LOOKING BACK to GO FORWARD

I could write this narrative from the standpoint of how Africans in America have achieved the almost unthinkable, become President of the United States of America. And actually the leader of the most free country in the world, Barack Hussein Obama really has present day roots in Africa. Legally he is an American citizen unlike for example California's Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger who could not run for President even if it were possible because of the legality from his birth and his roots. This is not a knock on him as a member of the Republican Party and a major supporter of the Republican's contenders for President, decorated Navy war hero, John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska. I state this because even now that our 44th President is almost in office. Others still question is President elect Barack Obama really a true American citizen if he has present day tribal roots in Africa and living relatives there? They question whether he is really a Christian or is he a Muslim? They still label him a socialist. But I can argue that South Africa's first black African President, Xhosa Chief Nelson Mandela was also put through the wringer on how he would govern as then President of South Africa. Many stated that he associated with communists with a big C. And that he would throw the country into turmoil and turn South Africa into a Communist & Marxist nation. You know what happened? Nothing. And so it will be with the administration of Barack Obama. Even with a name like Hussein which is a common name I surmise in the middle east. People have and will find fault with our soon to be Commander and Chief. It's par for the course. That the person that ALL OF AMERICA elected to be our 44th President from our 1st President General George Washington to our soon to be President Senator Barack try as he may will not be able to please all of America which encompasses more variables then I have room to name such as the Republican Party, The NRA, conservative talk radio and television, critics in other countries, countries still hostile to the United States all of these and more will be the obstacles and issues that President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will have to navigate. Which will even make the President's job even tougher. Even now he is not content to wait till he is officially sworn into office to start working on issues of a still failing US and world economy and on issues of American troops still fighting and our conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan not mention Korea,Bosnia and Croatia and other places. Plus inheriting the problems of of current President George Bush Jr. and his failed policies including a peeve of mine that saw a popular and astute businessman and journalist get into hot water. I am speaking of "No Child Left Behind" and the secret money that conservative Republican talk show personality, Armstrong Williams took to support George Bush Jr's. stance on it.

I could write this narrative from the standpoint of a 107 year old African-American woman who I saw on television who couldn't believe the day would ever come when the United States of America would have a Negro President. Now she has lived to see that reality. Knowing that in 1901 this would have never been imaginable. This brave woman is what embodies my subtitle:How far we former slaves have come. And me personally, I have roots going back to some of the original people indigenous people of North America, the Cherokee Nation. On both my mother and father's side. And I can and am proud of both. Now that Senator Barack Obama has knocked down the barrier for Africans ascending to the highest office in America perhaps one day a Cherokee or another North American Native will sit in the seat of power. Perhaps a woman will sit in the seat of power. Or perhaps a US citizen,woman or man that is even younger than President Elect Obama will occupy our whitehouse only the future God willing and keeping our nation will tell.

I could write this narrative from the standpoint of a editorial that Andy Rooney wrote which and I'll paraphrase, it was titled "Black America needs more leaders and not militant failures" like Huey Newton. I took issue with Mr. Rooney's editorial. I even sent a rebuttal to him. I never got an answer from him. But I think I got poetic justice. Further along in his editorial he stated that he wished that one day a white person could vote for a black person and a black person could vote for a white person without fear of repraisal in reference to race or party. At that time it would not have been possible. But now 200 years plus later America has destroyed the glass ceiling that Shirley Chisholm,Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton could not break through. This truly is a great time to be alive,to be an American,to be a African in America.