Presidential Victory Doesn’t Nullify Need for Struggle
The election win of Barack Obama will not automatically cancel the struggles and challenges that black Americans continue to face in the spheres of education, civil rights, decent housing, and adequate health care and the like.
The Election of the 44th President of the United States proved to be the most successful campaigns in American History. As President Barack Obama leads this country he has alot on his shoulders. Many big questions are currently looming like: “How do you transition from a campaign that was successful , to an administration that was successful. There is still a wait and see attitude among Blacks on whether the symbolic victory will turn into substance for the Black community. Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, author, educator, and political commentator, noted that President Obama has been handed the keys to a very difficult ship of democracy tossed between economic downturns, fiscal improprieties, greed on Wall Street, and the devastation of two wars. Still he said Blacks are hopeful the new President will usher in a new period of appreciation for the contributions and intelligence of black people. “He’s a President who’s Black, not a Black President, so that doesn’t retire the great leaders of African American Culture who came out of a prophetic and civil rights and black freedom orientation. Dr. Maulana Karenga professor of African Studies at California State University stated: “the presidential election demonstrated what blacks could do as a people. Dr. Karenga said it will be important to continue to struggle and not confuse an election with a movement. “We have to build a movement. We have to continue to struggle for justice, because still, the oppressed want freedom. The wrong and injured want justice. In 2009 Black People must continue fighting for social justice by raising important issues surrounding race and class, especially at a time where many are lulled into a false sense of security by talk of a post racial American reality. Black voices appearing even remotely critical of President Obama are vigorously challenged and accused of being jealous of his success. In reality , they are trying to raise legitimate concerns that would be asked of any President.
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Post CommentRobert Cole
On February 5, 2009 at 11:15 am
I thought the artical was very informative and thought provoking about the struggles we continue to face in this country
Anonymous
On February 7, 2009 at 1:06 am
Blacks need to stop playing the victim. Are there racists, of course there are. Racists of all different colors. The sad truth is racists are not in the home pointing a gun to the head of black children stopping them from studying and going to school. There aren’t racists holding the gun to the head of black males forcing them to have babies and not be in the lives of their children. There aren’t racists pointing guns to the head of blacvk males forcing them to get involved with drugs/crime, increasing the chance that they will end up in prison.
There are racists that won’t allow parents to have choice where their children go to school. These same racists are fine with the killing of black babies under the guise of “pro-choice.”
The lack of decent housing and health care is not a black issue, it’s a lack of green issue. Poor whites aren’t being given decent housing and the best health care.