The Obama Challenge
The life of a politician is one of many twists and turns. It is a high-profile position and one that requires the public servant to be accountable for every single action. Perhaps no public office is under more scrutiny than the Head-of-State. President-Elect Barack Obama will soon find out the highest level of accountability required in such a lofty post.
During the Presidential campaign against Senator John McCain, Obama championed the notion of “CHANGE”. He successfully leveraged this idea into a high-powered campaign that captured the imagination of people around the world. There were many opinion polls and articles written about Obama. Countless stories, blogs and YouTube clips have been created… some unflattering, some effusive in praise, some in between. However, there is a type of excitement in U.S. politics that has not been seen in some time.
The Obama Effect in the Black Community
Obama will be inaugurated on January 20, 2009 in Washington, DC becoming the first person of African ancestry to hold the position. What does this do for the Black community? Certainly, Blacks in America (regardless of nationality or origin) will still face discrimination and racism. Police brutality will remain a fixture in America as seen by recent incidents. The impact of an Obama administration will not be seen for months (or years). Where we may see a more immediate impact is among the younger generation around the world… particularly young Black men in America.
President-Elect Barack Obama
Obama’s youthful, clean-cut look combined with his strong wife and adorable daughters will provide hope for the fledgling institution of marriage in the Black community. Perhaps it will give young men an idea that they do not have to be athletes, entertainers, rap stars, or even “gangsters” in order to make a mark. These industries are over-glamorized and have given many young men an unrealistic sense of hope.
It was uplifting. It was something that you can tell your kids, you really can become anything now. You don’t have to become a basketball player.
~LeBron James, NBA basketball superstar
Media images most associated with Black men in America are athletes and entertainers. These positions hold influence, fame, fortune and a lavish lifestyle that is promoted in American society. Media outlets have even gotten to the point where they are enlisting people like Charles Barkley, Chris Rock, D.L. Hughley and P. Diddy as thought leaders for the Black community.
While there is nothing wrong with choosing one’s career of choice, athletics and entertainment are too often viewed as the only viable options for a young boy from the inner cities of America. Obama’s image shows that you can be a “baller,” can be intelligent, speak well, have a successful career and a family. Despite many professional Black men across America, this imagery is rarely seen in the media.
Stony the Road we Trod
If Obama does nothing spectacular in his first four years, America will have his image and story to ponder. This alone is unprecedented given the cynicism that pervades American politics and the Black community. The fact that Obama had a decidedly different upbringing and worldview will raise interesting questions and lead to substantive discussions on politics, age, race, gender, nationality and class. He will also have his fierce critics. This grassroots politician learned his craft on the tough streets of Chicago. How much of that training will prepare Obama for the highest office in the land?
The Black National Anthem has a line, “stony the road we trod.” Obama is standing on the shoulders of giants who have trod that stony road and who sought to give the world a new political reality. One man who embodied such spirit was politician, orator and abolitionist Frederick Douglass (1818-1895), who perhaps more than any of Obama’s predecessors (including activist Dr. M.L. King), had blazed a trail of political consciousness. It is unfair to label Obama as the new “Messiah,” or as one who can eliminate the world’s deepest social problems. However, he has already walked the stony road and paved the way for countless others… just as others had done for him. His journey upon this road will be discussed in eternity.
All the best!
Daaim – Unfortunately your words about the foibles of our black youth, especially males, rings too true. As I work with youngsters I try to point out that there is no future in emulating “gangsta” behavior. Sure, it’s fine to be entertained by pop culture, which today means hip-hop music and fashion. After all I remember my mom telling me more than once back in the 70’s to get a haircut and turn down that “funky” music. And I had the coolest blue suede platform shoes!
But don’t let the entertainment become your vision of how to build a life. Sipping Crystal champagne with the homies and hoochies is just a fiction. No one really lives that way, nor for long anyway. Those who try end up some combination of incarcerated, shot or dead.
Hopefully President Obama’s story will establish a new role model for young black men … you can shoot hoops with the brothers, and enjoy the good things in life, as I’m sure he does, but you need to take care of business. Which means not only getting an education, but using it … to earn an income, build a family and a community, and maybe even to lead a nation.
I was at the inauguration. It was wonderful, and truly moving and inspiring experience. He won’t solve all problems, but he will have a slow, steady influence that will accumulate as the years go on, even after his Presidency. It won’t be fast, but the effect will be real. It already is.
What is the Obama Challenge—The First Ten Days
It has been 10 days since President Obama has took the oath of office at his inauguration in Washington D.C. And he has hit the ground running by creating legislation for an $800 billion stimulus package in the house and senate. He has signed an executive to close Guantanamo Bay within a year. He also ordered the closings of secret CIA “ghost prisons” and the cessation of advanced interrogation techniques. He has also reversed a policy that restricted federal aid to be delivered to organizations that promote or provide abortions overseas.
President Obama has allowed states like California to decide their own emissions and fuel efficiency standards. The President also gave his first television interview as president with Dubai-based al-Aribiya. He has also approved equal-pay legislation–“Ledbetter’s Law.” It was the first bill he signed into law. In addition, President Obama created a middle class working families task force to be headed by Vice President Joe Biden. And he also signed a series of pro-union executive orders. President Obama is keeping his word.
Whew! This to me is the real Obama challenge; if each of us can work as hard and change the world around us as Obama has done in his first ten days, then what our people will realize the dreams our ancestors fought so hard for and could not see. The ultimate world I want to see is where the first black president is no big deal. Then I will know that white supremacy and empire are dead. The Obama challenge as I see it is to say that the world I dreamed about is within our grasp.
The world is what we would have it be, if we are smart and strong enough to take it. Like on the chessboard, good things happen to the player who works harder. I see the Obama challenge as a commitment to struggle. I will answer his call to arms! Will you?
Peter Roberts, Harlem NYC
It will be interesting to see how long he lasts .The word asssasination looms .Obama, was codenamed “Renegade” by his Secret Service detail on the campaign trail.Obama is similar to Lincoln in his ambition to bring changes to the country and has frequently cited the slain president who led the abolitionism movement during his campaign.
President Obama mentioned Ghandi as a person whom he would like to meet , perhaps in his current form this may not be possible, however, it seems from a chessic perspective it is important to mention the game of the week provided here on the Chessdrum by Panchanathan as we seek “A new way forward” in chess, Mr. Panchanathan we thank you as descendants of Africa for one of the best games in history thus far , as “The Father of Ultramodern Strategy” i am truly humble by your brilliance. PEACE.
I think it is truly remarkable that at such a critical time our conscience would sink to an all time low! The words of President Obama ring with simple sound clarity but all of a sudden confusion is the order of the day! Perhaps the issue is much simpler and the truth will be told in the end! The sloan or motto that my business introduces is simple, work hard, play hard and ask the questions perhap the american conscience is beginning to answer some un asked questions?!
Very interesting thread on a chess site! I have plenty of friend in the USA and am an addict of US politics (though I live in Kenya) and most are of the opinion that the Nobel Prize committee was kind of crazy. It’s not Obama’s fault, hey if Nobel guys give you the prize what can you do?!
Back here in Kenya of course everyone is an Obama fan and are delighted. Kenyans consider him one of their own.
But to me it looks like Obama has an uphill task both in foreign affairs and domestic issues. Many people are begin to wonder whether he is just a talker who can’t deliver on any of his big promises. He may not win a second term at this rate. We pray Obama pull it all off, after all he has always come out the winner from an underdog position…maybe he will have the last word. But no, the Nobel prize was too soon.
If the noble prize committee wanted to be bold and daring as they have said, then perhaps they should have gone back on their policy of not awarding the prize posthumously and given it to the man who deserved it more than Obama, that is Michael Jackson. Michael’s music and death truly brought the whole world together on a scale even Obama cannot achieve, terrorists, peacemakers and chessplayers alike would have had MJ as a fan. MJ was a big philanthropist and he generously gave out his money for positive causes. Had the Nobel Committee given the prize to Michael most likely their would have been unanimous approval around the world.
Mr. Mehul one must agree that this Mj idea is quite interesting! Often times i find myself at a loss for words when attempting to discuss this high level of genius between such individuals as President Obama and MJ . It seems when we study MJ’s Music and his Message, his Lyrical Chants, one began to get the feeling that theses words has become a living “Transformative Figure” whom we refer to here in the U.S., as President Obama, After all what is MJ’s music really all about but Love, Peace and Harmony,seems MJ has been chanting up this man since he was five, so perhaps its time for the world to take a moment to listen. The Norwegians, I see yall not hardheaded, huh? Bless.