Did any of you happen to watch Barack Obama’s 30-minute infomercial on most of the major TV networks last night? Two words come to mind – emotionally brilliant. Whatever criticisms some contributors at Phiscal Matters have with the Senator, all of us recognize Mr. Obama’s brilliance, his sound intellect and measured candor – qualities befitting of any Presidential candidate – which was on display throughout the commercial.
There were times I wanted to cry, especially during scenes that profiled Americans in some of those key battleground states in the Midwest and their personal financial crises. There were times that I looked at myself as a failure, given that I never finished college. Yet, most of all, what that informercial confirmed for me and my partner at Phiscal Matters, was that Senator Barack IS US! I remember when my partner, Blandon Casenave, and I were students at Hunter College and active participants in Student Government, we would build after classes, sometimes to 10, 11:00 pm at night about the type of leadership Black America needs. We all have oodles of respect for Reverends Jackson and Sharpton, and Minister Farrakhan, but we debated and concluded that the most important asset for the next generation of leaders is to be “technically proficient,” i.e. should possess tangible skill sets beyond inspirational oratory. Someone who is both “Martin and Malcolm,” as well as the late businessman, Reginald F. Lewis.
I sincerely believe in his own way, Barack Obama, is that template, and the fact is that they are tens of thousands of Black men just like him – skilled and ready to lead – but it just was not our time…until now.
In this faltering economic climate, which will disproportionally affect African-Americans the most, the new Black leadership needs to show our communities what they can offer, as well as inspire us to “do something for self.” The new Black leadership needs to adamantly stress the importance of getting a college education, a trade skill (plumbing, electricians, information technology, etc.) OR BOTH, because the 21st Century is about globalization – where people need to understand that they are competing with individuals – THROUGHOUT THE WORLD! The new Black leadership must openly, but with sincerity, confront the systematic challenges of poor and working-class neighborhoods – from gangs, drug dealing to drug addiction, mental illness, limited access to, jobs quality education and food, and prevailing low-self esteem.
To me cats like Newark, NJ Mayor Corey Booker, author Kevin Powell, gang interventionist Tarik Ross, PH.D candidate, writer and community organizer, Rob ‘biko’ Baker, co-CEO of Disturbing Tha’ Peace Entertainment, Chaka Zulu and Allhiphop.com co-founders, Chuck Creekmur and Greg Watkins, and countless of other men and women (Micheala Angela Davis and dream hampton, how could I forget) represent this new paradigm of leadership, some of whom I can call as mentors and friends. We are from the hoods, not afraid to embrace and criticize the hoods, and love acquiring knowledge and empowering others – either with jobs/economic opportunities, or just a plain word.
THIS TRULY OUR TIME, SO LET’S NOT BE AFRAID AND GRAB THAT MANTLE OF LEADERSHIP.
Barack ain’t afraid, whatever the outcome will be on November 4th. Why should you be?
3 Comments
I am sure my parents and grandparents felt the same when they saw Dr. Martin Luther King deliver his “I Have A Dream” speech, as I do as this very moment…HONORED. I feel honored to be a part of such a tremendously positive turning point in American history. Throughout my lifetime, I am going to live through events, both tragic, Sept 11, and monumentous, the possibility of this nation’s first African American President. My grandchildren will be reading about these events in textbooks, only being able to imagine what myself and the world were feeling at the time. I am blessed to know that feeling first hand. At this point, if Obama has only shown our people ONE thing throughout his campaign and the his potential for being the first African American President, it is there is nothing, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, we cannot do. As a people, let us continue his forward motion.
You are right, Obama does represent the likes of Malcolm and Martin. But, I am delighted that you brought up the late great businessman Reginald F. Lewis, as well. He’s an excellent example of an African-American male who built his own prestige in a white dominated field. People forget that men like Reginald F. Lewis strived to go beyond just being labeled as a great “African-American businessman”- he was a great businessman period. Obama has put himself on that pedestal and I feel other young brothers will follow his lead. Remember Barack can’t save all black people, but he can be the spark that changes the preception of our culture. Great post.
YES WE CAN! YES WE DID! Rosa sat, so Martin could walk… Martin walked, so Obama could run… Obama ran, so our children can FLY!
I’m with you on 99% of what you’re saying. This is a great time for black people everywhere and for Americans all around. Our country feels more unified and patriotism is waking up again. The world is rejoicing in our victory.
As much as Michaela Angela Davis may have done in the PAST, she’s not representing as of late. Whether it be on Hip Hop vs America and saying nothing but “you’re fly” over and over again or bringing about a divisive mentality on the BET Election coverage. Let’s be real. If it weren’t for a LARGE % of WHITE PEOPLE voting, Obama would NOT be our next president. The minority vote alone would NOT have cut it. That said, this woman was negative immediately after his win by making the comment “The white only sign on the white house is down.” Obama doesn’t stand for this separist b.s. and unlike some people who seem to have issues with their biracial background, he’s not one of them. He’s claimed his white side of himself and his family. He was raised predominantly by white people. Obama has brought our nation together in a way that a candidate has not in YEARS. Red states, blue states, young, old, men, women, black, white, brown, asian, you name it. So my point is, as much as Michaela Angela Davis might want to try to portray black power, LET US MOVE FORWARD and live in the image of the man we elected by coming TOGETHER and work in the name of PROGRESS.