What effect will a black president have on young black men in the inner city? Click here to read an article about six young black men giving their opinion of what the effect will be.
As we anticipate Barrack Obama's inauguration today, the aforementioned question becomes a poignant one.
Judging from the responses of the young men featured in this article, hope for a better future is one possible effect.
The next question is will hope be enough? Enough for what, you say? Enough to significantly decrease Black on Black violence. Specifically, young black men killing each other. Enough to seriously decline the percentage of Black children being born out of wedlock. Enough to significantly decrease the number of new HIV cases for Black women and men. Just to name a few.
How we behave is a direct reflection of how we think. So, maybe the more important question will be can Mr. Obama's presidency change the way young black men in the inner city think, particularly about themselves.
Will watching Mr. Obama from the White House on TV, be a sufficient enough role model for young black men in the inner city. Many of whom have no in house role modeling.
I think my question is answered by Barrack Obama's call on Martin Luther King Jr's holiday for more folk to get involved in their communities.
No, Obama's image from the White House alone will not end Black on Black violence. It will only dissipate when communities where violence takes place, have had enough. When young black men in the inner city decide to invest in themselves, then the killing will slow down.
There are other intangibles we can talk about; education, poverty or whatever. But what it really comes down to is when young black men and their communities decide they have had enough, then things will change. Otherwise, it's business as usual.
What do you think? Will Obama's presidency change the lives of young black men in the inner city?
6 comments:
It's not who's in the White House that affects how black men think about each other. It's about who's in the right house.
This is why I just applied to become a Big Brother, as well as a Mentor at 100 Black Men. I want to do my part, to set an example for the young men who need one.
Time will tell if things get better.
But I'm trying to remain hopeful.
GREAT POST!
Barack Obama aka Black Jesus is going to inspire those who already believe and will just be a history moment for those who don't. I always wish they would ask the kids from New Orleans or Houston poorest areas and ask them did they even change the channel to watch him being sworn in. I mean who do we want to change the cat who needed a little lift or the cats with no lift at all.
To me it will just be another person for your kid to have at Black History month. Instead of MLK, Harriet tubman, and Pele they'll throw Barack Obama. It will start with B - because he was black just like me A - because he was African just like me R - because he was a rock star just like I hope to be.....
It's not always about the direct effect. Sometimes the trickle down does work... particularly when something has to be built from the ground up. My sons don't completely understand the significance of a Black President. When I was 13, I didn't think it would take 35 more years to get one. They will have one all through high school. So his influence will be tied into all the other issues of their lives.
But his influence on the "men" of the inner city is already evident. Brothers are watching CNN to see Obama in the same way they watch golf to see Tiger. Tiger didn't make brother run out en-masse and start playing golf, but they not only stopped hatin' on brothers that did, they started encouraging them... them being the next generation As the older brothers start thinking about buying a gray suit rather than a lime green... or buying a suit period, younger brothers will take note. It may not be something they want to do now... but they can accept it as something they may need to do eventually.
The president is a figure head. It is his job to influence people to accept a policy or philosophy as far down to the grass roots level as possible so that it becomes part of the "national conscience". Part of Bush's mission was to make it "American" for poor whites to accept putting money in the pocket of big business, spying on individual citizens, and invading coutries that did not attack us as "growing America". His influence made those folks send their kids off to war and vote for McCain even while their plants were closing. Hopefully, Obama will influence the Uncle Juniors of the inner city to start acting more dignified and fatherly. If they do that, then the young brothers will get the secondary effect of Mufasa "44" McCool.
I guess to sum it up, it is not Obama's role to change things for the young brothers in the inner city. It is the job of the brothers who are Obama's age who are in those areas to change how they do things, and how they interact with the young brothers. It is Obama's job to influence the old, so that change will happen. You won't tell Obama's impact in the first 100 days, you need to check the crime and graduation data for the class of 2113. That's how real chance works.
BTW, my wife was logged in and I didn't feel like changing names...
Dwane T.
I think it will have a positive effect, but it will take time.
As we see more "Baracks" Black men
who are successful who aren't athletes or rappers, it will at least open the realm of possibility
for young Black males.
Zack,
Good on you for volunteering! It will take a group effort to bring about change within our communities.
I agree with you, time will tell.
Peace
Freemanpress,
You make a valid point about the likelihood of changing folk whom are in poorer circumstances. Past a certain point or age, it's difficult for people to truly change.
I hope his presidency will achieve more than becoming just another name for Black kids to memorize during African American history month. Like Zack said, time will tell!
Peace
Dwane T,
I agree with you that there will be some long term positive effect for young brothers, seeing a man of African decent, running the country.
Obama's early moves of closing Gitmo and a pay freeze of senior White House staff, shows that he's not afraid to use his new presidential powers. Which kind of destroys any idea that he's a puppet, at least for right now.
Hopefully, Obama can inspire young men in our community and around the country, to be more responsible.
Peace
Keith,
I agree with you, it will take some time. At least there is some legitimate hope that things could change in our lifetime. I wasn't so optimistic two years ago, but I can't discount anything, anymore. I didn't think I'd live to see a Black president and I have at a relatively young age.
Things can change for the better, it just takes planning and the will to do it. Hopefully, Obama can will our some of younger folk to improve their lives.
Peace
Scrap that about the professional organization I mentioned above. They dissed me tonight. More about this on my blog...
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