Shine and Be Heard

By Chable Bracken
Becoming the first black president is a great historical leap, no doubt, but the face of a change has to be more than just a pretty picture. The first African-American to hold the ultimate executive power in his hands represents his entire brotherhood, his heritage, his history. Not very many of us can sit here today and, without hesitation, say that we could jump up and grab the reins of a once prosperous nation in need of desperate repair.

Barack Obama is what one would call the voice of his people. Now, that can be both a good and bad thing because of the substantial number of people his voice will soon represent. His actions are the actions of all black people, his words are the speech of all black people and his opinion is the opinion of all black people, whether he, or we as the black public, like it or not.

There’s something about finally having a person of color in the most superior position in America that has given many African-American people the idea that “yes they can” say and do anything that they would like, too. Why is it that some black are walking around like they’re the ones who won the presidency and now have the power to do and say anything?

Perhaps it’s the built up excitement from seeing a biracial man stand behind a grand podium on Nov. 4, 2008, and accept his overwhelming triumph in being the first person of his kind in the history of this great nation to be in that position.
Perhaps it’s the pride in millions of hearts that know something new and real is actually beginning to take shape in this country, and the days of corruption, deceit and neglect are possibly fading behind us.

Where do we go from here exactly?

It’s one thing for all of us to be ecstatic about having Obama in the position that he’s in, while we sit and wait and watch for change to magically appear and conjure up some reform. We have to stand up and push forward and make it easier for Obama to make the changes needed to get this country back to the way it was.

What good are we as citizens, as black citizens for that matter, if we kick up our feet and gaze at the man destined to bring his people through the fires of struggle and inequality and send them beaming with hope toward the promised land — America, the land of opportunity.

People of the United States of America and basically all the people of color who have been left to fend for themselves in the background, let’s not give others reason to look down own us with disdain.

This is our chance to shine and be heard in a way that is dignifying and actually suitable to our true nature as people. “Yes we can” … rise up!