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What does Obama’s presidency mean?
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Posted January 15, 2009
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Obama's presidency means
Inside where hope lives, Obama's presidency means change. Change for not only the finances of the nation but with the attitudes of white America. Inside I am hoping that on some larger level, the sentiments of Martin Luther King, where "a man will be judged not by the color of his skin but by the content of his character" will be clearly understood and Obama's presence in the White House will be some kind of catalyst for a more inclusive, just, way to do business here in America. Inside, I still have hope. As I look around the world and America in particular, my outside self sees the looks in white Americas eyes as they view me, being black, in that condescending, entitled way that has not change one bit since the time I was brought into this world. However, as I look at Obama and recognize the fact that not only blacks voted for him, whites did as well, I still have hope inside, that his term in office will sway the opinions of white Americans and that attitudes will genuinely start to change. I thought I would die before ever seeing this happen, where a black man would hold the office of President of the United States of America. How happy I was to see this come true, but before I could bask in the feelings, I was smacked back down to earth with three senseless shootings that took the lives of two black men and left one in the hospital, with the bullet still in him. Yet, in view of the inequities I see each day, inside myself, I still have hope, at a time when the economy has touched bottom and back then touched bottom again, with feelings of hate towards United States and the threat of terrorism constantly in our face, we finally allowed for a black man to take his place in the White House, in the selfish hope that he can improve our economy, as well as the perception of those in the world, with the wave of a his hand and a personable smile. For me Obama's presidency means so much, on so many levels, based entirely on the hope from inside, yet my reality informs me on a daily basis that there will always be those in our communities that still hate and resent the same thing that I am so proud of, and that is, a black man finally in the position of President of the United States. As I listen to the news and I hear much talk of Kennedy and Martin Luther King, I can't help but to wonder if talk of the dead, will incite the resentment to come to a head. Will Obama be taken out, like Kennedy and King, in his effort to affect some type of a positive change? I pray this does not happen but my reality shows me that it is definitely a possibility and I am saddened by this vision each and every day of my existence. While I know this is a lot to hope for, I still hope that inclusion will continue in all walks of life, an end to inequalities and strife. My expectations are high and I'm filling myself with this unbelievable lie. Yet I still hope for the best, as every day I try to cope with my realities as I have experienced them for years. With the election of Obama as president, I envision this large deed will stir hope in the souls and spirits of black youth, making them recognize that because of Barrack Obama and all the civil rights people who forcefully pushed, not so long ago, that their dreams will not be dashed out and they will be able to aspire and achieve. Though it is a first in the history of America, that this black man will live in the White House, I wish I did not have to view it from the perspective of fear and joy. My fear lies in the expectation of ugliness to come, my joy lies in the reality that both black, whites as well as others, stepped away from their comfort zone, long enough to elect the best person for the job in these times of trouble; a calm and decisive, thoughtful and caring, representative of the race I am proud to belong to. What it means most to me though is that on the walls of the White House, after 43 presidents and 220 years, since the first president was sworn into office; after a row of white faces on that wall, there will be one smiling, black man sharing that space - how many will follow and dare enter the race. And that's the way I see it!! For a candid look at the world we live in visit my blogs at: http://anotherlook.today.com/ or http://politicsnamerica.today.com/
- TAGS:
- obama_presidency,
- history_change_martin,
- luther,
- king
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