Now that Obama is president...

Dear Community,

Okay, Barack Obama is now the 44th President of the United States of America and the first African American president in this nation’s history.

Now what?

You’re probably saying to yourself: “What do you mean ‘Now what, Mr. Venting?’ You haven’t sneaked back to the conservative ‘Dark Side’ again have you? What do you think it means? We’ve attained the dream, reached the mountain top. Our children can actually become president of the United States; it’s no longer an empty promise or nebulous guarantee. We now have evidence it can be done and that evidence is Barack.”

Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t feeling pessimistic about my vote carrying any significance (nor am I going back to the hard right dark side—I ain’t crazy!). I was cautiously optimistic in my attitude as to Obama’s chances.

I didn’t want to get so high on the possibility of history being made that if it didn’t happen (and thank God it did), I wouldn’t feel let down and depressed or worse angry that my country and the handlers of the electoral process “played us.” I maintained my cool and did my duty as an American citizen.

Yes, Barack Obama has fulfilled the dream…to an extent. But just because he will be president come January 2009, doesn’t mean our problems as a people have disappeared.

I’m quite sure the majority of African Americans are aware of this as much as I am. Those two Nazi clowns who are in custody for plotting to kill Black people and possibly Obama did not fall to their knees in their jail cells after Obama won and yell, “I have seen the light! I have seen the light!”

Not hardly.

When I went to the polls on Tuesday, Election Day (and YES, I voted for Obama!) I didn’t feel the aura of history descend on me.

Yes, I recognized the weight of the historic moment and what it would mean to America and the world. But I also know—as do many, many Black Americans—that Obama sitting in the White House steering the course of this nation won’t change the conditions of Black people alone.

I agree with Rev. Al Sharpton (believe it or not) when he says WE…BLACK PEOPLE must use the historic event of Nov. 4 as the impetus to effect real change—economic, political, cultural, educational and spiritual—OURSELVES!!!!

I believe Obama’s presidency will give Black America some access to institutions and initiatives that have been—if not denied us—at least blocked in subtle ways that only we can and have seen.

But it will be up to us to make the change. It will have to be done from the bottom up. I’m not saying anything new. Obama has said the same thing—just not so directly—in a number of campaign speeches.

Even during his address at the recent NAACP national convention, Obama called on Black America to take more “personal responsibility” for their lives and futures—theirs and their children.

Celebrate this historic occasion, but also be mindful that Obama is not Moses. Instead of waiting for him to part the Red Sea we, as a people, should get busy building our own boats and oars and start rowing!

Sincerely,
A brotha who urges everyone to pray for the new president, his wife, their children and those who will be in his administration—and Congress. May this new journey they and our nation will soon embark on be blessed!