From the moment Barack Obama became the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party, I have been saying that this election is going to be a true test of America’s progressiveness. Well, my friends the test has truly begun.
Over the past few weeks we have seen new lows in American Politics. We have seen our own friends and family thinking they were off the mic (At Fox News of all places, you should definitely know they mean none of us any good) and make truly offensive statements that outraged us all, and caused a son to have to denounce his own father’s comments.
But now this New Yorker thing has set the world on fire. I understand and can appreciate good satire as well as anyone, but folks this was not satire this was RACISM. Not direct racism, not overt racism, but the kind of racism that plays on every unsettling fear White Americans have lodged somewhere in the back of their brains. Post 9/11, when was the last time you have seen anyone, let alone a sitting US Senator depicted as a terrorist with a picture of Osama Bin Laden hanging over the fire place. I understand portraying George Bush as an idiot (some might agree), and I have seen Bill Clinton portrayed as a womanizer/pimp but this is so far beyond satire. This is just offensive, disgusting and cruel and absolutely UN-American. On top of the ridiculous way they portrayed Senator Obama, the New Yorker has the audacity to portray a beautiful and intelligent woman like Michelle Obama (a lawyer, a loving wife and mother) as a gun toting momma, adding insult to injury.
Well friends, I hate to think it, but I have a feeling we have only just begun to see how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go.
I think we are going to have to work harder, work smarter and brace ourselves for an onslaught of attacks on Senator Obama like we have never seen before and certainly like no other sitting senator, and presidential nominee has ever experienced. But, that is just US, we have always had to run faster, jump higher, be smarter and work harder. But, lets not let Senator Obama go it alone. We must run this race with him, we must work and work for a president like we have never worked before.
Also, it is our job to stand up and defend the senator and his family from these vicious attacks that do nothing but work to weaken the political strength and power of (hopefully) our next president.
By the way, I just returned from the NAACP National Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio this morning. It was absolutely fabulous! Senator Obama’s speech was incredible and it was wonderful to just be around all of these positive Black people standing up, being counted and ready to work. Also, NAACP President Elect Ben T. Jealous was excellent. Get ready. I am confident, Ben is about to take the NAACP to new heights bridging the gap of old school organizing with some new school ideas and flavor. So, as Ben said in his speech lets all get “fired up and wret to go”.
So, whether you agree or disagree, now more than ever I really need your input. I need to hear from you. I need to know what is going on in our community. I also need to know what other stories we need to tell, and what is on your mind. I really do want to hear from you, I want you to “Talk to Danny.”
Sincerely,
Danny J. Bakewell, Jr.
President & Executive Editor
