Barack Obama Vs. Tavis Smiley, Maxine Waters, Bob Johnson, Charles Rangle, Magic Johnson etal: And the Winner is...

Barack Obama

VS.

Tavis Smiley , Maxine Waters, Bob Johnson, Charles Rangle, Magic Johnson etal

And the winner is…..

By Thomas Taylor

After a landmark racially charged primary election where literally every single delegate vote counted in determining its historic outcome; the Democrats have selected a Blackman as its party’s Presidential nominee. In doing so a number of key African American influencers and super delegates across the country; now find themselves on the wrong side of (Black) History.

The United States is poised to possibly elect its first African American President.

Barack Obama, the charismatic senator from Illinois , has captured the heart and imagination of our country as he inspires the nation toward real change. Still with such a narrow margin of victory eerily comparable to the number of Black super delegates who voted against him, it’s scary to think that this propitious moment in our community’s narrative was almost denied on the strength of these few change resistant African American elected officials and trusted media personalities and businessmen.

If there was ever a justification to Bet on Black , now is the time. Barack is arguably the best qualified candidate and represents the best platform for the majority of Americans. Finally we have a realistic luxury of “choice” and in an unprecedented show of unity, 90% of the Black community voraciously jumped at that choice and onto on the meteoric Barack Obama express wagon . Buoyed by the beliefs that our boy, will be given at least a fair chance of succeeding, we boldly acknowledge that “he’s Black and we’re proud.”

With this overwhelming majority of the community voting for change, the question begs to be asked “why our beloved Black electoral and prominent influence peddlers were so determined instead, to uphold the status quo? Did they choose to vote for political expediency and favor or was it simply that they voted out of habit? Maybe they voted for what they thought was legitimately the better candidate. But how much better and at what historical cost?

The ironic twist in this unique situation is that many of those who elected to side against this courageous sepia champion were themselves; stall worth warriors for the cause with enduring legacies steeped in civil rights activism and radical advocacy. They are members of The Congressional Black Caucus, Black Mayors, Legislators along with New York ’s newly appointed Black Governor (himself a historical first). Some, like Representative John Lewis of Georgia , eventually saw the light and switched his support to Senator Obama. Others, possibly guided by some noble moral code, chose instead to go down with the ship in a last act of loyalty to an old friend and her husband.

Presumptive first Lady (my call) Michelle Obama, described this phenomena of reluctance as “a fear of possibility ” from a people accustomed to being oppressed and harboring the long held erroneous assumption that “we’re not ready and that someone else is usually better prepared. She allowed that this is not a mean spirited sentiment voiced by people who genuinely do love us but a result of being traumatized by the strain of their oppression coupled with a possible latent plantation mentality.

Before his decisive victory in predominantly White Iowa, Senator Obama had what many in the African American community perceived as “a snowball’s chance in hell” of winning. Faced with the choice of lesser evils in Clinton, Edwards and others who have a less significant interest in our well being; many of us rationalized that it would be imprudent to “waste our vote” in symbolic support for a well educated, qualified and conscious Black Man fresh off the mean streets of Chicago; where he championed community concerns and interests. Then came Utah and Wyoming where one senator quipped; that on any give day; Obama while campaigning there, was likely to have been the only Black person in the entire state. Still he carried those states by impressive margins; ultimately forcing out all but one of the so called “better qualified” White candidates on the slate.

And now, Presidential Contender Barack Obama stands victorious and alone atop of the Democratic ticket. Indeed the evolution of the African American male image has come into clearer focus. Finally a beacon icon for the world to see that’s neither athlete nor entertainer; “wanted” but not criminal. The fragile line of hope once drawn in the shifting sands of our past is now forever etched in a stone ballot box marked “Yes We Can,” and mounted on the audacity of hope platform.

We all had our chance to influence this election’s outcome. We had a once in a lifetime chance to determine “What history we would make and how each us in this generation of Negro decedents, chose to be remembered?

One can only wonder if the aforementioned venerable champions of the people suffer silently in their moments of solitude, wishing that they had been more courageous and forward thinking; lamenting their now tainted legacies.

Stony the road we trod, bitter the chastening rod, Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;

“… Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won .”

It’s time now to move on and time to heal. There’s work yet to be done.

How about a family reunion? (Psst! Let’s not mention this to BJ, cousin Bob, though).