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Debra J. Dickerson
Mother Jones
The Onion summed it up best: "Black Man Given Nation's Worst Job." So many daunting challenges face President Obama that it's hard to know on which to offer him my unsolicited advice first. It's a crapshoot as to whether any president could heal our bedridden economy, guide us out of Iraq, end our petro dependence, save the environment, and convince the world that the last eight years were an aberration of which we are ashamed. Only Obama, however, gives us any reason to hope that we can begin to bridge the divide between the races, so I'll leave those other issues to, well, other journalists.
America's election of its first black president has to be followed by a demonstrated and pragmatic drive to improve race relations, or we'll have fallen prey to the biggest delusion in world history. For all the racial ugliness this campaign has exposed, though, and for all that will no doubt follow, it's not only whites who will imperil this process. Obama will have to lead both races in redefining blacks in the American mindset. Unless I'm much mistaken, blacks will face the greater crisis of imagination.
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Filed under: President Barack Obama • Race Gender & Politics • Race in America |
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I felt all of this jibber jabber was irrelevant to me being a black woman. Because you are exactly right young white america has grown up and realized the prejudice is stupid and I notice that the supposingly uppity white wrinkley women or old women has the most issues with race but I don't have to speak to anyone or anything that makes me feel like I should slap them for Aunt Bessie or Uncle PJ. One thing you white folk need to know is that cornbread that was put on her table doing thanksgiving nourished her body so she could allow your Uncle Albert or Aunt Elizabeth eat because your mother didn't care if he or she ate or not. So you, you who wrote this need to be awful careful. Because you never know whose head is going to be attached to the ass you might have to or your grandchildren may have to kiss tomorrow.
And this is why Jeremiah Wright said DAMN AMERICA! We didn't have a choice to be here my ancestors were drugged and kidnapped so once you give us our acres and mule (give me the cash value) we can sit up high like some of yall try.
Yes, how refreshing..... CLASS! How about fairness? And TRUTH?
I loved President Obama's inaugural speech, it inspires a Nation.
Lately the CNN blogs have been full of the nay-sayers (to put it nicely) and the vile comments from the far-right critics.
One thing is sure the vast majority of America, sent a message on election day to the hate-mongers: WE REJECT THE VILE POLITICS, AND EMBRACE ....... HOPE & UNITY!