ThisIsYourConscience.com

When Barack Obama won the 2008 election to become the First African-American president in the history of the United States, it was a huge symbolic victory for Black people nationwide – but not an actual victory in terms of gaining someone in the highest office in the free world to take a specialized look on the issues affecting his (and our) community everyday. So on one hand we had all the reason in the world to rejoice because we got to see “one of our own” reach a level we never thought ANY of us would ever be able to, which opened a lot of THEORETICAL doors for us. But on the other hand, the man that we elected into office really NEVER took an exclusive interest in solving Black problems – but hopefully that changes after he wins in 2012.

Let’s be clear, I am NOT saying that Barack goes out on a limb to spite or hold down Black people – all I’m saying is that he believes it’s his job to NOT make racial distinctions in how he focuses his policy, therefore he feels that it’s important to look at an issue for its all encompassing reach rather than viewing the micro effect on one individual community. And during his first term, I more than understood and agreed with that.

See, it’s cool for Barack to treat Black folk much like you would treat your alcoholic father at a Parent-Teacher day, because as much love as you have for that person, sometimes you need to put some distance between you and them so they don’t totally drag you down. If Barack walked into the Oval office and gave even the faintest scent of Black Panther-ness, he wouldn’t even be a LOCK for winning this second term against a weak crop of imbecilic Republican nominees. So Barack did what he does best: centrism.

Barack is a centrist on almost ALL political and social issues, but he is MUCH more of a centrist on RACIAL issues than many of you might know. Barack’s words to the Black community in regards to our issues boils down to his comments he said to the Congressional Black Caucus in September when he stated:

“Shake it off. Stop complaining. Stop grumblin’. Stop crying. We are going to press on. We have work to do.””

And even though I agree to a point with his words, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) better articulates the LARGER PROBLEM I have with Barack Obama:

The fact is, the Black community DOES still need assistance regardless of whatever post-race BULLSH*T world that we are told we are living in. We do still live in a country with systemic racism; Where Blacks are the first to be put in jail and the last to be put in a job; And a country where we as a community don’t need any HAND-OUTS but do need a helping HAND to be pulled out of the mess that we were inherently FORCED into. It’s actually FUNNY that Bill Clinton saw a need to assist the Black community’s unique needs along with other minority group’s needs, moreso than Barack ever has to this point.

But the point is, this appeal is meant to tell Barack that it’s cool to address issues affecting the Black community in your next term as President because you can only have two terms, and working to be re-elected won’t be an issue. And while no one is asking you to STOP focusing on the rest of the country to help us, we think it’s fair to ask that we get the same consideration as every other minority group, and not just a simple “man up.”

This Is Your Conscience