Let me start by applauding President-elect Barack Obama and the entire United States on the landslide electoral victory in the election. Obama won the election by over 200 electoral votes. Winning key states like Florida, Ohio and Iowa was momentous in his triumph. Obama also gained popular votes with minorities, women, first-time voters and almost every other demographic there is-excluding whites, men, and evangelical Christians.
I am so proud of the American people because we have finally reached a point in our history where we can see a black man be elected president of the United States of America. This is a huge statement to the entire world. This is a statement that rekindles the fire that fuels the expectations of neighboring countries and American citizens alike.
This is an impressive achievement for America but not the savior of African America. Many seem to assume that this election does a lot for the black community, but it means nothing at all if the black race doesn't change as a whole. Don't misinterpret these words, because with the majority of the media characterizing blacks as drug dealers, gangsters, rappers or athletes-in addition to much of this actually surrounding many black communities-it is so refreshing to see a black man holding the highest achievable office available in the U.S.A. He has become a role model for black children all over the world.
Being an admirer of black history and my entire race, I have so much admiration for Obama. It takes a strong man to stand up as the minority of a country with the desire to create change that will hopefully, and prayerfully, fix the perils and detriments of this nation.
We have had many times of turbulence, trials and tribulations that have faced the different races among this nation, but especially the black race. I think that the outcome of the election should bring out a sense of triumph to all American people. But there is no doubt that this election has been one to bring out the best and the worst in citizens all over the nation.
It is a shame that there are still so many ignorant people in the world. Even before President-elect Obama won the presidency there were spurts of hate spreading through the nation. Though most were unrelated acts, it is never okay to see hate refueling itself in America because this creates a divided nation. And as everyone knows, "United we stand, divided we fall." It is okay to have different views about topics, but it is not okay to put facial depictions of candidates on inanimate objects, or animals, and do things such as hang them from trees, stab them or shoot them to death.
Talk show hosts such as Rush Limbaugh, who claimed that Obama's winning of democratic party nominee was due to Affirmative Action, did not help either. He went on to say, "Nobody [in the democratic party] had the guts to say no to a black guy." Ignorance like this is what keeps the U.S. down and recreates the feelings of the oppressors versus the oppressed and racism. Especially when people like Limbaugh influence more than 21 million people per week.
D.L. Hughley said that this election shattered his views of what he thought this nation was. But it did not shatter my views of what I know this nation is, which is a nation that still has issue with race, and which will not succeed until hidden supremacy is exposed and removed. Things such as the research of the realities for, and outcomes of, children in public schools (especially minorities), city planning and the addition of equal history of other races into American history books must be adopted, along with other procedures and plans to aid in working toward a more unified nation.
I heard some people voice their anguish about the fact that some blacks voted for Obama because he is black. Let me put this scene into perspective for everyone and point out that some people voted for John McCain just because Barack Obama is black. I also want you to think about all the things that have been done to African-Americans throughout our country's history just because they were black. Americans were separated from families. Americans were property. Americans were hung. Americans were brutalized by police. Americans were burned to death. Americans were shot to death. Americans were test guinea pigs for Syphilis. Americans were not considered Americans.
All because they were black.
I am not saying that it is right to vote for someone because of such a superficial reason, but I am saying that one should look at the whole picture before making rash remarks. And right now the whole American picture is that my president is black, and so is yours.
Terrance Adams is a freshman journalism major.
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