It has only been two weeks since the tremendous goodwill and massive celebrations across the nation that resulted from the election of Barack Obama to be the 44th President of the United States. When positive change happens, there are always forces of negative reaction.
This week, the Associated Press reported that "Obama has received more threats than any other president-elect." In addition the AP stated, "Incidents around the country referring to President-elect Obama are dampening the post-election glow of racial progress and harmony, highlighting the stubborn racism that remains in America."
But let's not rush to conclusions that somehow the progress that Obama's election verified did not also signal good steps forward toward healing America's historic racial divide. The fact is the majority of Americans, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native and others all voted for Obama to be the president and did not allow racial prejudice or hate to be a decisive factor.
The Inauguration on January 20, 2009 will usher in the Obama administration as millions of people in the US and throughout the world will continue to celebrate this change and transformation with joy and great hope.
Don't let anyone or anything steal your joy and hope. Carrying the weight of the past only hurts you. The world is either a beautiful sweet place full of opportunity and hope where everyone can dream and fly or its a place only full of strife and pain that keeps shackles on your feet and mind.
Beware of the cynics who prefer to cast the negative stones of the past. We are not yet a perfect nation or society, but I know that we are getting better everyday. We should not let all the weight of making America a better place fall only on Obama's shoulders. The new president will need our involvement, our giving, and our prayers.
Yes, there are still racial problems in the US, but sometimes we respond to racial incidents in a manner that does nothing more than cause more polarization rather than work to eliminate racism in all of its manifestations. The growing number of incidents being reported is an indication of stubborn "aberrations of intolerance" and do not at all represent the mindset of most Americans.
The positive and uplifting spirit of the African American community and all others of goodwill will not be broken by the these latest random acts of madness.
Obama's victory was a victory for all people and for all Americans. The pendulum of history now has swung too far toward equality and inclusiveness for any of us to permit group or individual acts of racial hatred to entice the majority of the people to start stepping backwards rather than to keep marching forward.
The bad societal remnants of the past should be buried. Let's work harder to plant the right seeds in the consciousness of all people and let's give Obama our active support.
Thanks for nice article and I agree with you in your attitude and considerations.
You said : "The positive and uplifting spirit of the African American community and all others of goodwill will not be broken by the these latest random acts of madness." ... I agree.
Keep doing the good work of sound opinions !.
I am also happy that Mr Obama was elected president of the USA. Tha alternative seemed to me too horrible to consider.
But we should be on guard. That is why I operate a website called RACIALITY.COM, where I pinpoint interesting articles about race relations, Blacks, Latinos, Asians, Minorities, etc ...
You are right in the Information that there are many threats --- Besides I add that some Racist Websites are increasing their visitors and verbal violence.
I try to collect the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Good Raciality, Racialness and Racism. Because everything should be reported to be fair.
http://raciality.blogspot.com/
http://milenials.blogspot.com/
Vicente Duque
Tell that to gays in California and the positive and uplifting spirit of AA's that came out to vote for Obama and oppress them.
You should tell the folks who opposed Prop 8 that they need to do a better job in promoting their cause. There was so much mystery about the deal that it looked shady.
The thing about teaching gay marriage in schools got me.
You gay people keep saying that we as black people didnt support you like you supported us.
STOP!
I hope that you voted for Barack Obama because he was the best candidate, and not because he was Black. That would be stupid!
Dont give me the BS about us both being oppressed.
Gays werent forced into doing free labor for 100's of years, while building this country, and then being told that you were nothing, just because of your skin color.
Your ancestors werent raped and families split up forever just because of your skin color.
PLEASE STOP!!!!!!!
Absolutely...and this begins with those who are already planting seeds of doubt about Obama and the people he may or may not pick for his staff witholding their judgement until he and his staff show action in office! Right now this doubt is only serving to fuel the opposition who are using it to try and say that he is already failing, when he hasn't even taken office yet!
We just have to keep the faith ......and know that what O has to offer has to be more than what the last 8 years brought.
I'm still shocked and delighted and dazed by the fact that we've got such a dynamite person coming to the Oval Office. Congratulations to all of us!