Tomorrow January 20th, 2009 will go down in history as one of the most significant moments in the storied history of our country.It marks a moment in time, when the issue that has single-handily divided our nation, will be put aside.A day that many who lived before us could have never dreamed would ever come.The nation will swear in its’ first Black President to lead us for at least the next four years.
Now even the many that did not vote for Barack Obama, have to be in awe of the moment in which we are experiencing.This moment represents a move of our nation in the direction that brings hope for its’ future.Not just because of the election of Barack Obama, but becauseit means that enough people in our country put aside the difference of race and culture, to elect the man they felt best qualified to lead us in these most critical of times.I say this based on the numbers from the voting polls.Though the number of Black Americans that voted in this election, dwarfs the number of past elections by a laughable number, and the number of first-time voters was more than any other election in history.The Black and Hispanic vote still only made up 52% of Barack Obama’s total votes.This means the other 48% came from White Americans who saw enough in Barack Obama to look past the color of his skin and choose him as the best candidate for the highest ranking position in this nation.The position to represent our nation to the world!To me, a Black American male, this speaks volumes about the direction our country chose to move in.It said to me that America is willing to look at us differently, when we represent ourselves the right way.But representing ourselves the right way is the key!We have to demand respect by first respecting ourselves.If that means speaking in a way that everyone else understands, and dressing the way that commands respect in the corporate world, and guarding our name and character with integrity.By doing those things does not mean you are compromising our heritage, or turning your back on your culture.What it means is that you are putting yourself in a position where others want to respect you.Where America can look past your skin color and consider you on an equal level.This also goes a long way with the younger generation in our country.They no longer have to look at the influences of Jay-Z and 50 Cent, and have them as their only role models.They dream about living their lives because of the money and fame that they have.Not realizing that their fame and money represent a small percentage of those that have entered into the music industry.Our children don’t have to be drawn to and in many cases, the compromise of moral values that the music industry requires.Now I am not knocking Jay-Z, 50 Cent, or the music industry one bit.But I am proud that our children have a chance to take on a role model that shows what doing it a different way can accomplish.What not conforming to the cultural pressures, and the need to fit in, can accomplish.I am proud that our children have a representative in the highest ranking office in our nation, to choose as a goal for themselves.They now can say without any fear of sounding ridiculous, “I want to grow up to be President of the United States of America”
What a great moment in the history of our nation!
Carroll's Blog 
I like how people assume that if you did not vote for him you were not able to look past the color of his skin. Perhaps they were the people that really just saw a man, and didn’t like him for his politics, lack of decent solutions to the current problems, or lack of experience.
There are many many many people who voted FOR him, quite literally because they couldn’t see past the color of his skin. In fact, the people you mention having now having a decent role model have that because of the color of his skin (according to what you wrote).
David,
I think that you were again so eager to be defensive, that you totally missed the point that was being made. Never once did I imply that if a person did not vote for Barack, it was because the could not get pass the color of his skin. I am not really sure how you got that out of what I stated, but you did!! But are you really that niave to believe that some people did not vote for him because he is Black? Or that a lot of Black people only voted for him because he is Black? It really disappoints me that you did not see the real intent of this blog post. To show the true example of change this country has made!
Oh, and considering there is 1 president every 4 years and 300 million people in this country, most children sound ridiculous when they say they want to be president.
David,
I am having trouble really believing you could take what I said completly out of context the way you did. I was simply stating that this helps children to see how obtainable their goals really are. I was not trying to literally break down the numbers as you call yourself doing. Maybe you don’t understand how a Black child was looked upon, when saying that they wanted to be President. That is the whole point that you missed!! Pretty amazing that you were able to miss that, but you did.
It seems as if David is having a difficult time accepting that his candidate lost the presidential race. He just needs to get over it. His rant accusing you of saying that people who didn’t vote for Obama couldn’t get past his skin color sounds like someone who “couldn’t get past Obama”s skin color”. His comment about it being ridiculous for children to dream of becoming president is foolish. Every child can dream. Only so many people go to college every year, become teachers and doctors. Does that mean that a child shouldn’t dream?
David just seems like an angry person who can’t stand that times are changing. Well David, as of Tuesday, Jan. 20 at noon, you will have a new president, who happens to be the first African American president. Deal!!!
Actually, he is half black and almost not even born American. I honestly dont care that he is going to be president, his ideas are not very different from McCains or anyone elses at the moment, so the difference is negligible.
My point is that if we as a country are really past race, why are people making a big deal that he is “African-American”? Shouldnt he just be American?
If we ever have an Asian-American president is that going to be as big a deal? Probably not.
Furthermore, I had no candidate in this race Patricia, so I did not lose. I think since FDR our country has been losing. Seems to me some people need to read the Constitution and remember exactly what it says. There are no patriots left. And as far as change, i read a great deal about all the candidates, and is far as i can tell, he never actually indicated what the actual “change” would be. If it is just “different than what we already have”, well, i am pretty sure any candidate would have attempted that.
I am glad that you think we are so enlightened now and everything is going to be just fine.
I truly hope it is. I really, really do.
David,
It’s really sad that you can’t see the significance of the day. Maybe one day you will. And by the way, if Barack Obama was a young man coming to your house to take your daughter out on a date, would he be half black or just black???
He would just be a young man, Carroll. Would he be referred to as the first black man to date my daughter? That is my point. This should be as significant as any other president, but everyone keeps making this a race issue. America cannot be color blind if they keep referring to him as the first BLACK president can they?
We are all supposed to just be Americans, not Something-Americans.
Maybe some day you will see how the people screaming for equality are the very ones separating themselves in name and culture. We learned as children that America is a melting pot. Stop making it a 7 layer bean dip instead.
P.S. There have been several presidents that have had black ancestors, this one just appears to be more African than the others. So, I guess it really just does come down to skin color for you guys, doesnt it?
http://www.diversityinc.com/public/1461.cfm
Gee, I would really like to know who “you guys” is referring to? You really showed your true feelings and beliefs with that one!!
The bottom line is that all races of people have been view on different levels through out history. It was not long ago that a Black Man was viewed as 1\5 of a man. That is documented fact, acknowledged by the history that you may not have been taught in school. That in itself is what makes this a great moment in history. It is easy for you to say that President Obama should not be single out as being the first Black president of this country, because you did not want him there anyway!! You unknowingly I’m sure, brought up the whole point of my blog in the first place, when you mentioned this country being color-blind and electing the president. That was the reason I wrote this blog, to recognize that America was moving in that direction by electing a Black Man to be president. Something many that suffered through the terrible times of legalized racism never thought could ever happen.
You opened up this dialogue by being so defensive, that you can’t even recognize that you just stated the same thing that I was blogging about. America being color blind enough to recognize President Obama for being the best candidate for the job!!
P.S…The feeling that some people have about this moment in time, you may never be able to relate to. That is the joy that America is changing for the better of our future.
One more thing David,
Do you realize that it is still voted on it Congress every 7 years to continue to allow Black people the right to vote?? You tell me if there is an issue of race that needs to be changed. Its easy to say you do see it, or its not there, if you are not the one that has to suffer through it…
you guys is people that voted for Obama
i actually changed it because i originally had written you people and thought you guys would be more appropriate.
not a race thing, as 50+% voted for him, sorry if it sounded that way. I just meant Obama constituents. I thought the preceding paragraphs showed my true non-racism as i think it is racist to point out he is black.
And yes, you did start you entry as color blind, but that quickly went sour when you began to mention a black roll model, “your children”, etc.
I am defensive because of the constant media coverage, blogging, etc. because this is monumental that he is a black man. I am trying to point out that by everyone making the difference obvious all the time you are taking away his actually earning the seat. This is special because he is black. It should be special because he is a president. Who cares if he is black.
Stop trying to take phrases i type like “you guys” to make me sound racist. Seems to me i am one of the few who isnt. He is not a black man, he is a man.
I will leave you with this:
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character”
– MLK
Let the man be a distinguished president of the United States because of what he does, not because he was the first one with dark skin.
Also calling your entry “America’s Most Significant Moment in History” is actually extremely offensive.
There are thousands of people who have died to start this country, but this is the most significant moment?
Maybe we should change July 4th from Independence Day to Obama Day, since it is the most significant.
You amaze me with your justification of this moment in history. I really think you just have a problem with it, that is why you try so hard to down play it. I guarantee you if it was the other way around, you would not have a problem with it being blasted through the media the way it is now. So I guess it was not big deal for Jackie Robinson to be the first Black to play in the Major Leagues? It was not big deal for the students being admitted to Little Rock Central High School? It was not big deal for James Meredeth to become the first Black student at the University of Mississippi? No big deal should have been made of Reuben Anderson to become the first Black student to graduate from that same university?
What you fail to realize is that when you have always had certain things, it is not a big deal to you, when someone else gets the same thing. That is the part that you are not able to relate to. Just deal with the fact that you dont understand the significance of the moment, instead of finding excuses why everyone else should just pretend it didn’t happen!!
Because this is a day that is and always will be American History.
Um, you said “America’s Most Significant Moment in History” not just American History.
Since i dont care what race he is, i will just wait to applaud him until he actually does something.
I am downplaying his race, not because i dont like it, but because i am not a racist. What you are doing is racist. You are separating him because of his race; that is racist.
I didnt say not to pretend anything didnt happen, what i am saying is that to a true color blind person, him being African-American is of no significance. Is he a president or is he a black president?
I notice you didnt address the congressional vote, or what MLK said. That is fine Carroll, you make a good racist point. Keep making his skin color a big deal.
Also, you dont know what I have had to deal with, just like i dont know what you have had to deal with. Once again, racist, you are assuming I have been handed things because of my race, or not suffered because of my race. You dont actually know what race I am. Just because my skin is fairly white doesnt mean I am of European descent, so be careful and stop assuming.
David,
You know, I think it is time to end this discussion with you now that you are calling me a racist. And you have shown you dont know what the word even means! A racist is a person that hates another race or group of people because of there decent. I have never once called you a racist and and I dont appreciate you calling me one. You have really shown your lack of intellegence in your last comments. This entire dialogue with you has been about race because that is what you made it. You say that you dont care that President Obama is Black, but all of you comment show otherwise. I have not deleted or blocked any comments that you have posted on “My” blog, because I wanted to give you the freedom to express your feelings about the subjects that I blog on. I think that you are now taking things too far by calling me racist. I think you have some real issues that you need to address within youself, and I pray that one day you do.
first definition:
racism – a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
that is what you are doing.
We could all get into a westling match on this issue, but the truth of the matter is, the Best Man for the job was elected to the office if Commander and Chief of these United States. We can go back and forth, as you both have, forever. The fact is,rather we agree with it or not, no matter how “over hyped” it was, it is now apart of American History!!! That’s what I am most PROUD of. Contrary to popular belief, I’m sure that the Obamas would have rather it have been a more subdued event as the other inaugural events have been, but for the sake of the People of our country to whom it was Most Important, they decided to carry on with all of that pomp and circumstance. The significance to me is NOW ALL Americans can be what ever they desire to be, where ALL people can be accepted by their merits. I am proud to be an AMERICAN…….period!!!!!
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