wedlock dont want to steario type but at 80% ? Obama wants to get green in that he and his liberal cronies want to slap MAJOR pollution control standards on what little industries we have left in this country meanwhile china has no pollution controls what so ever they can pump raw plutonium in the air that will kill what ever industry we have left. He wants to stop outsorcing jobs over seas , well if G.M. FORD, CRYSLER.... doesnt supllement cheap labor to off set $75.00 an hour wages they will have to shut the door down 10 years ago. He says that Mcain doesnt get it about average working people struggling it is Obama who doesnt get it small business are struggling now they cant afford to pay their own heathcare insurance much less their employees i employ 3-4 people now but if i have to pay their insurance i will cut that number down to 1 why is it that the liberals think of business owners as the big bad wolf? they are struggling with all the headaches as for all Obamas hollywood celeb supporters who are bandwagon tree huggers take away their money and they will be the first to cut trees down to put food on the table we are in very tough times right now and sitting around the camp fire singing cume-by- yah isnt going to help us. Lord help this country,when the voters who are looking for a $500.00 check from Obama are running the ship
11-18-2008 @ 7:45PM
Ms. B said...
It means nothing to me.
When is a REAL American going to be in the White House. One that is a Native American.
Not one that comes from another country.
Show me one of the REAL AMERICANS
11-18-2008 @ 7:50PM
Wilma said...
HEY I agree, give us a REAL AMERICAN, not one that is part American
show me a NATIVE AMERICAN THAT CAN RUN THIS COUNTRY. WHY NOT, THEY WERE HERE FIRST..........REMEMBER!!!
11-18-2008 @ 8:02PM
WF said...
Well I have to agree with the last 2 blogs. Will a Native American please run for President. I mean if WE all think about it they were the FIRST AMERICANS.
They do have the RIGHT to be what ever they want. They don't have to Cry "A Change" They should be awarded any Change if there is one. Or was that a LINE to feed voters. IF a Change comes, they need to get it first not those crying they want FREE, FREE give me something FREE.
Show me a real American and I'll VOTE. I did not vote this year, first time in 40 years.
A Native American Should lead this country. They are true Americans, bring Peace to this country Not FEAR like we already have from this election.
Wake up America.
Will this Change give FREE to everyone? mmmmmmm I wonder who they will be.
11-18-2008 @ 8:52PM
Andrew Jackson said...
I am not a Obama supporter and I think this is the worst thing that has happened in the history of U.S.. George Bush was the best and now we a Nobody and I wish I could move out of the country. I will not acknowledge him as my President ever.
11-19-2008 @ 12:55PM
dsmeryage said...
There seems to be no bottom to the downside since Obama won the election. We have been on the real downhill slide since the Dems took Congress in 2006 but now the real pit of hell has begun. Look out below!
12-03-2008 @ 11:28PM
phil said...
Your dreaming if you think obama can fix the economy..The economy is so bad that god couldn't fix it
12-09-2008 @ 9:42PM
Nancy said...
"subtle racism" Yeah, like every single criticism of Barack , every truth put out is slammed as "racism", the most overused word in our language, which trivializes the fact of real racism.
I ownder if the author has any kind of private retirement account and how happy she will be when Obama and his socialist cronies "nationalize" it , for our own good of course.
The reasons I didn't vote for this man have NOTHING to do with his being 1/8 "black". I respect every American's right to vote for who they chose, but I resent very much that huge numbers of people didn't have a CLUE as to what Obama proposes, believes in , or is against, and that the media obviously controlled the nomination and the election
12-09-2008 @ 9:42PM
Nancy said...
Fred: with the new regulations and taxes being planned for businesses, they will surely want to send even more jobs overseas. When they take away the tax deduction for our private retirement funds: IRA's , Keoghs,. 401 K's, then remember that the Slick One said he'll only raise taxes on "the rich"
12-09-2008 @ 9:43PM
Nancy said...
Did anyone her Obama say that under his energy plan, "electricity costs will skyrocket" ? It was on TV and radio during the later part of the campaign.
I'm not racist, I'm criticizing his "white" 7/8
12-09-2008 @ 9:43PM
Nancy said...
One of the proposals for th "nationalization" of our private retirements funds, given by an Ivory Tower type from the New School of Social Research, is to spread-the-wealth by having govt deposit $500 a year into accounts for people who "couldn't afford to". Meanwhile I have been living fairly frugally since the mid 70's so I could put away some for retirement because I was raised to take responsibility for myself and not depend on govt. They want to put these funds into a huge social security type pot, and we all know that they need it to pay for the insane programs and endless bailouts etc. And just like SS, part or none of your acount will be passed onto heirs of your choosing ! Isn't that great? I guess I was stupid, should have just spent like crazy on a nicer lifestyle and toys. You also lose the tax deduction and right there is a nice big tax increase no matter WHAT you earn. Obama lied about so many things it would take me an hour to write just all the ones that I heard during his campaign. Half-truths and misleading facts are the same as lies in my book. He manipulated the ignorance of so many Americans, he manipulated especially the young and the minorities who pathetically believe that he cares about them.
1-18-2009 @ 2:01PM
jane said...
In 1959, I was a member of an organization called Rainbow Girls in Brooklyn, a division of the Masons. I was about to become the head of the assembly and handed petitions to join to my new Black classmates. I mentioned it to the Mother Advisors who were to visit them and interview them because I heard comments about the one Hispanic girl in our assembly. The petitions were given back to me. I was told that I would have to tell the girls they were not welcome because they were Black. The head of the Masons locally called to ask me why I put the Mother Advisors in that position. Had I ever seen a "Negro" in the group? He was very angry with me. My own minister was livid about what happened to me and these two lovely young women.
I understand there are still segregated social groups. I could never belong to anything that excluded people. The election of this brilliant man, a Black man, is so very healing for me. I am white and born the same year as his mother.