Senator Barack Obama, the night after his first presidential debate, receives the Harold Washington Award. The award honors an individual who has contributed immeasurably to African-American political awareness, empowerment and the advancement of minorities in the electoral process.
He received the Phoenix Award at the 38th annual Legislative conference of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation dinner Saturday night. Obama is a member of the 40 year old group comprised of black congressional lawmakers.
After accepting the honor, Obama gave a campaign speech to the packed room of mostly African-Americans at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center. His speech included promises of tax cuts, and help for the middle and working class Americans of all backgrounds. Obama lifted the serious tone with laughter when he conveyed Senator McCain was a man of change and a maverick who was stealing “my stuff.”
Actress and humanitarian Kerry Washington is another Phoenix Award Recipient. Washington received the Chair’s Award Saturday night. She is an Obama supporter on a high from the night before.
Has Barack Obama advanced the electoral process for minorities? Are the earlier efforts by other African- American civil rights leaders and politicians been forgotten or dwarfed by the Obama phenomenon?
Nice event, nice honors, and nice way to end the week and weekend’s activities and workshops.
I saw Kerry Washington on Bill Maher’s Real Time on HBO several weeks back and I really liked the way she handled herself and expressed herself with the host and panel and for the topics on the table.
Question #1: “Has Barack Obama advanced the electoral process for minorities?”
I would say a definitive Yes!
Question #2: “Have the earlier efforts by other African-American civil rights leaders and politicians been forgotten or dwarfed by the Obama phenomenon?”
Though I can see how many people observing all of this (Obama’s Rise and His Incredible Popularity) could see it that way, I don’t think the earlier efforts by other African-American civil rights leaders and politicians have been forgotten or dwarfed by Obama. At least not to me and others I have talked to. I think it’s very important to never forget all of their efforts because without them most of us would not be even standing where we are as black people, whatever our stations in life happen to be, we owe some gratitude. So we should be ever grateful to them and our ancestors too. We wouldn’t be here without them. We stand on their shoulders. So much of what they fought and died for was all in hopes that even if they would not see a better day, we would, and here we are.
I think that what is diffferent about “Obama’s Rise” into all of this and in politics (his political career) is that many older African American civil rights leaders were honestly surprised that Obama’s very rise happened in the way that it did and yet and still he has been so successful at what he has done and continues to do. I think most did not know him or know of him. Some did but plenty did not know him.
Senator Obama was not neccessarily the son of a Civil Rights Leader that they (The Civil Rights leaders and activists) and we in the general public were familiar with. His life, his trail, his path, is uniquely his own, and this has all happened in a way that I think quite frankly surprised many, including them themselves Black politicians, etc). (The African American civil rights leaders and activists that are still alive including those in politics in their honmestates and on Capitol Hill.)
I look at it as, Obama will be our next “President 1.0″ as far as the first black President (or first President who happens to be black). The next time around we will hopefully, God Willing, get someone else of Obama’s quailty and caliber who will be our then next “President 2.0,” (our second black president) then “President 3.0, (our third black president)” then “President 4.0,(our fourth black president)” etc., etc. (Our next black presidents not counting J.A. Rogers book The Five Black Presidents)
I am speaking of the hopefully, and God Willing, future black presidents to come after this. After Obama. All of them will be different. All of them will too, have their own styles.
What I mean by that is, progress continues like a mighty stream and comes in all forms. I am just thankful I and we are all getting to see and witness this in this lifetime.
Peace,
~LT