Obama versus Clinton, this is a question that I as well as many other African Americans have been plagued with for the past few months. While I do not embrace the concept that Bill Clinton is the first African American President I certainly do believe that he is the first president who actually cared what and how African Americans felt as it related to his administration and our agenda.
I also believe that President Clinton actually felt more comfortable around African Americans.
That being said, Barak Obama doesn’t just ‘feel comfortable around us,’ he is one of us. He is the real deal. He understands the plight of African Americans and in particular African American males. I often say that no matter what success or financial advantage you have achieved every Black male knows the same sick, gut wrenching feeling, which comes when the police pull up behind you and flash those bright lights. It does not matter if you are a millionaire or a common everyday teenager from the hood. We all understand and feel like we are victims.
No person other than a Black man can truly understand what I am talking about. I equate it to women trying to explain childbirth (you may sympathize with my pain, but you will never actually feel it).
Well, Senator Obama has been there. He understands our pain. People can question if he is Black enough (which is truly an insult) or they may not feel he has enough experience (which is also an insult) but at the end of the day, we need Senator Obama as much as he needs us. We need him to reinforce our belief that anything is possible, that we can overcome and that a man can actually be judged by the content of his character not just by the color of his skin.
My good friend Reggie Jones Sawyer has a sign at the entryway of his house that says “No Negroes, No Mexicans, No Dogs.” This is a reminder to him, to me and to anyone else who comes into his house that no matter how far we have come, we still have ways to go.
Voting for and electing Senator Obama is for me a reminder of how far we have come, and a confirmation that we really can get to where we are and want America to go.
Whether Obama gets to the White House or not is yet to be determined, but what I do know is if he does not get there it wont be because of me, I believed the dream, I saw the potential and I voted to make history TODAY rather than wait until later.
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.”
VOTE FOR BARAK OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT!
Sincerely,
Danny J. Bakewell, Jr.
President & Executive Editor
