First Black? So what?

Green Lantern · #1 11-05-2008, 08:47 AM

Obama was voted as President of the United States and every news channel, news paper, news website all have the same headline - History!

History was made because he is the first black president. Technically, he is half black. But regardless, I don't see it as the big deal as everyone is making it out to be.

Why is that?

Is it because I am bitter that my guy lost the election? No. I don't think that is it.

Is it because I stayed up late into the night watching all the election night coverage? No.

Is it because I don't see him as a black man? Maybe. I mean I know he is black. I can see that he doesn't look like me but I still see him as a man.

Maybe I see him as a man because he comes off as being more white than most blacks. He doesn't come off as all P Diddish or T.O.ish.

For me Barack Obama is just a guy. He is not black to me. He is just the next guy to lead our country.

Was history made because he's a black man? Maybe, but I just don't see it.

Robert Foraker · #2 11-05-2008, 08:55 AM

Was history made because he's a black man? Maybe, but I just don't see it. You may not see it but to the black race this is historic in the advancement of a culture...

M.Opaliski · #3 11-05-2008, 08:57 AM

GL I'm sort of on board with your line of thought about not seeing him as just a Black guy, and probably many could agree but, we're of a different generation than those who knew what the 'civil rights' era was like. To many older folks, on both sides of the issue this is a big deal, and in a lot of cases those folks are calling the shots in the editorial rooms across the Country.

Whether he's half this or half that, he's 'billed' as Black, African American if you're into hyphenated labels which I'm not but, still it remains that many see it as such. Being someone that has no real recollection of what that era was like, just having what I've read and heard, like many, and obviously like you I just see him as my President ...

Kid Lester · #4 11-05-2008, 09:10 AM

It doesn't seem like such a big deal to me because I've had 22 months of perspective from watching this campaign. It just seems like the culmination of a long, arduous process.

But if I had fallen into a coma 2 years ago, and woke up this morning, and somebody told me that a black man named Barack Obama just got elected President of the United States, I'd have a hard time believing it. No doubt.

ETA: Yes, I would've known who he was. But I'd have 100 questions about how in the hell he successfully navigated the mine field that is race relations in this country. It's substantive.

Zeke · #5 11-05-2008, 09:14 AM

I agree.. I dont see the huge deal about him being black/half black...

I see a man.. hopefully, a man of his word.. and not jsut the yakity-yak that every
politician does so well..

I mean.. if I go and spend a solid 48 hours in the blazing sun and get burnt to a crisp..
im still the same person, just a different color..

so the fact that hes black means little to me.. whjat I care about is..
WTF are you going to do to fix this cesspool that has become our government...

__________________

Bada Bing · #6 11-05-2008, 09:39 AM

I'm not trying to be inflammatory, but seeing as how there was a time
in this country when black people were threatened (maybe even
killed) for trying to exercise their right to vote, then yeah, I can see
how this is a big deal.

I view him as just another guy. But I'm white. Maybe to an older black
person who actually had to live through overt racism, this election is seen,
at least symbolically, as "progress" away from a racist mindset.

Which is just pure speculation on my part.

Bad analogy maybe, but they made a big deal out of the first black
football head coach. Now, no one even mentions it. You just have
to get by the "first".

mastiffmom · #7 11-05-2008, 09:47 AM

I work with a large number of African American co-workers. They were all up last night watching returns and when the day shift arrived they were so excited. I heard one older woman saying to a younger co-worker "I sat up all night and cried". The pride was palpable and, although he was not my candidate, I was happy for them.
I am sure I might feel the same sense of pride if a woman was elected President. When you think of what has been accomplished in the past 50 years, it really is incredible.

I dont' see him as a black man but I think we are a different generation and that's a good thing.

Roogle · #8 11-05-2008, 11:27 AM

I don't know how i should feel. People were celebrating until 2am. Honking horns. People shouting. It got annoying fast.

I'm pretty cynical after the election. So i'm a bit of a grump.

Congrats to Obama for his win. But it's not like he became POTUS during the civil rights era. It's not he was born into poverty and rose his way into the president seat. So does being black make him special? Not really.

He has a hell of a lot to get done. So god speed with him. He's gonna need it.

__________________
A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine. - Thomas Jefferson

Bada Bing · #9 11-05-2008, 11:44 AM

The only thing I would say Roog.... I do think it's a little special that
he has become President after coming up from modest means. To me
that is way more impressive then being born into money or born into
a family with a household name. I can think of three politicians off the
top of my head who basically got a "head start" in life (at least as far
as money and a good education will get you).

But I see what you're saying. The real issue is, the people are only
expecting results at this point. No matter what the person's background.