Day of Reckoning

In one fell swoop America will have a single reference point to now claim racial discrimination is a myth in America in 2008 & going forward. Black will still be denied tenure, partnership, promotions, jobs, loans, admittance, in the many aspects and areas of life where racial discrimination still previals stongly in America....however now those discriminating have a point of reference to say "nonsense". Schools & Corporations can now comfortably dismantle Affirmative Action measures. A massive "retreat" of progams that favored based on race can now be ended. Obama himself has said his girls merit no special consideration when they apply to college. Everything cuts 2 ways. The radical Islamics will find it hard to recruit & wage a battle against a country of mostly White people that elected a Black man named Barack Hussein Obama to be the President. Obama's winning is bad for recruiting anti-American radical Islamist. However also now White America can now point to Obama and look at the rest of Black America and say, "What's your excuse"? Black America is in for a rude awakening. The Black American expectation of entitlement, welfare, etc. is about to get a kick in the teeth, from a Black man! Be careful what you wish for. Watch the transitional shift of American dismantling everything that was fought for in the Civil rights movement.

Anonymous is soooooo right. About everything at that. The bad thing about this whole thing is that white folks will say what is your excuse. Discrimination with be a lot stronger in some parts of the country. Obama getting elected is a wonderful thing but it seems as if every thing has it downside. White folk will vote for im on that primise only. Black folk should still work hard and try to stive to acheive the very best. However, it may get harder for us because of Obama. Still in all, I vote obama two weeks ago. I don't mind working a little harder for the things I want out of life. I only hope other black folk feel the same.

No, this black person doesn't feel the same. My optimism and my postive attitude will not let me think the worse about everything. My people fought too long and hard and at eighteen I went into the military because I believed in this country and so did my Father, Uncles, and friends. The pessimism that I am reading is sad because where I come from you looked forward and you exceeded goals and no one gave you a damn thing that you could work hard for. So, continue your dark saga as the rest of us move forward whether he wins or otherwise.

I swear my hand before god that yall will find something to bitch about no matter what the case. The truth of the matter is we dont need an excuse! We are one of the most beautiful inteligent race of people on this earth. If we taught our children their true African Heritage and made it a point to know what our people have over come accomplished and built through all of history...They would be so inspired that they would not need an excuse for anything.

Ostend Street, no is talking about optimism or pessimism. We're talking about "person responsibility". Making fiscally prudent and responsible choices mindful of a an array of realities. You are choosing to interpret as pessimism. Bill Cosby has been very critical of Black America being irresponsible, sometimes Bill has been petty, awkward and clumsy, arrogant, but he's made his point. Black America did not take well to Bill Cosby and his opinions. Well Barack Obama is on the same page with Bill Cosby pretty much - however Barack communicates that same message in a more compassionate and cool way. There is nothing pessimistic about saying Black America (not all of us - but a lot of us) is about to be told some harsh truths about taking personal responsibility....by a Black Man (Obama). When you look at the lack of Black males in college, the rates of Children born out of wedlock, the rate of of STDs, HIV, AIDS in the Black Community, etc. Black folks in the aggregate are a hot mess. Obama is not some SuperHero figure that's come to save the day. Obama is not going to give you fish. He's going to support you learning how to fish. Black folks? They want fish, they don't want to have to work for it. That's going to be the problem for Black America & Obama. Obama is going to demand Black folks assume personal responsibility, and Black folks are not going to like that. They don't know it now though, they think their Uncle that spoils them is about to become the President. It's going to be good for some Blacks who needed this inspiration, however for the majority of us? They don't want their social welfare programs altered, they don't want to take responsibility. Obama is going to be like Denzel in The Great Debaters. He is going to Demand More, many Blacks will respond and rise and clean up their game, most won't.

Ostend Street, no is talking about optimism or pessimism. We're talking about "person responsibility". Making fiscally prudent and responsible choices mindful of a an array of realities. You are choosing to interpret as pessimism. Bill Cosby has been very critical of Black America being irresponsible, sometimes Bill has been petty, awkward and clumsy, arrogant, but he's made his point. Black America did not take well to Bill Cosby and his opinions. Well Barack Obama is on the same page with Bill Cosby pretty much - however Barack communicates that same message in a more compassionate and cool way. There is nothing pessimistic about saying Black America (not all of us - but a lot of us) is about to be told some harsh truths about taking personal responsibility....by a Black Man (Obama). When you look at the lack of Black males in college, the rates of Children born out of wedlock, the rate of of STDs, HIV, AIDS in the Black Community, etc. Black folks in the aggregate are a hot mess. Obama is not some SuperHero figure that's come to save the day. Obama is not going to give you fish. He's going to support you learning how to fish. Black folks? They want fish, they don't want to have to work for it. That's going to be the problem for Black America & Obama. Obama is going to demand Black folks assume personal responsibility, and Black folks are not going to like that. They don't know it now though, they think their Uncle that spoils them is about to become the President. It's going to be good for some Blacks who needed this inspiration, however for the majority of us? They don't want their social welfare programs altered, they don't want to take responsibility. Obama is going to be like Denzel in The Great Debaters. He is going to Demand More, many Blacks will respond and rise and clean up their game, most won't.

Well the ones who do not clean up their game will find themselves being left behind and and feeling left out and alone...While the majority owns their part in bringing us up as a people...And what I have observed is loneliness and feeling left out is a big motivator...no one likes to be standing alone.

Obama represents a new image and role model for blacks in this country. I was one of those kids in school that did very well and school, studied my ass off, and tried to be an over-achiever. As a result, I was labled "not black enough", an oreo, or "white", even by other gay black guys that I've met as an adult. For years, I had trouble befriending other blacks because of this. Most of the blacks that I'm friends with today went through the same things that I went through. So when I started reading Obama's autobiograhpy, his life started matching mine. Basically, his search for his black identity. I was wanting him to run the president back in 2006. After today, I would like to see black parents start telling their children that they can be like Obama. They can do well in school and in life and forget about what they see on TV of other blacks. It's fine to keep their voice natural sounding without being called white. It's fine to learn languages and travel the world without joining the military. It's fine to not only set goals but accomplish them no matter what. This is what black parents need to start telling their children. My parents and uncles told this to me and I thank them for it today. After today, I think that blacks, not only in America but throughout the world, will walk proud to be black thanks to not only Obama, but those who sacrificed many things before he came in the picture. I know that when I see Obama give his acceptance speech tonight, I'll be in tears, especially if I play MLK's "I Have A Dream" speech.

The Next Level: African Americans need to start thinking of education as the only alternative. That is our next level. We should start getting our kids and young people those degrees in droves. Upon getting that education we need to instill in our young people a need to start our own businesses. If you really want economic freedom make sure the business you work for is your own or you have real vested interest in it. When you build you a business from the ground up you there is a certain amount of pride involved. Then you start to take pride in other aspects of your life like where you lay your head at night. You will then feel really good about maintaining your hood. It's a snowball effect. Start somewhere, Anywhere you happen to be in your life and put education first. It's the key to unlock your potential.

He won!! He is our President. He is the President of us all. The President of the United States. Congratulation!!!! Now the work begins.