Barack Obama is walking a tightrope never before seen in the history of politics. As a Black man, he has to appease a core-Black base, but's he's gotta be true to the needs of all Americans...
http://blogs.uptownlife.net/sonyarose/
Black folks seem to have their own barometer in gauging right from wrong in the realm of politics, and this particularly holds true when the subject is one of their own. Across communities and even within families, African descendants now here in America always seem to hold our own to higher standards, even when those standards may not be humanly possible.
Barack Obama has rejuvenated a hope in Black America that has not been uttered nor felt since the days of legendary Civil Rights martyr Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. That distinction carries heightened meaning nowadays as poverty has taken a front seat in the homes of most minority citizens, Black men continue to make up an unprecedented number of the incarcerated and affordable healthcare becomes more of a faded reality.
Thus, as he runs for the coveted Oval Office, Obama must be careful not to offend his core-Black supporters, many of whom are already far beyond being simply disenchanted. And, thus, the tightrope act, fairly or Not begins, as he attempts to appease this base,while simultaneously advocating a national agenda for all citizens. You see, the Democratic incumbent is running for commander-in-chief of all America, and not just Blacks. This puts Obama in a precarious position. And, how he will face this tremendous balancing act before him is something only he and his closest aides know at this point.
For instance, Obama was heckled during a recent campaign speech in St. Petersburg, Florida, when a group of Black men held up a banner that read "What about the Black community, Obama?" After finally being handed a mic during the question-and-answer period that followed, an unidentified protester asked: "Why is it that you have not had the ability to not one time speak to the interests and even speak on behalf of the oppressed and exploited African-American community or Black community in this country?"
And, even in the neighborhoods of NYC, African Americans express some concern that Obama is not addressing the needs of the darker class. "I know he’s [Obama] running for president...but he’s got to remember us, he can’t forget about us," said a middle-aged Black man, who claimed he was a pastor, riding the A train Uptown recently.
Even Deloris, a 41-year-old home-health aide, expressed fear. "I’m going to vote for Barack Obama, but I don’t really know if anything will change. I don’t know..." Deloris said.
Perhaps no other leader in history has had to face such a delicate set of circumstances. Barack has to bring the two Americas together without offending or dismissing either. So far, he seems to have the honesty and integrity to face this issue head on. And for that, we can all agree THE MAN’S GOT COURAGE.