My good friend asked me moments after President Barack Obama was officially sworn in, "Anthony, now that its official, what does it mean to have Barack Obama as President." After shhhh'ing him so I could listen to President Obama's address, I told him, "It means there is a chance."
From the moment President Obama announced his candidacy for President, the world changed. People began to choose sides, and ask themselves very hard questions.
- Do I support Barack Obama because he could be the future?
- Do I support Hillary Clinton because there is no way America is going to elect a Black man as president so I might as well not even get my hopes up?
- Do I support John McCain because those damn Republicans will steal the election again?
Now I know the above questions don't represent everybody's thoughts. I can hear some of my very dear friends saying right now, "Anthony, I supported Hillary because she was the most qualified." And I say to them, "Okay."
I believe America is poised once again to be the leaders of the free world. Leadership has nothing to do with title, and very little to do with position, but everything to do with example. I believe by the sheer fact that everyone in this country has been renewed with a sense of "I can do anything," that we will begin to live out our hopes. Moreover, I believe when we start to moving forward, the rest of the world will follow, not because they feel obligated to, but because they will know we are not charting a course for doom and destruction, but progress and restoration.
President Obama is the actualization of new leadership in this country. Leaders who would be agree that they are more than African American leaders, but Leaders who are African American. I think its important to make this clear because we are a new generation of leadership, political and others. African Americans are no longer limited to becoming teachers, preachers, machinists. sanitation workers, and so on. African Americans are doctors, lawyers, principles and school superintendants, pilots, board chairmen and chairwomen, and even a President. I stress this because the fight is not the same, and because of this, the game rules of engagement are different.
I said to my friend President Obama's position means to me that we have a chance. Now, we have a chance to prove ourselves with a different set of qualifiers. The chance now comes with the validation that if African Americans are given an opportunity we can make the most of it. I understand the chance may not be a fair chance, but that day will soon come as well. I am excited that my children and grandchildren will have chances in life that I didn't have (if we don't mess it up), just as I had more chances than my parents.
I am hopeful, gracious, and excited about this President, this country, and the world. I know Barack won't solve all problems all over the world, and its unrealistic to expect him to do so. I just know my children will know with the right foundation, a lot of prayer, good decisions, a sense of community, urgency, and integrity (among many other things) they too can change the world. And they'll do it, and be recognized, not because they are African American but because they deserve it.
