Obama Gives Ebony First Post-Election Interview, Photoshoot

The Swamp:

So which magazine was the first to get a sit down interview and photo shoot with President-elect Barack Obama?

Ebony Magazine, which was visited by the president-elect at its Chicago offices in the Michigan Ave. headquarters building of its parent, Johnson Publishing Co.

That Obama would give his first magazine and photo session to Ebony seems fitting. The magazine was a pioneer in publishing in much the way Obama's a trailblazer in politics.

Evolved from Negro Digest, which was founded in 1942 by John Johnson, Ebony for decades was one of the few periodicals African-Americans could turn to for images and stories about black strivers and movers and shakers rarely ever seen in the mainstream media.

Read the whole story: The Swamp

Comments

[kutkreata]

go ahead Ebony! I'm going to have to start my subscription with ya'll back up!

[haval2]

HE'S JUST HOT AND COOL.........and smart too! This is an American President.

[MaximMaximus]

I don't want to sound like a teenager but I have to say: "Our President-elect looks cool!"

[StillIRise]

toocoldout:

1. Many black Americans, as well as many white Americans, followed Obama's career for at least four years, and were impressed with him long before he announced his candidacy for President. Many other black Americans, as well as many other white Americans, supported Senator Clinton.

2. Clinton's support eroded in the black community, not when Oprah endorsed Obama, but when the Clinton campaign insulted blacks. The Clintons took our loyalty for granted, and they took a risk when they chose to marginalize Obama as the "unelectable black candidate." In doing so, they marginalized all black people, and we felt the sting as deeply as Obama did. Oprah didn't take our support away from Hillary; Hillary gave it away.

3. With exceptions, blacks are not persuaded by skin color in discerning the candidate who will serve in our best interests and in America's interests. We voted 95% in favor of Bill Clinton, and we've voted for white candidates, often rejecting black candidates, for the last fifty+ years. We are as informed and deliberative as any other American, and we do not need anyone - least of all, Oprah Winfrey - to tell us how to vote.

4. President-Elect Obama won the nomination and the general election with the support of the majority of ALL Americans. Black people are Americans too!

But more on the topic: Obama is one FINE President! On this, I think we can all agree!!!

[DaisyDooks]

I highly recommend this post. This is so, so true. Thank you, StillIRise, for articulating this for no behalf of black folks so poignantly. I totally concur. I've voted for more white candidates in my lifetime than black ones. It's interesting no one questions the other folks when they vote for candidates of their racial group.

[StillIRise]

Thank YOU. This election has exposed so much of the hypocrisy that has kept us stuck in the darkness of the past. Our community was celebrated when we voted overwhelmingly to elect Bill Clinton, but derided by some of the very same people when we voted overwhelmingly to elect Barack Obama, and the only difference between the celebration and the derision was the color of each man's skin. Rather than to accept this reality - and therein the hypocrisy - some have rationalized their reaction by alleging that our vote was "racist" or that our vote was motivated, not by the substance of Obama's character and the credibility of his candidacy, but by the color of his skin. But in doing this, they are in denial about history itself, as well as about our humanity. Yet, people who think like this are fast becoming a minority, which was evidenced by the many Americans and people throughout the world who've embraced President-Elect Obama. In embracing him, we've embraced something within ourselves and within the heart of all mankind that is good and true and gives hope to the future of our nation. I so appreciate America for this, and I appreciate our next President, who without intention, but simply because of who he is, opened the way to give fruition to this hope. I am sixty+ years old, and as Michelle Obama said, "For the first time in my adult life, I am so proud to be an American."

[kutkreata]

Yes. Your post is definetely on point. Since I've been posting on HuffPo, I've been seeing alot of stereotyping of Black people on here. At first I used to get mad. But now I think it's a blessing because we can finally speak to each other & debunk stereotypes. Black people finally can speak up & talk to other communities to tell them about us & they can tell us about themselves. This election has changed everything. Black people, you guys remember how it was before Barack came on the scene. I honestly think that we're going to start remember this era as Before Barack & After Barack. It's great that all of America is finally coming together to learn more about each other and understanding each other.

[StillIRise]

Thank you for your post. Although I wanted Barack to win this election more than anything, I realized that no matter how it turned out, he had already made a positive difference in the consciousness of our nation. We were all - black, white and other - finally able to talk about and to think about the things that we've shied away from for these many, many years. But I also believe that it took this generation (of which I am not one) to make this possible. It took this generation, not only to create a President-Elect Barack Obama, but to create this incredible dialogue among and between us, something our nation has been yearning for, for more than 200 years. All of the racially-inflamed rhetoric of this election has been a two-edged sword in a manner of speaking. On the one hand, it caused great pain and division; but on the other hand, it forced us and challenged us to face the things that have divided us for so long. We cohabit this great nation together, but we know so little about each other, and now we have this wonderful opportunity to truly embrace one another as human beings without the barriers of race, ethnicity, culture, religion or personal lifestyles. We also have this wonderful man who will guide us in this effort, and with tenacity and a sense of purpose, we will indeed be on the path to a United America, an America we all deserve.

[dct1999]

Nuff said, drop that knowledge.

[DaisyDooks]

Correction:

I highly recommend this post. This is so, so true. Thank you, StillIRise, for articulating this for on behalf of black folks so poignantly. I totally concur. I've voted for more white candidates in my lifetime than black ones. It's interesting no one questions the other folks when they vote for candidates of their racial group.

[DebofMD]

Great post!

[TuffCookie]

this is an older cover folks, but yes he's gorgeous :D i have this mag with this cover at home :D

[jaydeedub]

http://flickr.com/photos/barackobamadotcom/sets/72157608716313371/show/

[madeofsteel]

Thanks Jay!

[rcwblessed]

That was an awesome slideshow. Thanks, Jay!

[democrat4ever]

wow!!! just wow!!!! Good Lord, this man is just fine!!!!

[littlepuffycloud]

Delectable!

[AZTrueBlue]

HE IS SO GOOD LOOKING!

[DaisyDooks]

It's the lips.

[Madmac]

He even looks like he's on the J.O,B.

[littlepuffycloud]

Kudos to Ebony! Pardon me when I say 'HUBBA HUBBA'...No disrespect meant to President elect or Mrs. OBama, but he is one fabulous looking man!

[PC0207]

I just absolutely adore this magazine cover! What a handsome President we have and with such swagger! Gotta love it!!!

[Paul]

He looks a little like Miles Davis....

[DaisyDooks]

Miles Davis is a legend, a musical genius. Either you are stupid or you don't know who Miles Davis is as reflected in your highly inaccurate statement. Or you're blind as a bat or colorblind. Either way, you are f-ucked up.

[dct1999]

LMAO!

You are right, there is absolutely no physical resemblance between Miles and Obama!

[Paul]

Here is a young Miles with Coltrane.

http://i14.tinypic.com/4lt7uqx.jpg

I think there is a resemblence...

[1Smartchik]

God he is so hot and I miss seeing him on television.

[StillIRise]

Me too!!!

[StillIRise]

Clarification: I don't know how HOT I am, but I do know that I miss him on television!!

[Mister X]

Out with old and busted, in with new hotness.

I hope the ladies enjoy the eye candy as much as we'll all enjoy the fact he's actually a youthful, modern, forward-thinking president.