As I went for my early morning jog the day after the general election, the sun seemed a bit brighter and the weather a little balmier for this time of the year. It might have been the fact that the clocks were just a few days earlier set back an hour, and that `Indian’ summer was a bit late in coming. But insistent on tying things together, for me a bright new dawn had dawned on America.
Ray Ford
The global media and scholarly commentators have always implored that the President of the United States of America, is the most powerful individual in the world. Let’s now hope that the goal posts will not be moved.
The announcement of the election results, was undoubtedly one of those, `where-were-you-when…’ moments in history - aligned with, but far more important, consequential, sobering and uplifting than the three others that most quickly come to mind. A black US president in my life-time! Wow.
Before now, black people had achieved all sorts of on things in all sorts of arenas, which should by now, have dispelled the myth that one race is superior to another. To be elected the president of the most powerful country in the world, which has had such a stained past as far as race relations go, Barack Obama has scaled the highest of block walls, spiked with broken glass.
A few years ago, when in the course of a conversation, my years in America, were eked, an acquaintance fittingly characterized, that I was yet to `unpack’.
America as a country has so many contradictions. How could I ever be sure that I understood them all? Secondly, how could I feel comfortable enjoying a path forged for people of my skin color, by others? Instead, I have chosen to sit reflecting on the sidelines. But this outsider’s perch serves as a good vantage point to the parade.
America had by Election Day, become weary. Weary of one of the consequences of an unpopular war - the ravaging of its economic fabric, the weighty cloud of mean-spiritedness, and the reckless lawlessness meted out to those who begged to differ, and those caught up in their dragnet. A growing number had become disenchanted with, if not downright embarrassed by, the country’s image abroad. And to many, George Bush and Dick Cheney were the standard bearers.
To most, if only barely, the choice was a no-brainer. But no one in power relinquishes easily – ask Mr. Robert Mugabe. Up until about 7:00 PM on election night when polling stations on the west coast had a ways to go yet, the McCain machine tried one last time: `The Castro brother’s have endorsed Obama,’ the words were scrolled across the bottom on the CNN screen with frightening authenticity. Only the: `I-approve-of-this-message,’ voice-over, was the give-away.
McCain knew well that there were still pockets of `red’ to which this sort of nonsense appeals. But, something else suggested that these enclaves were dwindling.
On October 2nd, when the Obama rally came to East Lansing, I got the inkling that the fear tactics were becoming less appealing. The crowd of close to 20,000 that jammed into the grassy area at Michigan States University’s Adams Field, was of all ages and stripes. I noted in particular the multi-racial younger set, which seemed to have tossed aside the yoke that weighted some of their parents and grandparents – the yoke that chaffed, dare they look at the content of a black man’s character, and not the color of his skin. To them, and for whatever reasons, the time had come.
I was curious too as to what the print media outside of the U.S. had to say – particular those in the Caribbean. The region has suffered heavily under this administration in areas such as in trade, immigration. Historically also, there has been uneasiness between black America and the Caribbean. But these states of affairs seem to have been set aside, and the phenomenal ascent greeted with open arms. Let’s hope that some of these chasms can be bridged.
It was heartening to hear the charming Michelle Bernard – one of the talking heads on MSNBC, list our own Marcus Garvey as one whose stints in Harlem as the spearhead of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), as one of the pioneers who handled the torch, on its way to Obama. Michelle is of course of Jamaican parentage, and more than most, is better positioned to enunciate this oft forgotten connection. The Caribbean too might want to be more understanding, as to what years of slavery can do to normally well-intended minds. As Ken Chaplin, writing in the Jamaica Observer reminds: `After the emancipation of slaves in the United States in 1865, America did not educate its ex-slaves as the British did in the West Indies.’
It behooves those who head Caribbean governments and run their business houses to start - as they have already – to discuss how policies of the new administration might affect them. Some even cut to the quit and hope that direct benefits like enhanced remittances, will result. This is par for the course as others nations, even those far more prosperous than us, have also started to ponder.
In all of this, one hopes that the larger picture is not missed.
Not one of the pressing issues that will face president-elect Obama come January 20th next year will not require new funding to be properly addressed. That should not come as a surprise. But in addressing them, we will be expecting a softer tenor, a greater appreciation of difference, and more compassion especially when tacking international issues.
The way that one would hope that change can be felt in this one great example, is the granting of opportunity. Say what you may. With its warts and all, America has always been viewed as: ‘The land of opportunity,’ and with some justification. Some might say that it is about time Jamaica begins to do a little bit more in this regard for its own, as opposed to asking what others can do for it.
Just last week in the Jamaica Gleaner, there was a piece suggesting that Jamaica business houses fall short when it comes to providing opportunity to talented high school children looking for summer jobs. One has to be well connected to land them, the paper intimates. So instead of now asking what this new US administration will do for Jamaica, we could use the symbolism of Mr. Obama’s election, as a beacon for giving those bright young Jamaican minds, the same sort of opportunity that Mr. Obama was afforded. It will pay dividends.
In this light, the work of Kingston College Alumni Associations all across the United States, can feel proud of their work to throw lifelines back to their beloved North Street institution.
`Opportunity,’ is all that those in rough straits are clamoring for.
