Why Blacks Are Excited About Obama Becoming President.
The other night as my husband and I watched the election coverage, we became excited when we realized that Obama would become our next President. I started crying like a big sissy water faucet, I was so happy. The last two Presidential elections I voted in, didn't go in my favor obviously, so it was a delight. It was also awe inspiring to see a black man become president. My husband was offended that they kept focusing on Obama's race. I explained to him why race was important in this election and why exactly I was crying like a water faucet.
Just for the record, I didn't vote for Obama solely upon race, like many McCain supporters have stated. I voted based upon stances on the economy, health care, and education, to me it was just a plus to have a chance to get some diversity in the White House. I don't think that with Obama president, the world will join in perfect harmony, race relations are fixed, that all of America's problems will be solved, that I as a black person will get reparations, and that now as a black person it is my turn for retaliation for white people. We have a long hard uphill battle to regain what we have lost in the last eight years. In matter of fact, when he announced he was going to run for President, I was under the impression that he didn't have a snowballs chance in hell and that Hilary Clinton would probably get the DNC backing, not Barack Obama.
I cried like a water faucet because for once I had some REAL hope. Hope that race relations were getting better. 61% of Obama's votes came from whites. This election showed that race isn't the main issue, but rather other factors important to this country. The economy, education, health care, environment, and other factors trumped race. I sit on the internet all day seeing things on race relations, especially in regards to this campaign, and I became very frustrated and upset that the more things change, the more they remained the same. This election disproved my thoughts, at least on the scale in which race relations have remained the same. It made me think it isn't always that bad.
I realized that only 60 years ago black people couldn't even vote in some states, and now we have a "black" president. Think about how fast progress has occurred. Blacks for a long time in this country suffered, and for those literal centuries of suffering, we still struggle, but thanks to those before us, we aren't struggling as badly, and if we continue to deal with the struggle, one day we might truly be equals in the eyes of others, instead of stereotypes.
I am going to go ahead and tell some people a sobering fact, sometimes black people aren't considered "real Americans", we are rather tolerated as a necessary evil, rather than as equals in patriotism and the like. Well this election showed me that not everyone thinks that way. That I am as American as others, that I am not a second class citizen, and that we shouldn't ever think of ourselves that way. I know I have had the conversations with other blacks about Obama and the fact that white people would never vote for a black president, that as a child, you were told to reach for the stars in a career, but you also knew there were limitations. Now there is proof that even if there are limitations, there are ways around them.
So all and all yes, I am very excited that Barack Obama became president. I am hoping he leads this country away from the current direction it is heading. He is not going to be able to perform miracles, but he will at least be able to help dig us out of the hole we are currently in.
14 comments:
I am so happy that he is president. Even though I live in England it reaches all of us. We do have a long way to go but if the world can be united on one single act then I have hope that we are about to reach a new level of love and equality never before experienced on earth.
I love that people all over the world watched our elections with glee. Not only because they are happy that McCain didn't win but also because a black man in the USA was able to be elected president. We have been the laughing stock in the world when it came to morality. How dare we fight in Vietnam when blacks didn't even have the de facto right to vote, how dare we fight in WWII when blacks were in segregated ranks. This election bodes well for americans and I hope this country as well as others will begin to see black people in a new light. Hopefully, we will now be able to live were we want, without steering or get the job or promotion we deserve without it reflecting poorly or the company, having too many faces of color (i.e. it must not be an established company with long ties to business).
It is my hope that this election will reveal the racism in peoples' hearts and those people will begin to dismantle it. Just yesterday my good friend who works at a rich private school in Manhattan told me that one of the white parents told a black admin ..."I am really glad that Obama did not run with the race card in hand (implying he didn't run as a "black candidate") but rather he ran as a human being..."
Again this idea that white is synomous with American and Human being.
Did McCain run as a white candidate? No one talks about that just that there was no diversity in his crowds. We have to come up with mechanisms to deal with this type of racism. I'm sure it will come up especially since Nebraska outlawed afirmative action. Apparently blacks were living high off the hog there. that's all I can remember about Nebraska, how good it was for black people (DWS).
Anyway on another topic. When does cultural appreciation become cultural appropriation? And what does that mean for artist like Madonna and Gwen Stefani, are they friends or foes?
I am going to go ahead and tell some people a sobering fact, sometimes black people aren't considered "real Americans"
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That's very sad because:
1) Africans(older ppl) often tell me that Afro-Americans are completely different.
2) If so then that means that White-Americans aren't real americans then. Native Americans are the only real americans...
WOW. Where can I start? I was waiting for you to post. I actually have mixed reactions about this so called
"accomplishment" but more of that later.
Whoopie said it best wwhen she said " I felt that I could finally put my suitcase down". (paraphrase). I was pleased but I was shocked by the black emotional reaction. I never anticipated to level of emotion such an event would evoke. For more of that look at Jesse Jackson.
Back to reality.
If he had lost, I would have thought, "What's new?" And life would go on. He won, and I believed him to be the better candidate and I am happy for that but after I saw all the reaction, I took a step back and realized that something was fundamentally wrong. If you told my almost 100 year old Grandfather in the village that a black man won the US Presidential election. ( He has little knowledge of racism ) He would say, "So?" Then you would have to go through the whole story and history and to the present for him to understand it. He would naturally conclude by despising white people. Because he wouldn't understand how someone could simply assume they are better because they have a different skin tone. He would also wonder why it took so long for people to figure that out. He would be disgusted and be glad he was a poor village African.
What is so bizzare is how the whole media etal are all running around proudly proclaiming that we elected our first Black President. That is not something to be proud of at all. Yes relatively speaking compared to the rest of the non black world, maybe. But blacks have been here since the start of the Nation and you just elected your first black President? People should be ashamed saying that. Am I strange?
In historical perspective it makes sense but in real human terms its unsettling.
I was only happy when the Victory was declared after that I started to take a real close look at things. Racism is not dead. 61% of the vote may have been white but John McCain beat Obama with both white men and white women. Its the white youth that helped Obama.
Also what surprised me about the response to the negative ads was that no one looked at how the other minorities would react. If you attack black people, they see themselves next. The Cubans in Florida turned the state to Obama. Latinos generally turned out for Obama and so did the Asians. Native Americans were over 90% for Obama.
I work with majority Asian and all along I thought they were not interested in the election. On Novemember 4th, people left early. Not many were willing to say who they were voting for. I only manage to catch 2 people in conversation hint at who they were voting for and it was Obama. On Nov5th. People were so excited I could not believe it. Some where acting friendly in a wierd way. That is when I realized what had happened. Same thing with my classmates. It was during the returns that I realized that something had convinced these people along the way because in the early days many were not that supportive of Obama.
I walked into a group on the 5th at work that was in a stimulating discussion and they were obviously happy. They saw me and they stopped talking and waited for me to pass. After I left they continued with their little jubilation. You would think they wouldn't mind me being around but obviously this election meant something different to them too. And if you look at the reactions from around the world, you start to get it.
Other minorities too are American, Blacks are Americans, whites are Americans. And the sooner people accept this the better for everyone. The global trends are going to be the most challenging this country has ever seen. America needs to be united otherwise we may be seeing the beginning of the end of a soon to be not so great nation.
I am happy he won. But any horrible act by Black Americans will be attributed to Obama.
This sad story in particular will undoubtedly smear the Obama halo effect as business as usual for us Black Americans who cannot control ourselves due to crime. http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=6204853 This horrible act should be deemed a hate crime and should be condemned by the administration that this kind of racism, of which the Obama campaign fought so hard to overcome, will not be tolerated.
@ Grata:
While I totally understand what you’re saying, I watched in disbelief when it was declared that he had won the race and that he was president elect. I cried so hard, my heart literally hurt. I have replayed his acceptance speech over and over and those last 5 mins. of it still have me crying like a child.
It was very bitter-sweet for me to watch that moment. To realize that even though I was born and raised in a country where I was told I could be anything I wanted (on the continent) and that statement held true, after living in America and in one of the worst States to be black in the Midwest, everything my parents had instilled in me as far as the sky being my limit had almost been wiped away in 5 short years. Call me a weak hearted, easily influenced person but the Mid-West had almost shattered my spirit and drive.
I'm forever grateful to have lived here (Midwest) for now I know that when I move to a more "progressive" State as far as race/relations, even though I may not have the experiences of a typical black American, I have my own not so good racial experiences that will have me appreciate how far America has come.
The youth majority (under 35) of all races who are the ones who made it possible for this day to come to realization are the future of America. If nothing else, I am glad to see that for the most part, our tomorrow isn't going to be the same as our today. Most of the Majority white/black men/women who Obama didn’t get their vote solely based on his skin colour are in their future and almost exiting so, I will sit tight and not let that bother me. I have my future to look forward to and I am glad it looks much better than it did yesterday. I'm glad that my kids may truly live to be seen as people who happen to be black or mixed and not as blacks.
As I realize Obama isn't a magician or a God, I'm glad I lived to see this day. One day @ a time, we as a people will get there. A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step ay?
*Sorry for the long ramble Sid*
I have to say that Obama's win has affected me so deeply. I can be quite cynical. I'm easily disgusted by American politics. When Obama won the election I was in shock and disbelief for a while, but now I feel like anything is possible.
GRATA you said:
Its the white youth that helped Obama.
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WELL THANK GOD ! the more of the newer generation being less racist, open-minded and intelligent the better !
I sort of understand your reaction but don't be so pessimistic !!
Remember it was only 60 years ago when things were very VERY different.
In a UK newspaper they had pictures of people from every corner of the earth celebrating Obama's victory. Even a picture of indonesian school children, holding up a photo of Obama. He is a US citizen, the president of the UNITED States of America and a citizen of the world.
AH i love this guy !!!!!!!!!
It's still sinking in for me. I nearly broke down on Election night. I was talking to my Mother and she couldn't believe it either. She said that she was glad that she lived long enough to see this day. My concern is that some people see Obama as the Messiah who will be able to fix everything in four years. It took us eight years to get into this mess, it may take another eight to get us out. There are obviously high expectations being placed on Obama and his every move and sentences will be analyzed in microscopic detail as well as Michelle's. But, he seem to do well under pressure as this has been a long and stressful campaign.
I don't care what colour you are. I don't care where you're from. I don't care what you do for a living. I don't care what class you are, how you dress, what you smoke or drink or who you know or whom you've fucked.
I hate you all. I hate every last living, breathing, snot and feces producing, promiscuously copulating, celebrity obsessed, opinionated one of you. From right here in Toronto right around the planet and back, coast to coast, nationwide and internationally. Every. Single. Last. One. Of. You.
Fuck love. Fuck your insipid grasping at some abstract concept of chemical imbalances and reasonless actions, fumbling around in the crowd trying to find some cinematic supposition for real human interaction. Fuck lust, too. Fuck you all, from the lowlife dirtbags that think dropping trou and waving the little soldier in a sloppy arc is a pick-up line to the sniveling of the desperate 'nice guys' who never get the girl due to a total lack of testosterone grown stones. Fuck you all, from the crazy, under dressed sluts that judge a persons character by the price of their shirt, right down to the fat, flabby chicks that think personality is enough.
Fuck you drivers, for thinking that a yellow light is a sign that says 'step on the gas'. Fuck you wheelmen and women that think it's okay to sit in a left hand turn in the middle of morning traffic, even though there is a protected left in the intersections before and after where you need to make your turn. Fuck you too cyclists - you're not exempt from the traffic laws just because your peddling, you miserable spandex covered neon reflective fucks. Fuck you too, pedestrians. Use the fucking crosswalk if you don't want to get hit, and use it before the little countdown clock says '3'. You don't have enough goddamn time to lope across four lanes of traffic.
Fuck you chick on your cellphone. Fuck you attitude packed minimum-wager that makes my coffee. Fuck you cops that spend all their time handing out speeding tickets. Fuck you douche bag doing ten over the limit in the passing lane on the highway. Fuck you lady using exact change at the counter at the grocery store. Fuck you kids having a conversation in the doorway. And fuck you also for not getting the fuck out of your designated handicapped seat when a pregnant or elderly person gets on the fucking bus.
Fuck taxes. Fuck welfare. Fuck the whole selfish, over politicized and party driven government system. I'm sick and fucking tired of policies and new laws with seven hundred bylaws that nobody but you and your cabinet reads. Fuck you councilors and your stupid 'district improvement' plans. Fuck you unions, for asking for so much and giving nothing more that what you already give. Fuck the whole process that allows people who are supposed to be working for us work for interests that only benefit the next campaign. Fuck your short-sightedness, your rush to the bandwagons, and your incessant arguing over fuck all. Fuck the parties, fuck the conventions, and fuck your campaigns. Do some real fucking work for a change.
Fuck you bottles of water. You're water. You're not worth two fucking dollars.
Fuck you trendsetters, fuck you fashionistas. Fuck your little dogs and and your idiotic outfits. Fuck your high heels in the snow. Fuck your five dollar coffees and your fifteen dollar veggie burgers. Fuck your health kick, your diet or your fucking new interest in kickboxing or sushi.
Fuck your culture. Fuck your race. Fuck your sense of entitlement. Fuck your sense of uniqueness. Fuck you all for the belief that you have something unique and interesting to contribute. Fuck you for filling the internet with your useless garbage. Fuck your blogs, your wikis, your forums. Fuck your name calling. And most of all, fuck whatever you believe. It's all wrong. Fuck it.
Fuck your complaints. Fuck your addictions. Fuck your dependencies. Fuck your pain. Fuck your tears. Fuck selling whatever it is you sell. Fuck your manipulation of others. Fuck movies. Fuck fucking. Fuck everything you own. Fuck your allergies. Fuck your stupid commons sense. Fuck your spelling and fuck your lack of education, or your ignorance, whatever is applicable.
I don't give a fuck. Shut the fuck up and just get on with it.
"I'm forever grateful to have lived here (Midwest) for now I know that when I move to a more "progressive" State as far as race/relations, even though I may not have the experiences of a typical black American, I have my own not so good racial experiences that will have me appreciate how far America has come."
Same experience. I lived in Florida and knew people that had tatoos of the Confederate flag. And I got their racist attitudes too. I think every non American black needs to experience racism real good to understand it. Otherwise no matter what people tell you, you can never understand it. If you tried to explain it to my grandfather, he can never truly grasp it. You have to experience it to know what it really is.
That is why race relations are tough because those that can't experience racism cannot understand its consequences. They, at best can follow ideals and laws.
The moment for me was an anti climax because of the sudden realization that under real human terms, the weight of that moment was not necessary. The level of expression we see shows us how deep a of a pit black oppression is in this country. And its very sad to see it expressed in the tears flowing all over the place. Even from the whites that have been caught in it.
There was one Black British Comedian who said, After hundreds of years, the white man has just realized that blacks are humans. He then went on to say, "Welcome to the human race!"
At this time he would be saying the same thing to white America.
I was more hit by his Primary win. It tired me emotionally.
GRATA: There was one Black British Comedian who said, After hundreds of years, the white man has just realized that blacks are humans. He then went on to say, "Welcome to the human race!"
At this time he would be saying the same thing to white America.
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Haha, that is so true !
I was very happy too, I also live in England.
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