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Barack Obama - how important is Black?
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So, the inauguration, and I expect the world is excited for a new future.
How important is it that Obama is Black. Correction - half-Black. Will a great big deal be made of his being Black (apart from the obvious BBC and Channel 4)?
I have a wonderful hope that Obama will be a great president, a light for the world, without anyone harping on about his being BLACK.
How important is it that Obama is Black. Correction - half-Black. Will a great big deal be made of his being Black (apart from the obvious BBC and Channel 4)?
I have a wonderful hope that Obama will be a great president, a light for the world, without anyone harping on about his being BLACK.
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His race shouldn't be important at all, but America is still behind with racial integration in comparison to the rest of the world. I suppose you could make a comparison with Prince Charles marrying an black woman and for her to be Queen of England, the thought is unimaginable to most.
This is why it is such a big issue, many people in the US and other parts of the world are now seeing his inaugyration as being a way forward for the people who never had a voice before or who were held back. They now feel they can be and achieve anything they want.
It's also positive for children in minority races, who perhaps had the feeling they could not be anything great in the future. Barack Obama instills hope in many.
This is why it is such a big issue, many people in the US and other parts of the world are now seeing his inaugyration as being a way forward for the people who never had a voice before or who were held back. They now feel they can be and achieve anything they want.
It's also positive for children in minority races, who perhaps had the feeling they could not be anything great in the future. Barack Obama instills hope in many.
So, "...but America is still behind with racial integration in comparison..."
That statement is difficult to rectify with the fact that we've had two black Secretaies of State (one of the a woman, by the way), black Justice of the Supreme Court, (as well as previous ones) hundreds of black Congress men and women, mayors, Governors... on and on. I truly believe the rest of the world's view of America is permanently stuck in the past decades, maybe obscuring their own lack of "progress"...
That statement is difficult to rectify with the fact that we've had two black Secretaies of State (one of the a woman, by the way), black Justice of the Supreme Court, (as well as previous ones) hundreds of black Congress men and women, mayors, Governors... on and on. I truly believe the rest of the world's view of America is permanently stuck in the past decades, maybe obscuring their own lack of "progress"...
Now that Obama has attained the highest office in the USA I hope black people over there, and over here perhaps, finally accept that although they may still encounter prejudice along the way, they CAN reach the top.
I do believe that black people in the States voted for him simply because he was black rather than for his political stance, but I also think he has the hopes of the majority of the population behind him.
I'm sure that the great Martin Luther King had a tremendous influence on him and if he strives to make MLK's ' dream' a reality he won't go far wrong in my view.
I do believe that black people in the States voted for him simply because he was black rather than for his political stance, but I also think he has the hopes of the majority of the population behind him.
I'm sure that the great Martin Luther King had a tremendous influence on him and if he strives to make MLK's ' dream' a reality he won't go far wrong in my view.
Well, Clanad a) we haven't got as many black people as you have as a percentage of the population( 3 per cent as against 13 per cent) b) what we have only arrived in any numbers as recently as the 1950s, to fill the labour gap after WW2.
We have quite a lot of mixed-race, mind. 1.6 per cent of the population of England and 1.4 per cent of the British population is of mixed race, like President-elect Obama.Mixed race is our fastest growing section of the community (up by 21 per cent in the 5 years 2001 to 2006). The great majority of mixed race are of White and Black Caribbean parentage.
Like Americans we can remember when some American states had segregation.It wasn't long ago. You've come a long way in a short time.
More intriguing to us now, is the idea that a person's religion, or lack of it, is important to Americans.Here, a politician mentioning his religion, however devout he was, would be thought most odd and it would lose him votes in consequence, not win them !
We have quite a lot of mixed-race, mind. 1.6 per cent of the population of England and 1.4 per cent of the British population is of mixed race, like President-elect Obama.Mixed race is our fastest growing section of the community (up by 21 per cent in the 5 years 2001 to 2006). The great majority of mixed race are of White and Black Caribbean parentage.
Like Americans we can remember when some American states had segregation.It wasn't long ago. You've come a long way in a short time.
More intriguing to us now, is the idea that a person's religion, or lack of it, is important to Americans.Here, a politician mentioning his religion, however devout he was, would be thought most odd and it would lose him votes in consequence, not win them !
I was amazed at last nights BBC news with Huw Edwards re Barak Obamas inaugaration. All we had were comments about the American civil rights movement in the 60s and Obama being the first black president. President Obama quoted Martin Luther King by saying " If you sweep floors make sure you become the best at what you do".
It's as if black americans are the only people to ever sweep floors. I was a caretaker in a college for 15 years, also I am white, and swept floors regularly. I never felt any animosity to the Black and asian tutors who were in a higher position than me and it certainly never left a scar. I think it's time for the yanks to move forward from the 1960s and look to the future.
Is Obama only going to work for the black population?
With all the hype it appears this is the case.
It's as if black americans are the only people to ever sweep floors. I was a caretaker in a college for 15 years, also I am white, and swept floors regularly. I never felt any animosity to the Black and asian tutors who were in a higher position than me and it certainly never left a scar. I think it's time for the yanks to move forward from the 1960s and look to the future.
Is Obama only going to work for the black population?
With all the hype it appears this is the case.
It's both extremely significant in terms of a cultural revolution, and not significant in terms of his ability to do the job.
For America to get to a stage where it can elect a black president, something that even commentators this year said might be unlikely is enormously significant. It shows a dramatic shift in attitude, not just important on a national scale, but also to the international witnesses. The effect of having a black man as the president of the most powerful nation on the planet, is to provide a living testimony to the power of democracy and civil rights, as well as providing a much needed role model for disaffected black youth.
Of course it doesn't reflect on his ability to do a job, and nor will it affect his decision making and policy. But it's a major event on outr planet.
For America to get to a stage where it can elect a black president, something that even commentators this year said might be unlikely is enormously significant. It shows a dramatic shift in attitude, not just important on a national scale, but also to the international witnesses. The effect of having a black man as the president of the most powerful nation on the planet, is to provide a living testimony to the power of democracy and civil rights, as well as providing a much needed role model for disaffected black youth.
Of course it doesn't reflect on his ability to do a job, and nor will it affect his decision making and policy. But it's a major event on outr planet.
Thanks for the comments.
I think that ironically this could work to worsen race relations, the reason being that a positive orgy of "black" has started. Interviews on the radio are mentioning "a triumph for black people" (rather than Obama), it is black black black everywhere, you can't get away from it.
More than a few people are going to get fed up with this.
Fingers crossed for a great future.
I think that ironically this could work to worsen race relations, the reason being that a positive orgy of "black" has started. Interviews on the radio are mentioning "a triumph for black people" (rather than Obama), it is black black black everywhere, you can't get away from it.
More than a few people are going to get fed up with this.
Fingers crossed for a great future.
I remember when JFK was hailed as the first irish american catholic president. Just like Obama he was young, cool etc. It didn't take long for the kennedy's to be pilloried by everyone and all the sleaze to come out. we all know what happened to JFK. I hope Obama has no skeletons in his cupboard. Because they will soon be brought to life.
The people getting "fed up" with this are retards.
Firstly, because they don't understand the ways the news works. Secondly, because they don't know anything about even recent American history and how significant a change this is. Thirdly, because they think that there's something divisive in a previously downtrodden section of the community celebrating the fact it has achieved equality. Fourthly, because they're curmudgeonly misers who resent any achievement other than their own.
It's staggeringly petty.
And, as for the view that Obama won the election because of his colour and not because he was the better candidate in just about any department you care to name, wow....
Firstly, because they don't understand the ways the news works. Secondly, because they don't know anything about even recent American history and how significant a change this is. Thirdly, because they think that there's something divisive in a previously downtrodden section of the community celebrating the fact it has achieved equality. Fourthly, because they're curmudgeonly misers who resent any achievement other than their own.
It's staggeringly petty.
And, as for the view that Obama won the election because of his colour and not because he was the better candidate in just about any department you care to name, wow....
Well, so it goes on. BBC News, did you see the coverage from Birmingham, Alabama? This has little to do with the Presidency, or politics, or even the USA - this is just to do with blackness. This somehow is a triumph of black people. It is becoming a racial issue. The next few months are going to be really interesting.
Interview on BBC Local News
"..... today is a Black day...."
Yes, this in Britain this is going to be sod all about politics but about skin colour. It will not stop until all MPs are black and all top commercial and political positions are held by Black people.
Bit of a problem though, Obama is a Christian.
How is it going to work for political correctness when he sanctions the slaughter of muslims in Afghanistan?
"..... today is a Black day...."
Yes, this in Britain this is going to be sod all about politics but about skin colour. It will not stop until all MPs are black and all top commercial and political positions are held by Black people.
Bit of a problem though, Obama is a Christian.
How is it going to work for political correctness when he sanctions the slaughter of muslims in Afghanistan?
I dont know much about the balck 'plight' if you will. Studied a bit at uni but being a working class white girl, I'll never know..... but what I do know is this.....
Anything is better than George Bush and I personally agree with Erroll Brown of Hot Chocolate who just commented on BBC's 'the one show' that he is a special man, not a special black man......
Do your stuff Barack.......!!
Anything is better than George Bush and I personally agree with Erroll Brown of Hot Chocolate who just commented on BBC's 'the one show' that he is a special man, not a special black man......
Do your stuff Barack.......!!
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