It is January of 2009 and Barack Obama has made history by becoming the first African American elected president of these United States of America. Many are quoted as saying the “King Dream” has finally come true. Others are saying that the mountain top vision of Dr. Martin L. King Jr., can now be seen by all in the world, all over the World. Finally, the playing field is even for the black and brown skinned citizens in this country, but it is? Once the oath of office had been administered our lives as African Americans in the foreign land will change, but will it?

The people once referred to as niggers, coloreds, or men referred to as boy, and George, now have one of their on in the White House. The highest office in the world is now held by one of African decent. It would seem that this is day one for not only the new President, but day one for those other Americans who find in their blood stream blood from the “Motherland” of Africa. Day one in a new history of those transform from Niggers to Colored to Afro to Blacks to African Americans. Not only do you find an African American sitting on the highest court in the land, but also find one running the executive branch. Now take not my mention of the good Justice as drawing a link between the two, because clearly, in the words of another intellectual “all my skin folk aint my kin folk” But the connection is draw to show how far African Americans have come as a people, but have we?

Now, in the mist of the happiness for the history that has been made, comes a grim reality. We have an African American president who now more than ever will be placed under what will sometimes seem to be an unfair microscope. The expectations placed on this ONE elected official have been and will be set so high, that what would seem to be progress will be viewed by some as the lack there of. What would seem to be a step in the right direction will be viewed by some as not taking a step at all. See the hard thing about this election and its outcome is that those who elected him are expecting a magician and not a mere man.

When a Black man takes the oath of office he also somehow acquires, grows, or is given this magical wand to fix any and every problem in American and even aboard. This official now, not only has the answer to world peace, but has the cure for AIDS. Please don’t mistake my comments as saying that these things can’t flow from his presidency, but it is to give an example of the high level of expectations we have for our new President.

The Obama campaign slogan which seems to catch fire across the country was “Yes We Can. Yes We Can.” This slogan which was creatively put together speaks volumes of what this Presidency could be. Yes We Can but not Yes He Can. Well you ask what’s the difference, and I answer that there is a major difference between the two. Yes We Can implies that we those who consent to be governed have a place in this Can Do attitude. This slogan is more about us then it is about the candidate. This empowering statement lays part of the responsibility of progress on those who live in the great land. See it’s not just about the person who works and lives in the White House, but it’s about those who live in white, brown, blue, and red homes across this land.

So as we stand at the threshold to the doorway of history the question will be are you ready to put forth the effort and do the work to join the vision of the visionary leading our country. The question is also what did you do to make the vision come true. It is fine that you know the name of Obama that’s wonderful that you may have even voted for him, but the more important question is “did you vote for your local school board member, and do you know who the members of your local school board are”. You want better schools in your community? Well don’t just look to the President and the unfunded mandate known as No Child Left Behind, look to the local governments whose job it is too educate our citizenry.

We must be aware, know, and understand how our government works. If you are concerned, troubled, or distressed with the violence in your neighborhood, the question should not be have you written a letter to the President of the United States, but have you written one to your City Council person, have you written one to your local State Senator and or State Representative. The power of progress lies within the hands of the community. Now, I understand that there is legislation that is need, I know that there is funding that is desired, but I also know that there is a power unmatched by any legislation, and there is a power unrivaled by any funding, and that power is the power of community. We can’t look to the one house that stands as the head of our government, but we must first look in our homes. Simply put “we must be the change that we want to see in our community”. To that I ask the question “can we”? And I answer “Yes We Can’.


© Jordan A. Harris, M.Ed 2008