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Home | News & Society | Politics There are degrees of black political cred in America. Those whose ancestors lived through the harrowing years of slavery, might well take the view that a guy like Obama with a Kenyan father and a white mother hasn't "lived" the black American experience the hard way. As far as his professional path is concerned, Obama hasn't risen through the ranks by taking the route well traveled by many prominent African American leaders. No service as a pastor or as an activist in the NAACP. Some in the black community see him as too fresh, too fast and too slick. A graduate of Harvard who made his own running. A guy with a foot in the white camp. There are those who shun him because they don't believe he is capable of relating to their legacy of slavery and oppression, notwithstanding his stint as a civil rights lawyer in Chicago. To some in the African American community Obama is an outsider with credentials. A smooth operator and charmer who wants their backing in a run for the leadership of the nation without paying "the dues" they expect in a high profile national leader. Predictably a sizable minority have been slow to deliver. Guys like Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton have been cool on Obama. This could change of course because there can be no denying the superstar status of Barack Hussein Obama. He looks every inch the horse to back. But it won't be a free ride no matter how frenzied Obama mania becomes. Many African Americans think the whipper snapper still has bills to pay. A lot of potential backers have become wary also because of perceived "baggage". The downplaying of his Muslim background, admitted drug use and other question marks related to alleged "inventiveness" in the writing of his autobiography - "Dreams From My Father". Then of course there is also the experience question. Recently Hillary Clinton drew attention to his deficits in that department when it comes to making a run for the highest office in the land. Despite all the suspicion and criticism leveled at Obama, he also has positives. Since he hasn't come up on the inside track like a Jessie Jackson, he brings a new and different perspective, one that may not be "black" as traditionally understood, but who cares. Why does it have to be about race and the baggage of race? Sure those issues are important, but after George Bush doesn't America need a unifier who can heal the divisions? I'm not sure if Obama is that person, but he does have a refreshing energy and enthusiasm about him. Being "distinct" in his own unique way, he has the potential to rally Americans of many racial and cultural backgrounds. Time will tell. I just hope he's bracing for the broadsides that will be coming from the Hillary Clinton camp. His passage to power, if it succeeds, will be far from plain sailing. Article Source: http://www.articlewheel.com
Aidan Maconachy is a freelance writer and artist based in Ontario. You can visit his blog at aidanmaconachyblog.blogspot.com/
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