Side Benefits of a Black President
Though race relations in the US have came light years since the middle of last century, a lingering tension remains. As a voting block, blacks have up until now been frustrated with a dearth of viable candidates on the national scene, and at least some whites are worried that if a black is elected president, they’ll seize the opportunity to “get back” at their historical oppressors.
Case in point, more than once I’ve been told, “If Obama wins, blacks will just take over.” While this worry may have some merit (if by “taking over” you just mean “there will be more blacks in positions of authority in Washington”), I perfer to focus on the benefits a black man or woman in the White House might bring. Atop that list: he or she would prove that Americans really do judge one another by the content of their character, which would inspire a generation of black youth absorbed in lust for violence, money and hoe’s.
Sure, Alan Keys, Colin Powell, Condaleeza Rice and a handful of others have made it far. But no black has been trusted with the highest office in the land. If one were to make it all the way, it could solidify the nation like nothing else—more than every Affirmative Action program combined.
Assuming he or she doesn’t usher in the next Great Depression, start WWIII or pull a Bill Clinton, otherwise hopeless black juveniles would finally feel like they mattered too. The schools can propagandize them with “equality” talk all they like, but anyone who’s actually living the experience knows better. Plus, just one good black president could change the minds of holdout biggots—”Hey, that colored president is doing a fine job afterall!”
Already, simply beating Hillary has done a world of good. It’s shown that at least the Democratic party is on board. And heck, in a CNN interview yesterday Spike Lee said that Obama’s success shows that race relations are far better today than just a few short decades ago. As much is obvious to most of us, but when Spike actually says something like that out loud, on national television, it’s hard evidence of landmark progress.
Of course, none of the above excuses Obama’s faults. His glaring lack of experience isn’t magically washed away in light of his potential to inspire a hopeless youth or harmonize race relations. This isn’t a stand-alone reason to prefer him over McCain. But it is something voters should take into account—a serious side benefit of a black president.
—Matt Deaton—
