For Manning Marable, specialist on the racial question in the United States, the victory of Obama represents the outcome of the conquest of the civil rights.
Of all the images carried on an evening unlike others, there is one that stands out more than the others. That of the Jesse Jackson, the veteran of all the fights of the Blacks in the United States, crying in warm tears before the speech of Barack Obama. The fabulous legend of the senator of the Illinois is also the saga of a whole people who has never stopped believing in his fate. For Liberation, Manning Marable, professor of political sciences at the University of Columbia, and one of the most eminent specialists of the racial question in the United States, deciphers the historic reach of the election of the first American black president.
The last battle
“It is a remarkable victory which dedicates the success of the fight for the civil rights in the United States for fifty years. A victory which represents the outcome of the famous dream of Martin Luther King, that he expressed in his speech of August, 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial of Washington. King thought that the American Blacks must not be ‘judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.’ He sacrificed his life to fight the legal racial segregation. In this perspective, the election of Obama represents the last battle of the American Civil War, from 1861 till 1865, which saw America tearing on the status of the American Blacks and the slavery.”
The achievement of a hope
“For the black people, it is the end of an expectation, the achievement of a hope. One day of 1955, at Montgomery, in Alabama, a woman named Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a White in a bus. And the struggle has never stopped since. In the United States, it was necessary to wait until 1965 so that the Blacks obtain the right to vote and begin mainly to vote during the presidential ballot of 1968. When we think of it, it is remarkable that in only forty years, the Blacks, who were relegated to the suburb of the democracy, have henceforth a representative in the highest post of the State.ยป
Three generations of leaders
“The history of the long walking of Afro-americans, is also the emergence of three generations of black leaders in the United States. In the 50s and the 60s, appeared the leaders of the movement of the civil rights and the Black Panthers. These black activists had a message exclusively intended for the afro-American population. Martin Luther King and Malcom X belonged to organizations which had their roots in the culture of the black pastors. Their main objective was to fight in order to defend the rights of their community.
In the 80s, xame another group of black leaders. Representatives elected by districts mainly black, but not exclusively. They were less radical than their predecessors, less activists, and were made advocates of the black cause in the whole of America.
Finally, the 90s dedicated a last generation. Black politicians who were able be elected thanks to the votes of the white population. Until 1988, two thirds of the white Americans rejected the idea of having a Black in the White House. Today, 80 % of the Americans are ready to do it. We were the witnesses of a sociological evolution of tens of thousand Americans on the racial question. It is also a generational factor. Many of those who militated against the emancipation of the Blacks more than forty years ago simply disappeared.”
Another world
“Obama opens the way towards another world, but he is not at the end of the road. A part of the dream of Martin Luther King, was also a better economic and social equality. It is up to Obama to demonstrate that his administration will know how to answer the emanating expectations of the poorest and the most deprived and that he will know how to terminate the economic oppression. In reality, we are going through a period of “ethnic transition”, In the course of which the United States are going to look like more and more the rest of Europe and world, with a wider racial mix.”
Somewhere, the emergence of a Black in the White House was inevitable. It is also a question of demographic change. In 2042, the majority of the population in the United States will be represented by people of color (black, Hispanic and Asiatic). This evolution is already coming true, in California, in New York, everywhere. Obama understood that very well. He is the man who transcends races. His mother was from Kansas, his father from Kenya, and Barack Obama led a campaigny by taking place in the perspective of post-racial America. Henceforth, he has the opportunity to do great things, for all the Americans. To build bridges between communities. Obama is the new post-racial leader of America.”
Racism is alive and flourishing in the United States!!
Before the civil rights laws were passed in the 60’s, the whole south was predominantly Democratic.
After these ‘civil rights’ laws were passed the southern whites rebelled and switched to the Republican party! The Republican party has subtlety fostered this racial rift often using the “Christian” churches that were willing to preach the double standard their parishioners wanted!
Barack Obama won because of the massive hatred of George W. Bush and his administration!
Had the racial divide not existed, Obama would have won by well over 60% of the vote!
Quite a few of the bigots that make up a portion of the Republican party, are actually aware of the prejudiced they carry, but are not honest enough with themselves to do anything about it!
Sad, very sad!