Posted by
The Dutchmeister on Thursday, November 06, 2008 12:00:00 AM
With the historic election of Barack Obama as the first black President of the United States of America, I hope that this sends a message to the entire black community that, now, there are no more excuses for not taking advantage of the opportunities that our great nation has to offer to realize your fullest potential and be the best that you can be.
Throughout the post-civil rights era and up until Election Night 2008, blacks have been achieving the highest pennacles of success in virtually every facet of American society. In the motion picture industry, lead acting Oscars have been awarded to outstanding black performers such as Denzel Washington ("Training Day"), Halle Berry ("Monster's Ball"), Jamie Foxx ("Ray"), and Forrest Whitaker ("The Last King of Scotland"). In the corporate world, blacks have become chairmen and CEO's of some of America's largest Fortune 500 companies, from American Express to Merrill Lynch. Black American accomplishments in professional sports are virtually too numerous to mention. In the political arena, blacks have been elected to Congress for decades, and the last eight years have seen the first black male and female Secretaries of State and National Security Advisor.
Now, on November 4, 2008, the United States of America took yet another giant step forward in electing its first Commander-In-Chief of African descent.
President-elect Obama put it beautifully in his acceptance speech:
"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."
Now, no longer can the useful excuse of "racism" be used to explain why blacks cannot succeed in American society, in whatever vocation one chooses. The urge to "blame the white man" for many blacks' own personal and moral shortcomings should immediately come to an end. I hope that the black community, especially black youth, will now realize that, with hard work, a love of learning, self-discipline, personal responsibility, and a belief in one's self and this great country, you can achieve absolutely anything you set your mind to.
For years, blacks have dreamed, hoped, wished and prayed that one day, a black man would be elected President of the United States. On November 4, 2008, that dream became a reality.
It is my hope that the election of Barack Obama by a majority of Americans of all races, colors and creeds will serve to put the final nail in the coffin of the mentality of racial victimhood, separatism and anti-intellectualism - as well as those who profit from it - that has done more harm to blacks in the post-civil rights era than institutionalized racism ever did.
We have finally elected a black man to the Oval Office. Now read my lips, Black America: NO MORE EXCUSES!