Obama is Black, But Does He Represent Black America ?

Obama does have a very liberal voting record in Congress, but little to no support for programs that focus on African-Americans. People like Jesse Jackson have almost turned their backs on Obama because Jesse credits Obama's win not to America embracing a Black man, but for being comfortable with Obama because he speaks and acts like a White man. Unlike Jesse Jackson, Obama's career has been dedicated for himself and not fighting for African-American rights. Other recent contenders to lead African-American's out of the political wilderness, like Condoleeza Rice (an acquaintance of LNR's author) and Colin Powell failed, because of two reasons: first, neither were activists for American Blacks and second, the active Black political community viewed both of them as sell outs- taking jobs in Republican administrations as tokens-

It will be a big question to see how Obama, who has not been an activist for Black America, leads the entire nation, while fulfilling the hopes of many Black American's that their issues for once, would be on the front burner, and, at the level of the White House, in earnest.

There has also been a glaring lack of acknowledgement of the progressive stance of a majority of Whites in America who voted for Obama. White oppression of Blacks in American history, and today, is not the result of being "White" it's the result of being a majority. Majorities, in history, and today- around the world, oppress and dominate their minorities to varying degrees. It may be that the biggest contribution Obama may be able to make to this issue- is simply having won.