Bahama Mama, Oops! Obama Mama

News & SocietyPolitics

  • Author Edrys Erisnor
  • Published February 29, 2008
  • Word count 682

Handsome, young, smart and full of charisma, Obama Mama! Barack Obama is history in the making, so believes everyone. To his credit, Senator Obama has thus far defied the impossible and continues to do so. He is so successful on the campaign trail that I started to question the reality behind his success. The mere idea of White Southerners cheering for an African American candidate to the presidency troubles me and I’m beginning to wonder and question the sincerity of his followers, especially the so-called White independents and Republican voters who support him in the primaries. Granted, this is year 2008 not 1908, but are we to believe that white America is ready for such a bold and challenging change?

This does not smell good at all based on the experience of my community in terms of race relations in America. Looking at the rate of race relations in America, I would be very cautious to claim that America is ready for an African American president; such is the belief in my community. I would rather argue that it is a set up; one that would pain America for decades to come. It is kind of giving Obama the benefit of the doubt, but at the end of the day, America would go back to its ordinary way of doing business.

On the contrary, could it also be argued that the overwhelming support of Obama over Clinton by African Americans is in itself another form of racism? I believe that the answer is open for debate, however, I do believe that African Americans do choose race over issues in these primaries. The thinking in the African American community is that the Clintons would understand since Obama is the very first African American, whom they have led to believe, with a good chance of becoming the first African American president; after all, Bill Clinton was dubbed the first Black president. But I see it as a rhetorical mistake on the part of African American. Like we say back home in Haiti, "pa j’anm jeté kiyè izé pou kiyè nèf", don’t ever throw out your old spoons for new ones.

I predict a wave of political revolts should it be proven that Obama was racially set up to facilitate a Republican win in November. Nobody has truly explained the machine behind Obama’s winning spree except to say that he is eloquent, speaks well and that he is bringing change to America, whatever this notion of change means. We have yet to see any real substance that would back up his winning spree and yet he is winning over the most powerful woman in America. Isn’t it too good to be true? How long ago was the so-called Jena 6? Who are we kidding here? Has America really changed to the point of electing an African American to the Presidency? Or are we witnessing history unfolding before our eyes?

Could it be that Dr. King’s dream has finally materialized? To anyone who thinks that this country has reached the point of "one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal", I would kindly ask you to put down the Bahama Mama. This is not the case. Perhaps it could be that Senator Obama is being used to make a statement; a statement that would imply that America is ready to move forward in light of its miserable race relations and let bygone be bygone.

Remember, race relations is an ongoing and scary issue here in America. Nobody wants to address the issue of race for fear of being labeled racist and so everyone addresses the issue with a smile, e.g. brush it off quickly. Why should I believe that America is ready for Obama when nooses are being hung in High Schools, Universities and behind pick up trucks as late as last year all across the nation? I am a Black man, not to be confused with a Blind man.

Haitianite.com Magazine – Working Together To Uplift A Nation. For other articles related to History and Politics, please visit Haitianite.com

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