Black Americans for Real Change

William Owens

Historic opportunities deserve much praise and much pause. Americans should laud the possibility of the first Black American President, but they should also contemplate the qualities and vision of that prospective President; and more importantly what these would mean for the potential of another Black American President.

I ask the 92% of Black Americans, and the many White Americans who want to prove they are not racist, what will you say or do when Obama doesn’t deliver?  

Not too many of us are ready to face the hard facts of what an Obama Administration would bring: historically high tax increases, more nanny state programs that nurture dependency on government, a health care program that would bankrupt the federal government, an energy policy that would make us more dependent on foreign oil, a slashed national defense, and a less secure country.  In other words, Obama’s “Change” is a code word for Jimmy Carter.

Obama has capitalized on his skin color, counting on Black Americans to vote for him simply because he is “Black.”  When the issues are at the forefront, Obama’s poll numbers go down and his race rhetoric heats up.  In Pennsylvania on Saturday, reeling from a charged RNC Convention, Obama told his audience, “I know that the temptation is to say, …You know, 'he’s got funny name,' You know, 'we’re not sure about him,'...And that’s what the Republicans, when they say, 'This isn’t about issues, it’s about personalities,' what they’re really saying is, 'We’re going to try to scare people about Barack. So we’re going to say that you know, maybe he’s got Muslim connections or we’re going to say that, you know, he hangs out with radicals or he’s not patriotic.'”

Obama’s dependence on identity politics could prove disastrous for the future of Black political leaders.  A failed Obama administration has the potential to create a racial backlash.  Those who voted for Obama, based simply on his “Blackness”, could easily become disheartened and blame his failings simply on his skin color.

Black-Americans deserve better representation.  We deserve a person who has proven their loyalty to their heritage, to their country and to their neighbor.  Unfortunately, Obama has not provided these, and Black America is blindly settling for less.  Now is not the time for us to cash in on this type of representation of the first Black President.  Let’s hold.  Let’s be patient.  Let’s wait.  

By William Owens

When I look past the impressive salesmanship of Barack Obama, I see a person who does not resonate with our struggle as a people. Although I know I am not alone in this opinion, it is unfortunate few of us Black Americans are willing to step forward and say this publicly. So here it is. Barack Obama does not and cannot relate to our past as Black Americans because in reality he is not a Black American. I am continually dismayed that he insists on portraying himself as being so, and even more deeply troubled that the media, rather than responsibly reporting the facts, helps sustain this perception.

One thing you can say for sure about us as Black Americans — we are Black and we are proud of it.Now consider Barack Obama, who consistently touts his African roots. His heritage is Muslim – not African American. Ask yourself, “Why is Barack Obama not honest about his origin and, more importantly, why is he not proud of it? Why is he leading us to believe he is someone other than who he really is?” Because of our pride in our heritage, one’s origin should be an acid test for us as Black Americans. If you cannot be honest and forthright about something this basic, how can you be trusted to be the leader of the free world?