Post Obama: A Reason For Hope Again

Photo Courtesy of Library of Congress 1/21/2009

A New Dawn Approaches:
Since the historic rise of President Barack H. Obama, African Americans have been mesmerized by the symbolism of the first Black President. Rightfully so, throughout American History, American society has denied African Americans basic rights and during various eras, actively impeded the Black community's ability to seek life, liberty, and their pursuit to happiness. Thus, the monumental occasion and symbolism of a Black President represents an ideal, even greater than the Mr. Barack Obama, himself. The event and feeling represents a changing of the guard, a dynamic shift in the socio-political and economic glass ceiling, Blacks in America have generally reserved for the likes of White Men and to a lesser extant, White Women. When that, glass ceiling, of an American, from a background other than White America, was shattered, a new paradigm for what Black Americans could esteem to and what it means to be African American was revised and formed. President Obama ran his campaigns on slogans like, "A Change You Can Believe In," "Yes, We Can," and "Forward." In the last days of his presidency, one could see the hopes and aspirations of African Americans returning to the old feelings of helplessness and injustice. Yet, what should be recognized and disclosed about the symbolism of the Black President and President Obama, is the fact that in the wider terms of contemporary history, Barack Obama is not the first, nor the only Black President to ever govern a modern nation.

The Many Before & After:
Since the 1960s, Black Presidents have come to power in many nations across the world, in Africa, the Caribbean, and South America. Post-WWII, there have been many Presidents, whose rise garnered the same symbolism and feeling of a shift in socio-political paradigms. Some as famous as the late South African President Nelson Mandela, some less known like today's Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, and others revered like the former Zairian (Now Democratic Republic of Congo) President Mobutu Sese Seko or the infamous Haille Selassie of Ethiopia, both President and Monarch of his country. Many historians remember the dynamic ascension to power of President Kwame Nkrumah, and the political ramifications and international controversy of his vision for African Unity or Pan-Africanism. Thus, the symbolism of the "Black President," has always been a geopolitical shift in socio-political thinking, with real economic reverberations often feared by the dominate powers of hegemony. The end of the presidency of Barack Obama, instead of representing a "return to US politics as usual," should inspire a historical cultural revelation for African Americans that the socio-political glass ceiling, was never a ceiling at all. It was imaginary, a sort of psychological limitation imposed by the Black American community on itself, and more or less, an artificial barrier, that could be overcome by a simple history lesson.

Self Imposed Limtation:
This psychological limitation imposed by African Americans on themselves, can be seen in many highly esteemed professions, and is often celebrated with the rise to power of contemporary African American leaders in their field. In America, Blacks truly note that there is a real struggle to overcome barriers to economic, academic, intellectual, and political success. While, this form of celebratory notoriety of "Black excellency," is well received and often well deserved, it simultaneously casts a shadow on the proper reception of Black Americans, and Black leaders, as a community and their historical contributions to society ancient, modern, and post modern.

A Reason to Hope:
Thus, as the end of term for the first Black US President, Barack Obama, draws to nostalgic close, let us have reason to hope again. The reason is, that Black Americans and Blacks worldwide, have already achieved, whatever it is, they esteem to be. Let the paradigm shift of the Black American community be a rejection of the self imposed limitations and a realization that "we," have come very far, (from smelting iron in the Sub-Sahara 5000 BCE, Ancient Empire, to the current modern/post modern Slave Trade), and that there is still much distance to go. A reason to hope cannot be trivialized, for in its essence is a reason to live. Live on Black Brothers and Sisters, live.

Written by Mr. Cowan F. Amaye-Obu, edited by Mr. Peter Commons for West Oakland Imports Publishers 2016.
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