Is Black America Strong Enough For An Obama Presidency?

African-Americans should be careful of what they wish for. They just might get it.

In February of last year when Sen. Barack Obama officially began his run to be the Democratic nominee for president, the collective response by black Americans was "Well, whoop-tee-do!" if poll reports are to be trusted. Political pundits intoned that he might not be black enough for most African-Americans.

Over the past year and a half, according to those same polls and pundits, black America has revised its opinion about Obama. African-Americans now shout "Run, Obama, run!" and celebrate as they see him seemingly on the cusp of clinching the Democratic nomination, and perhaps in November grabbing the brass ring to become America's first black president. (Note: the one drop rule for being "black" is still in full effect.)

But should black folk be celebrating? If elected to the nation's highest office, President Obama will likely be unable to effectively address problems that disproportionately affect black Americans.

Obama's campaign has already been under intense scrutiny about how "black" it is. Just one example occurred four months ago when Sen. Obama's wife, Michelle Obama, said "for the first time in my adult life I am proud of my country. . ." referring to her feeling that America was poised for positive change. Her husband's critics descended like a vortex of angry hornets on what Fox News called her "newfound national pride."

The next day Cindy McCain, the wife of Republican presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain, volunteered: "I just wanted to make the statement that I have and always will be proud of my country."

Of course, those words come easily to Mrs. McCain: She is rich, white, and blond to boot. But for black Americans who like all Americans carry in their pockets portraits of slave holders -- George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson -- to be blindly patriotic is to be blind to important parts of American history. It is to be blind to their personal experience which is pockmarked, albeit less frequently of late, with injustices due solely to the color of their skin.

True: Sen. Obama's official campaign Web site addresses not only the war in Iraq, the economy and health care, but unlike the websites of Senators Clinton and McCain, Obama addresses civil rights in a ways that seem to have particular relevance to black Americans. In that section he promises to "ban racial profiling by federal law enforcement agencies and provide federal incentives to state and local police departments to prohibit the practice", "Reduce Crime Recidivism by Providing . . . job training, substance abuse and mental health counseling to ex-offenders, so that they are successfully re-integrated into society," and to "Eliminate Sentencing Disparities. . .between sentencing crack and powder-based cocaine. . . ."

But if elected president how far would he get in implementing these reforms before he'd be accused of instituting a "black agenda," which one can only imagine is a sepia-tinted Protocols of the Elders of Zion. (The term "black agenda" was actually cited last week on National Public Radio by a Florida voter as a reason some people won't mark their ballot for Obama.)

If Obama is elected commander-in-chief, mainstream America will watch him like a hawk, and it's easy to suppose that progress will stall for the neediest segment of black America.

I base my assumption on my observations of a vocal segment of my fellow countrymen. In January of last year, for instance, in a conversation on a radio talk show about the two head black coaches at the Super Bowl, a male caller, who identified himself as white, said, "Now they'll finally have their black Super Bowl coach no matter what. What more do they want!?"

In a March 2006 review of race in television that ran in a prominent newspaper, the critic mentioned the program "Grey's Anatomy," noting:

"For obvious historic reasons, networks are geared to be most attuned to African-American concerns. Some shows try a little too hard: 'Grey's Anatomy,' set in Seattle, has among its lead characters three African-American surgeons and one Asian-American. . ."

It's likely that the person who tried "a little too hard," was not a network executive, but Shonda Rhimes, the creator and producer of the hour-long drama, who is black. But of course the television critic didn't know that.

In 2002 Pat Oliphant, the Pulitzer prize-winning political cartoonist, drew a four panel strip about slavery reparations. I've tried to find an online copy of the cartoon, but it seems to have vanished like an entry in the old Soviet encyclopedia. Still, accounts by the Associated Press and the Student Press Law Center, a non-profit organization in Arlington, Va, confirm my memory of the strip: In it Oliphant depicts a conversation between Abraham Lincoln and one of his advisers. Lincoln is offering black people civil rights, affirmative action and "all sorts of other preferential entitlements." (I was tickled to see Mr. Oliphant refer to civil rights as a "preferential" entitlement.)

In the strip the advisor tells Lincoln, "They want all that and the money." In the corner of one panel, Oliphant's trademark penguin adds, "They also demand the Academy Awards."

If Sen. Obama is elected president, mainstream America will likely say, "You black people have your Miss Americas. You have your black Super Bowl coach. You even have your Academy Award winners. And now, finally, you have your black president. What more do you want!?"

While it's unlikely McCain or Clinton will do anything to address problems specific to black America, it's unlikely Obama will be able to. No matter who is elected in November, the new administration will inaugurate a new era for native-born Americans of African decent. They will have to bring their full powers of analysis to figure out effective strategies for economic, political and educational progress. Regardless of who becomes president, black America will need to not only put on its collective thinking cap, but also fasten its collective seat belt, because the next few years will be a very bumpy ride.

Comments

[larry278]

Sir, the 1st line of your blog is true for all human beings. May the words which I say in haste & heat always be soft & sweet for those words are the words I'll have to eat.
larry lynch

[drblack]

YES.

[sand252]

I appreciate your thoughts. I read part of your article and some of the comments below. There are truths in everything that was said -- not whole truths -- but enough to make your arguments valid. However, there is a narrowness to your point of view and to others. First, I think we need to lay off of the race issue. He is running as the president of the US and not as a civil rights leader. Second, your statement that when he addresses African American issues he will experience backlash is wrong because the issues that exist for AA's exists for whites -- and it is often shown that issues start out as a AA problem and then become an American problem. Solving education, health care, criminal justice problems (by appointing the right federal judges) will help -- maybe creating courts that deal with particular problems, like drug courts that reform the user and the seller, finding help for juveline deliquents and kids trapped in the system can start as a federal directive to states. Who knows -- but lets leave race out of it. If you want to talk about race, do it in the middle of his first term. Thank you.

[jadez]

to quote a line in the movie "guess whos coming to dinner"

you see Obama as black man, we see Obama as a man.

[12Eric14]

This is Eric, the author of the blog, speaking: I see Obama (and myself, for that matter), as both a man and a black man. They are not mutually exclusive!

[nerakami]

YOu know what... if we all start looking at ourselves as AMERICANS first then we will put ourselves way ahead of the game.

Bob Marley said, "the rain doesn't fall on one man's house" therefore, whatever affects this country affects ALL of us... we will rise together or fall together... no matter what, we will move forward as a nation of people united as AMERICANS!!!!!

Big up America.... Big up Americans.... great day for all of us.... and we are ready to regain our standing as the leader of the world.

[Marrob]

Of course Black America is strong enough for an Obama Presidency and they have to because Obama will do nothing for them.

[Queenofthedamned]

Thanks for giving us all the heads-up as to how Obama's likely to fail. I guess you do that so that, if/when he does you can take comfort in the fact that you "told us so." Now, what are YOU going to do to help him succeed?

[12Eric14]

It's Eric, the author of the blog, again: I don't think he'll fail! In a sense my blog, or Obama's possible presidency, is not about him, is about African Americans and what habits of mind they (and I'm one of them) develop in an increasingly multicultural America under the leadership of a man of African descent. For me, the nut of the piece is the very last graph - no matter who wins the presidency, it will be an entirely new landscape for African Americans, and they'll (including me, of course) will have to figure out how best to prosper in it. . .

[sueno]

I know that my post is a little off base-
I agreed with your article yet, I would like to add
that for African-Americans, our time has returned
and we have to collectively make a re-newed effort
to uplift our communities. Meaning it's time to put up and shut up-
As a child of the sixties, I remember the collective pride, promise
and protest for change that was apart of our lives. I hope that sense of purpose returns.
Obama has done his job, we have to support him and do ours,
at home, in the streets, and politically.

[12Eric14]

Bravo! Thank you so much - The point you made (which you thought was "a little off base") was exactly the point I was trying to make: That those of African descent can't wait for a leader to guide us out of the wilderness. Each of us, working in our communities and trying to strengthen our inner selves, will have to figure out how to do it. As a black man, I'm proud of Obama. However, his candidacy, not to mention the possibility of his presidency, is a unique and ironic challenge to us.

[MyNameIsJames]

Great insight.

[SpoxLogic]

Eric you wrote in aprt: "But should black folk be celebrating? If elected to the nation's highest office, President Obama will likely be unable to effectively address problems that disproportionately affect black Americans."

That is the exact thinking of Blacks that keep us from making any headway. Who cares if they watch him closely, they couldn't get rid of him until his term was up anyway.

Of course he'll be able to affrect the changes we need in our communitites. Blacks and minorities aren't the only ones with problems - you need to visit a typical trailer park or any poor white community. You could interchange those folks and the ones in the hood and their lives wouldn't change much.

So all he'll need to do is push programs that help the urban cities and the trailer parks and all will benefit. Anotehr benefit would be that the folks in the trailer parks will (hopefully) become less racist. Why do I say that? The trailer parks are where racist organizations do most of their recruiting. Think how much blunted the racist arguments would be when folks tell them it was a Black president that uplifted them.

Priceless...and that is my AUDACITY OF HOPE.

[hartkid]

hear! hear! I couldn't agree with you more. Isn't that a large part of Obama's message? That these aren't "black" problems, they're America's problems. I work closely with wardens throughout my state's prison system and I can tell you that they would love to see changes made in sentencing laws for drug offenses. The prisons are choking on these sometimes "victimless" crimes due to draconian sentencing. Recidivism is also a huge problem. The wardens understand that an important way to reduce the volume of returning inmates is to put into place real rehabilitation and education programs. Some prisons have them, but they are woefully underfunded and can only reach a small fraction of the otherwise deserving inmates. We have numerous problems in this country that have nothing to do with race but that, if tackled, will improve the quality of life of Americans.

[12Eric14]

It's me, the author, again: End of his term, hmmm. I don't know politics as well as I'd like to, but my guess is that there are all sorts of ways make him ineffectual before that. But let me emphasize that I don't think that will happen. I think his wife was right - America is poised for a change, if elected, everyone will want him to succeed.

As for the common interests of poor whites and poor blacks (and poor Hispanics and Asians, for that matter), you are absolutely right. But it you look at the history of the progressive movement I think you'll find the powers that be always tried to destroy that coalition. And they've been successful for the most part. I have the audacity of hope that Obama can prevail against those negative forces, but seriously has his work cut out for him. . .

[PuppaX]

Hey Eric, great post.

There is one major thing about Obama's approach that you didn't mention; namely, his goal to modify affirmative-action or "opportunity"-type policies from race-based to socioeconomic-status based.

Jim Webb's recent speech on race (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/21/jim-webb-speaks-out-on-ra_n_102915.html) pointed out that one of the reasons for the undercurrents of racial friction (he was talking particularly about the Appalachian regions) is not because poorer whites begrudged African-Americans expanded opportunity, but because they could not see why these opportunities should not be afforded to them as well.

While reality clearly demonstrates that blacks have hardly been handed an endless wellspring of advantages, whether valid or not, the perception among some poorer whites seems to be of blacks being spoon-fed every opportunity while their lives, cities, and prospects become more and more bleak.

This shift in focus of "opportunity" policies can do a tremendous amount of good in helping alleviate these tensions and hopefully, of benefiting as many people as possible, and I'm sure it will be a focus in Obama's trips through Appalachia.

[jamesr1991]

To agree with Webb and his argument regarding racial friction between working class whites and black people you have to discount the "do something" spirit of many blacks who have finished high school and college (some with Masters, Law Degrees and Doctorates). First off, inorder for me to be considered for any so called affirmative action "hand outs" I would have to accomplish a number of potentially life altering tasks.

Why should I be envied when I finished high school and college before seeking a moderately well paying job? For black people our only way up and out is getting an education. We are not trust fund children or given jobs because our father, mother, uncle etc works or owns the company. We are given a few opportunities here and there. The hiring of one black guy in a company of thirty five white guys is not affirmative action its about damn time the company stop discriminating!

You and I both know some parts of Appalachia and inncer cities are filled with people who are not inclined to do anything that's going to require work. Unfortunately, the ones we see everyday are in the inner cities. Appalachia is hidden and you don't see them as much when are there are far more of them out there than blacks in the inner cities.

[PuppaX]

I'm not attempting to make an argument about the validity of the claims at all. Frankly, I'm a middle-class Jew who grew up in the NY-area who will probably never be able to truly understand the struggles facing disadvantaged blacks or whites. I was only attempting to point out one of the perceptual problems that face Obama when trying to woo poor Appalachian whites.

[12Eric14]

Eric, here: Thanks for sharing that info!

[missusam]

As a black 44 year old woman, I want Obama to be president of America. I am ready for the realization of Dr MLKs dream. I want people to be judged by the content of their character, not by the color of their skin. America has been steeped in this kind of mentality for too long. All my family and friends do not want preferential treatment, just equality. There will always be segments of the populace that struggle in society but there are segments that prosper and survive. What can happen with an Obama presidency is that the foundation can be laid for all Americans to take part in making America come to be the country for all Americans. I teach my sons that nothing is owed to you, you get out of life what you put in it, you have to work (not necessarily hard but smart) to move ahead and realize the american dream.

[12Eric14]

Well, perhaps in an ideal world we would be judged by the content of our character rather than the color of our skin. Fact is, however, we are judged by the color of our skin. There are ample psychological test to prove it, not to mention misdeeds such as killing young children and other crimes that sound more plausible to the media and the police if they are said to be committed by a black person, even if that is untrue.

For almost 20 years I've written that since we can't escape the fact that people often first pay attention to the color of skin, we can embrace our skin color, making symbolize strength, beauty and intelligence through what I call Muscular Black Pride. In other words, we can treat our skin color as a marker and reminder to try to live up to very best of the human condition.

[rikyrah]

You're late. The Black blogosphere has been discussing this for forever. Black folk just want the opportunity to be as disappointed in Obama as any other President. 'Oh, watch out...you might regret your choice'. I'm tired of folks being patronizing towards me, no matter what their color. I'm just fine with being disappointed in a President Obama. Guess what. If we don't lilke how he governs, we have the right, as American citizens to vote him out in 4 years.

[jackie4444]

Obama has been able to reach across racial lines because he will not allow himself to be
defined by anything other than his American citizenship. So if anyone is out there during his Presidency with a scorecard, keeping tabs on whether something should be done or not
done based on how it will be perceived because of his race, my guess is it for sure won't
be Barack Obama.

[marlon5678]

What a 'sell out' article. You appear to be a Black, African American man, but your comments are offensive. I'm a African American Male, The number reason why I voted for Barak was because he was Black. However, that alone is just one reason. I don't expect him to be a Civil Rights Leader for the Black Community. I expect him to be President of the United States. The key word here is 'United'. All nations, color and creed. For you to suggest that 'All African Americans' only voted for him because we think that he would champion our cause alone is pure poppy-cock. Please give the African American people more credit then that.

Im Proud that a Black man has finally had the chance to grasp the Nominee and perhaps become President.

Secondly, We can not dismiss the fact that regardless of color, Barak is the best man for the job. He's up onthe issues, ( all of them), he's a great strategist, his organizational skills are exceptional. OH, and we can't negate the fact that he has a awesome team that is internet and tecky savvy and can get the vote out and raise millions off the internet. He's a wonderful motivator. This is what America needs. We want change.

It took 40 years for this nation to get back on track, since (MLK JR. & RKF) . Now.. 'we are ready to embrace change and will puRsue it FIERCELY and put it into Place.

[12Eric14]

Hmmmm - I didn't mean to suggest African Americans are voting ONLY because he is of African descent. In fact, I think just the opposite. Remember, my piece started by saying at the beginning of his campaign the African-America reaction to his candidacy was, "Ho hum."

As a community, we grew to embrace him when we saw that he was qualified to win. When we saw that he had the right stuff.

However, it's not unreasonable to hope or even expect that he would pay special attention to our unique plight. All groups who support a candidate expect some payback. I'm simply pointing out that Obama will be scrutinized hard in that respect. I'm just saying the black community(ies) should brace itself for that and perhaps come up with a B plan.