Obama and Black America
Baratunde Thurston’s wonderful op-ed for The Independent in the UK:
I was not alone in my outsider perspective. Many black Americans have a different take on America. The attacks of 9/11 and their manipulation into an illegal and unnecessary war hardly shocked us. We have learnt through direct and ancestral experience that the USA routinely fails to live up to its ideals. We bear the scars of this shortcoming physically, economically and psychologically.
Despite our sacrifices – fighting in wars and paying taxes – we are constantly reminded we’re not full members of the club. Yet, Barack Obama made me feel American. He has, and this is really quite annoying, made me care enough to get more involved.
His early opposition to the war, the grass-roots nature of his campaign, and his habit of speaking in grammatically correct sentences have all helped. His very composition from white Kansan and black African parents tells a story that is authentically American. Beyond him, however, the reaction of the American people best demonstrates Obama’s impact.
For black America, the defining moment occurred on 3 January, when Obama won in overwhelmingly white Iowa. It was a sign that things in this country were changing. Although Obama is the nominee, the path ahead won’t be easy. People still ask, “Is America ready for a black president?” That’s the wrong question. America has never been “ready” to extend its ideals to all of its citizens without being pushed. Was America “ready” for emancipation or women’s suffrage or Simon Cowell? No, but we’ve got them now and in two of those three cases, we are much better for it.
Go read the whole thing. And leave him a comment over at Jack and Jill Politics. It’s a really inspiring and encouraging article. Thanks, Baratunde.