Barack Obama

It’s funny to read headlines and commentaries about Barack Obama creating history. He did create history by beating formidable Hillary Clinton but most of the Pundits ain’t talking about this part. They are praising him for being first black candidate to win nomination for Presidential race. It’s true to certain extent but to anoint him as symbol of black liberation is all most as non-sense as saying Georgi boy is savior of freedom. One, Barack Obama is only 50% black. His father was black and mother was white. Second, this Harvard educated person has very few things common with the real black population of this country. Having said this, I am not questioning his capabilities. He is a hard-working, ambitious and intelligent person but let’s credit him for his abilities rather than crowning him for his skin color. Because, this country still has to cross some distance before electing a truly black person as President of United States.

Let’s talk about what I mean by ‘truly’ black president. When I say black American I am talking about the people of African heritage who suffered untold misery for last two hundred years in this land. First, as slaves and then as segregated citizens with no legal or human rights. The scars of the past are still evident in the present.

Barack Obama was born to well-to-do, highly educated black immigrant from Kenya and free-minded white woman from Kansas. Barack Obama Sr. was a brilliant student in his native country and was sent by Government of Kenya to US for higher educated. He returned to Kenya after finishing degree from Harvard. Our Presidential candidates’ mother was also highly education and after divorcing Barack Obama Sr. (she was one of his many marriages) she stayed back in US and raised her kid. Such a well-to-do and highly educated parental heritage of Barack Obama stands stark in contrast with most of the black population of United States. All though, free of slavery and official racial discrimination, the black community of United States is yet to find the firm footing in the modern world. Languished in poverty and lagging in every possible progress indicator the community is struggling to find identity, get in terms with the history and figure out where the community stands in terms of future. We have quite of few individuals who broke the glass ceiling and shone bright but for whole community to accept their past and build future will take some more generations.

Barack Obama is right when he says that he understands the pain of black community but he can never identify himself with the pain. He never suffered the crises that most of black kids go through. The gangs, the drugs, police harassments, very high High-School drop out rate and lack of role models. And yes, he can work for them. Yes, he can work with them. Yes, he can be a role model. But he can’t be one of them. In this regards, he stands on the same platform as Hillary Clinton.

I like Barack Obama. He at least sounds genuine and honest. His political life is too young to be blemished. He got no baggage to carry, except that of huge expectations. And his gaffes can be forgiven for his lack of experience. I hope he wins the election.

But it’s all most impossible to answer the question whether America is ready for a black president. They are yet to face that situation. Barack Obama is not black. He is dark skinned but let’s celebrate his achievements and his audacity to run against Clintons and let’s hope patiently that in few more years or perhaps, few more generations before we will have a genuine black guy running for American presidency.