Can we close the racial divide?
I asked several people including my mother and father if they thought they would ever see the election of a black man as President in their lifetime. Each of them unanimously agreed that only a year ago they did not believe that this would be possible. They silently hoped for it, but didn’t believe it. They could not conceive the notion that our country had come far enough in 40 years to put aside their racial differences and vote on a person to run this country, not because of his skin color, but because of his intellect, his intelligence, and his ability to bring us together for the common good.
In fact, they are still not sure, and neither am I, that everyone who voted for Barack did so because of his abilities rather than his skin color, however, the fact still remains, he is now the 44th President of these United States.
Honestly, the first time Oprah asked then Senator Barack Obama if he might consider running for President of the United States, I too, believed that it might be too much to hope for, at least right now.
Nonetheless, the moment he started his campaign, I eagerly jumped on the bandwagon in every capacity I could think of. I even became a precinct chair and election judge to make sure I fully participated in the process. My hope; we would finally elect an African American President into office: Dispelling all the rumors and myths that we are somehow by the nature of our ethnicity, incapable of handling such a huge responsibility.
As a people, we tell our children they can be whatever they want to be. And, this has been true in many noteworthy professions; lawyers, doctors, writers, etc. But, the highest position in the land still eluded us. This is now no longer the case. But, can this election really lead us, as a people, once and for all, into the Promised Land?
Since the election of the first African American President, Barack Obama, everyone has been elated, but, does this signal a movement towards closing the racial divide? Can Barack Obama really be a figure for transformational change when it comes to race?
Some would say yes, but many would say no. The distrust, disharmony, and disillusionment of both blacks and whites is rooted deeply in the psyche of the nation as was demonstrated by Obama’s own pastor, Jeremiah Wright.
Views such as those of Pastor Wright are shared equally if not differently among the whites of Wright’s era. However, those in their 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s are hopeful that the sentiments of these older Americans are giving way to new more inclusive ideologies of a United America. Barack Obama is the symbol for that America.
Many believe that a new generation of politicians has emerged; those who do not speak just for “Black Americans or “White Americans” but for all Americans.
Barack’s multiracial background is at least in part responsible for the ray of hope that has sparked renewed faith in our country’s ability to overcome it’s racially divided past. Indeed his ability to reach out to people with views different from his own is equally responsible.
Barack’s election could very well signify our nation’s willingness to come closer to the end of racism. At the very least, Barack’s victory gives everyone a different image of the African American male in our country; one that steers completely away from the shiftless, no good, child abandoning view that we get so often.
Barack Obama cannot close this divide alone. Each of us must take ownership for our role in chasm that exists. As African Americans we must release our anger and forgive. We can no longer blame every white man for our misfortune. White Americans must acknowledge that discrimination does exist although more subtly now than before. They must release their resentment over what they perceive to be unfair advantages that African Americans receive due to discrimination.
We cannot afford to walk away now. We’ve only just begun. If we expect to solve the economic and social challenges that we face, we must listen to the words of the infamous Rodney King, “Can we all just get along?”
I asked several people including my mother and father if they thought they would ever see the election of a black man as President in their lifetime. Each of them unanimously agreed that only a year ago they did not believe that this would be possible. They silently hoped for it, but didn’t believe it. They could not conceive the notion that our country had come far enough in 40 years to put aside their racial differences and vote on a person to run this country, not because of his skin color, but because of his intellect, his intelligence, and his ability to bring us together for the common good.
In fact, they are still not sure, and neither am I, that everyone who voted for Barack did so because of his abilities rather than his skin color, however, the fact still remains, he is now the 44th President of these United States.
Honestly, the first time Oprah asked then Senator Barack Obama if he might consider running for President of the United States, I too, believed that it might be too much to hope for, at least right now.
Nonetheless, the moment he started his campaign, I eagerly jumped on the bandwagon in every capacity I could think of. I even became a precinct chair and election judge to make sure I fully participated in the process. My hope; we would finally elect an African American President into office: Dispelling all the rumors and myths that we are somehow by the nature of our ethnicity, incapable of handling such a huge responsibility.
As a people, we tell our children they can be whatever they want to be. And, this has been true in many noteworthy professions; lawyers, doctors, writers, etc. But, the highest position in the land still eluded us. This is now no longer the case. But, can this election really lead us, as a people, once and for all, into the Promised Land?
Since the election of the first African American President, Barack Obama, everyone has been elated, but, does this signal a movement towards closing the racial divide? Can Barack Obama really be a figure for transformational change when it comes to race?
Some would say yes, but many would say no. The distrust, disharmony, and disillusionment of both blacks and whites is rooted deeply in the psyche of the nation as was demonstrated by Obama’s own pastor, Jeremiah Wright.
Views such as those of Pastor Wright are shared equally if not differently among the whites of Wright’s era. However, those in their 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s are hopeful that the sentiments of these older Americans are giving way to new more inclusive ideologies of a United America. Barack Obama is the symbol for that America.
Many believe that a new generation of politicians has emerged; those who do not speak just for “Black Americans or “White Americans” but for all Americans.
Barack’s multiracial background is at least in part responsible for the ray of hope that has sparked renewed faith in our country’s ability to overcome it’s racially divided past. Indeed his ability to reach out to people with views different from his own is equally responsible.
Barack’s election could very well signify our nation’s willingness to come closer to the end of racism. At the very least, Barack’s victory gives everyone a different image of the African American male in our country; one that steers completely away from the shiftless, no good, child abandoning view that we get so often.
Barack Obama cannot close this divide alone. Each of us must take ownership for our role in chasm that exists. As African Americans we must release our anger and forgive. We can no longer blame every white man for our misfortune. White Americans must acknowledge that discrimination does exist although more subtly now than before. They must release their resentment over what they perceive to be unfair advantages that African Americans receive due to discrimination.
We cannot afford to walk away now. We’ve only just begun. If we expect to solve the economic and social challenges that we face, we must listen to the words of the infamous Rodney King, “Can we all just get along?”
The Beautiful Cheryl Lacey Donovan will release two books this year, learn more about this force at http://www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com/.
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3 comments:
Great blog, Cheryl! I'm starting with the (wo)man in the mirror!
Good topic, sis. But if we are ever going to get to the crux of the matter, we have to remember that this is a spiritual issue. The enemy is the source of hate and injustice, but if people continue to blame the white or whatever, then we will always cut off limbs and never dig up the roots. The Word tells us that we dont fight against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers (Ephesians 6:12)
Can we all just get along? Hummm, the million dollar question. The optimist in me wants to say yes. The pessimist does not believe it possible. Mostly because there are those that simply do not want to. My prayers are that optimism wins.
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