Recently, a student asked me about President Obama and the impact
of his presidency on Black America. After careful reflection, which the
question demands, I can answer as follows.
Obama's ascension to the presidency is a phenomenal and tremendous
statement about the resilience and soul of American people Indeed,
its says volumes about this nation's progress, for which I am very
proud. There is a dualism about American citizenship, however, that is
inescapable for black folk. It is that which we are and at the same
time that to which we have been so deeply deprived. Although folk try
to erase the pages of America between 1619 and 1954, we can't and they
should not. Our present status is substantially attributed to the residue
of slavery and I am prepared to debate that thesis at any time with
anyone.
Our honesty affects our reality. In a fascinating
way,the historical deprivation of our equal citizenship rights has
redefined America and contributed to its development as a nation. A
pre-civil war America would be indisputably far different than a
post-civil war America. Think about it. Given the views articulated by
Justice Taney in Plessy v. Ferguson, the pre-civil war America
(pre-Lincoln) would probably have supported Adolph Hitler during World
War II or remained neutral. We should never take for granted the rights
that we enjoy, including the right to challenge the denial of those
rights.
While we are understandably proud of President Obama, and have
appropriately high expectations, we must remember that he is President
of the United States of America, not President pf Black or Brown
America. Furthermore, we must understand the role of the President and
quite realistically the extent to which he will be forced to compromise
his views on so many different issues. He is not a dictator
and represents only one of three branches of government. One very good
thing is that as President, he will nominate judges to our federal
courts and hopefully, reverse the twenty year
Reagan-Bush-Bush positioning of extremely conservative judges to our
federal courts. Don't get it twisted, those judicial appointments are
very significant. Federal judges interpret the constitution
and federal laws. And yes, his very presence and cogent,
sensitive thinking and articulation on substantive issues in the areas
of education, health care, foreign affairs and criminal justice will
influence a more human and people sensitive society. But don't go to
sleep. As the great Frederick Douglass proclaimed: Power concedes
nothing without demand, it never has and it never will. At times we
will have to create pressure on President Obama just like other
constituency groups. .
Our greatest expectation, however, must continue to be of
ourselves. Leadership on issues of priority concern to black
people, I think, must come from non-elected individuals
whose intellectual and moral integrity is not compromised by political
considerations and bean counting of votes. Someone outside the
government must speak the truth to power and to the people.
President Obama by definition cannot do that for black people and
should not be expected to. Nor should we think that his election is
our salvation and the the culmination of our tremendous struggle.
This nation and our community still have a very long way to go, and we
must not let folk forget this. This is the stuff of 21st centurt
leadership. Don't go to sleep.
Obama can make progressive decisions and create productive public
frameworks. But fundamentally, we still have to take the necessary
action to maximize short and long term gains that effect our
communities. Government is not going to change the values and
cultural shortcomings that affect our behaviors. We must do that.
Government is not going to transform our students, inspire their
intellectual curiosity and heighten their sense of discipline. We must
do that. Government is not going to stop the vicious black on black
crime among young black men. It can help, but I believe we must find
ways to stop this insanity ourselves. Government is not going to stop
us from spending our dollars making others rich (The eagle flies on
Friday). We must do that.
So, let's not get it twisted. Kudos a million time to President
Obama and his beautiful and brilliant queen, first lady. Their
presence, sensitivity, understanding, level of achievement,
family unity, and aesthetics are greatly valued. The
psychological implications of the Obama presidency benefit the entire
world and turn long standing institutional stereotypes and myths of
racial inferiority on their head. It is unimaginable what young
children of all races must think, especially young black children when
they see this man speak for the nation and to the world. Seize the
time! Obama as president is light years better than Bush, and even
Clinton, not because of race alone....on the merits. The black
community must keep this presidency and its expectations in context.
But don't go to sleep.
Donald Temple
Friends:
