One Small Step for America, One Giant Leap for the Black America

Today is a new day. Today starts Barack Obama’s first day on the job as President of the United States. And just as the Presidents who have come before him, President Obama’s legacy is likely to be greatly defined by what he accomplishes in his first 100 days in the Oval Office. The populous as a whole will look to see if he keeps the promises he made during his campaign. However, I think I speak for a lot of black people when I say that his first 100 days will tell us a lot about the promises he didn’t verbalize during his Presidential campaign.

Throughout Obama’s candidacy and transition period, you probably heard a lot of people in the media talk about how Obama’s election was more than just about black people, how all Americans were taking something from his election as President, and how Obama would only speak to issues of the nation and not just the Blackonomy.

Well, that was nice and all, but let’s be real…

Barack Obama is this nation’s first black president, and black people (at least me anyway) would be outraged if he didn’t take some initiative to rectify the unfair treatment of blacks in this country. And in my opinion, he should make that initiative apparent in his first 100 days.

Now, before some of you get all wound up. I’m not talking about reparations or anything outrageous. I’m not asking Obama to go stand on his soapbox and cry about how black people have been unfairly treated for 400 years. That’s not his job. He’s the President of the United States, and in that position, his priorities are to look out for all Americans, not just black Americans. Leave it to other people to rant and rave over the conditions of black America. As for Obama though, his contributions to the black community don’t have to be as boisterous.

However, just because his contributions don’t have to be vociferous, does not mean that his contributions shouldn’t be influential. Seriously, if come the end of Obama’s time as President, Lyndon B. Johnson is still considered the President who had the most positive legislative effect on the lives of blacks in this country, then I would have to say that Obama’s presidency is a failure.

At least that’s my opinion.

So what should he do?

That isn’t really for me to say. Sure, I could suggest that he look into what ways we can enhance affirmative action, raise graduation rates, and get black families into homes of their own. But the truth is, there are a million different things Obama can do to improve upon the lives of blacks and help close the racial gap here in America. It’s just a matter of him deciding what he wants to do, and how deep into it he wants to go.

But he must do something. Because even if he raised incomes, increased jobs, fixed the economy and brought peace to the world, I don’t think I could come to appreciate any of it, if the first black President didn’t do something significant to help give all blacks the same opportunities he was afforded and assist in ridding of racial inequality in America. Because Barack knows better than anyone that not all blacks are born into a position where they can be as successful as he has become. Sure, anyone can go from rags to riches, but not everyone can. A story like Obama’s route to the Presidency is a one in a million chance, just like becoming an athlete, rapper, or actor—except it’s even harder.

Nevertheless, I expect Obama to make it more likely for blacks to become teachers, lawyers, doctors, and businesspersons. I expect Obama to help increase black enrollment in colleges. I expect Obama to help make it easier for blacks to buy homes. I expect Obama to help make this a country a place where a black baby born in Bedstuy has the same chance at life as a white baby born in Manhattan. Sure, he can’t do it all by himself, and he surely can’t do it in just 4 or even 8 years. However, he can help us get to that point. And whether or not he or you agree with me, racial equality in America will—to some extent—define Obama’s Presidency. I just hope Obama knows that, and I hope he address the issue in his first 100 days—just so I know that he and I (and you) are on the same page.

~ by Uzo Ometu on January 21, 2009.