‘If there is anyone out there who still doubt that America is a place where anything is possible....tonight is the answer’ Obama.
‘America first family is black’ those were the words of a black BBC TV reporter reporting from Atlanta Georgia this morning! The unmistaken pride in the voice of the black reporter says it all.
Finally, the world witnessed the dunk of an old era and the dawn of another. It is often said that people most times miss history when it happens. In this case the world begged for history to happen at the only place where it is practical and not only plausible but possible and they were not disappointed! America reaffirms the worlds believe in the American dream. That much touted axiom was given a name, blood and flesh in Obama!
4th of November 2008 would go down as one of those defining moments in historical epochs. The monumental political earthquake that happened on that day is elixirs that will revive hope for the hopelessly oppressed and hapless minorities in America and elsewhere.
This wind of change no doubt would bring angst to racist white supremacist that have and will refuse to see Obama for what he is (half white) and the gullible and misguided blacks that hate being black. This ‘white people’ trapped in black skin hate being black so much that they believe anything labelled black (except their black shoes and suit) is a misnomer. It borders on the anathema to such people to be associated with humans with the appellation black! Such black people will go to any length to vilify anyone with any link to black parentages. Their desire to be seen as -am not sure what- makes them go shamelessly beyond the acceptable norm of social discuss to deprecate their kith and kin! What they fail to realise is that each time they strive to destroy their own, they destroy part of themselves and by so doing give everyone in the kindred a stain.
These are the blacks who see Obama either as a non-starter or communist. They wasted their vote on McCain! And now they are praying for Obama to fail so that they can have their; I told you so moment. Needless to say they have failed once and failure will remain their portion. How anyone could have failed to see that Obama is unique and was going to win tell more about the reasoning of such detractors and to a large extent their sense of judgement to say the least. I remember one of such misguided black man literarily begging John McCain to vilify Obama in one of the numerous town hall meetings held by the GOP candidate in the course of the campaign. The guy look so pathetic, I was left wondering who was egging him into such ignominy.
Obama should be seen as an epitome of the complexities called America! He is neither white nor black rather he is a classical example of what America should be; the melting pot of colour, race, ideology and a living example of intelligence. Obama is an American dream comes true. He share his gene with the blacks and whites.
It is heartening as an African to see the white press sell him wholesale as black. I think it is a shame and a tsunami size disgrace to describe everyone and anyone with one black parent as black. If Obama’s father was white and the mother black, he would still be called black. With a black father, it makes the appellation easier to hang. You can only be white when both your parents are white. Thank God it is becoming less prestigious to be white. I have a strong feeling that we are at the threshold of the day when humans will be seen simply as humans, not black, not white, not Arab or African or European. That day may be closer than we can imagine. The reason I say this is because the whites who promote the concept of racism are shrinking in population and their progenies now see the world in Technicolor. The progeny of the white progenitors do not see the world as black and white and that is why about 60% voted for Obama. I have this feeling that they may soon start a new trend of seeing human’s jus for what they are; just human... that way they can remain relevant in the human kaleidoscope instead of races.
What set Obama aside from black American achievers like Harry Portiere, Collin Powel and Condellizzer Rice to name but a few, in my opinion, is not the fact that he is semi-black nor is it because he is the first colour leader of the free world...nor is it the fact that he is the ‘first person’ in the world today.
What struck me most is the meteoric rise in his political career and the simple fact that he got to where he is by breaking stereotype frontiers; by taking the power houses in American politics on an flooring them one after the other. He pitched his intelligence with the best offered by the rest and he excelled beyond any ones imagination.
He went through one of the toughest job interview in a circus; a job that for years has been exclusively the reserve of those who see others as less human and you know what; he was found superlunary convincing! That is what set him apart for me.
Before long whites would realise that they are easily giving away what could help inflate their ranks. As the whites’ majority peters into minority and probably obscurity with time, I can’t shake the feelings that they will sooner than later revise the meaning of what it means or takes to be white. I.e., once one of your folks is white or once you are not all that black, they will try to steal you from what has been traditionally coloured...you will enjoy the appellation of ‘whitehood’.
As we celebrate Obama stupendous historical achievement, Nigeria needs some political self appraisals. The Hausa-Fulani oligarchy supported by a few misguided political bigots from the other two major tribes has held Nigeria hostage politically over the years. What happened in America should teach us something. It is time to go beyond the tribal chasm and the club of the few that hold sway in the Nigerian political terrain and build a truly Nigerian political party where all will have a stake. It is time for the minority to have a say in Nigeria politics. I have no grouse with this group of people ruling Nigeria for ever; as long as they get their power from the broad spectrum of the Nigerian electorate. I think it is time we allow the Nigerian political playing field to level out. Let the Obasanjo disgrace that foist President Shehu Musa on us be the last time election is rigged in Nigeria. Even tiny countries like Sierra Leone and Liberia have successfully organised transparent elections!
Obama’s ascension to power confirms the truism that given opportunity; most people will succeed. Never in the annals of history has any political organisation enjoyed so much support from the proletariats. Obama’s rise is truly the rise of the grass root.
Some have gone as far as calling him the messiah; though the majority disagree with this appellation, the minority may not be entirely wrong! This is because at no time has any of the messiahs’ of the past been recognised as such by all. Take Jesus and Mohamed for instance, both gained popularity after their death. Mohammed was chased into a rock while Jesus was nailed to a plus sign because the majority did not recognise them for what we are told later that they are!
(In my next piece, I will be exploring the concept of Messiah to see how Obama fits in)
For Obama to have come this far; the almighty God must have planned it from creation and 4th of November is the day that the lord has made. Humans can only rejoice in it. When will Nigeria have her 4th of November?
As we frolic in the bliss of Obama success, we must also spare a thought for McCain historical failure. Where did John and his crew go wrong, was it the economic crisis; was it the universally despised and pathetic poor leadership of the GOP in the last 8 years; is it that Obama was just too good for his competitors or could it be that McCain was just not up to the battle for the white house? These and many more question will be chewed and digested in the days to come by political pundits however, no one can deny the fact that McCain bowed out with pride despite the bad blood that flowed easily during the campaign. That is one lesson that Nigeria need to imbibe too.
Inaju
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