2/24/2023 0 Comments Obama the world after americaBy now, irrespective of ethnic background, we have all found ourselves chatting about the man and the moment.Ī leader like Obama comes to us once a generation. By now, all Obama supporters have experienced that common conversation in the hallway at work, in the bathroom, in the break room, etc. Dialogue is at the core of racial understanding. What does Obama’s victory say about the current state of race relations in America? Obama has given millions of people a common conversation. Until November 4, this was our most glaring myth. He has made it possible for the 11-year old Hispanic girl, the 12-year old Chinese boy, and the 13-year old African American boy to believe that with hard work, discipline, and commitment, that they can be anything they want to be in America. Obama has lit the fire of hope in millions of people in the United States and around the world. With that said, his election should not be trivialized. He will not be able to change the lot of millions of Americans overnight. Any changes that he makes will necessarily be incremental. He will be hamstrung by eight years of mismanagement, corruption, and ill-advised policies. Our climb will be steep.” When the euphoria wanes, people will come to realize Obama’s limitations. His caution included these words: “For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime-two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.The road ahead will be long. Obama, in his eloquent, gracious, and solemn acceptance speech warned his supporters against thinking that he will be able to feed the multitudes with a fish and a loaf of bread. The poor mother who could not afford to put food on the table for her two children on November 3 will probably not be able to put food on the table for her children on January 21, the day after the new president is sworn in. ![]() The black man who is serving a disproportionate 15-year sentence for the possession of two ounces of narcotics will still serve his sentence. ![]() However, after the celebrations ended reality set in-the freed slaves had no land, no property, hence, no way to support themselves. There was euphoria among the slaves that were freed in 1865. The exuberance of this moment parallels the 13th Amendment in many ways. This moment ranks with the Emancipation Proclamation, the ratification of the 13th Amendment, which ended slavery, and the Brown decision as one of the most significant events in the history of U.S. Barack Obama’s monumental presidential victory has inspired hope that America can live up to the egalitarian principles embedded in its constitution. The Meaning of Obama’s Victory When Michelle Obama stated during the presidential campaign that, “For the first time in my adult lifetime I’m really proud of my country” most open-minded people knew what she meant-especially now. Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (Ontario, CA) Opinions Section, B2 Sunday, NovemGuest Columnist: Renford Reese, Ph.D.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |