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All the Talks about Barak Obama |
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By Nvasekie N. Konneh Posted February 19, 2008 |
Of late I have been working as a canvasser with Working America, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO. Right now we are doing membership recruitment, going from door to door registering people as members. As of now some of the issues we are presenting to the people in their homes are outsourcing of jobs to other countries and the more than 40 million people without health insurance in the US. On these issues, many people are excited to sign on. That does not mean we don’t meet people who tell us “I am not interested but thank you any way.”
After our 30 minute daily briefing and training which start at 1:30pm and lasts up to 2:00pm, we are divided into teams heading to different areas within and around Philadelphia. While heading to our turfs, we have van training which begins with an ice breaker. We will talk about our favorite movies, music, political candidates in the current election or whatever we plan to do over the weekend. After the ice breaker we will practice our rap, the way to present our message to the people we meet on our turfs.
On this particular day, we were seven in the van, four whites and three blacks. I am an African. The other two blacks are African-Americans. When our field manager asked who our favorite candidates are in the race for the White House, one of the four white canvassers said Dennis Kucinich. When I told him that Kucinich had been out of the race a while back, he said he “may consider” Barak Obama. Our field manager, a white male, said for him it is “definitely” Obama because his message is inspiring. He believes that Obama has a clean record, never been involved in any scandal. Another one said he was still undecided between Hilary and Obama. The young white female among us said she was yet undecided between Hilary and Obama. The two young African Americans said they didn’t care much because “all politicians are the same and no matter who become president they can’t expect any difference.” For my part I said that Barak Obama is my first choice but I will support any of the two candidates that finally wins the nomination because my primary concern is to drive the Republicans out of power or deny them another four years after all the mess George Bush has put us through.
I am proud that Obama is African like me. I am aware of his multiracial background but since his father was a son of Africa, Barak Obama is my brother African. To see a black man, indeed an African becoming the most powerful person in the world is very inspiring. Good news about black people or Africa does not often get reported in the western media. As Africans, we have been beaten down for so long. We have been enslaved, colonized, and even in 2008, we have not fully recovered from the negative effects of slavery and colonization. Even as independent nations in Africa, as freed people in America, Europe, and the Caribbean, our world is still defined by wars, poverty, hunger, disease, etc. That’s the only picture of Africa portrayed in the western media. Yes we have suffered too many years of humiliation but we have always hoped for better days to come. Against all these negatives, it is refreshing to see a black man, indeed an African man becoming a source of inspiration for America and the rest of the world. This is good news worth celebrating and that’s why I am supporting Barak Obama. I am praying and hoping that he will make it all the way to the White House.
Few days ago, I was watching TV with an elderly relative of mine. She is not literate and can’t understand what is been said about Obama or what he’s saying when he’s talking to adoring crowds here and there. She said to me in my native Mandingo language, “I feel proud every time I see Obama on TV and I am praying day and night for him to be president. I am sure God will answer my prayer.” Another relative of mine living in Las Vegas is an Obama fanatic. According to him, he used to love the Clintons to death but with Barak Obama now, he’s found a new hero. He has switched over to Barak Obama because he represents something new for America and the world. He has been fired up even more so since Obama’s victory in Iowa. He went on to say that “even white people in Iowa supported him because they see him as a unifier, they see him as a redeemer of the nation from Bush’s nonsense.” He’s even mad at the Clintons now for “badmouthing Obama.” He went on further to say that for “many years we have been there for the Clintons, we have been their loyal supporters, at some point calling Bill the ‘first black president.’ We have supported them through all the scandals.” With all these, my cousin believes that “our time has come and the Clintons should give us chance because they had been there for eight years already.”
I have tried to calm him down, telling him this is politic. I told him that in as much we love Obama and are eager to see history been made, Hilary too represents another historic reality. For the first time in American history, Americans are closer to electing either a first black president or a first female president. So this race is much more about race and gender as it is about who has the experience or who’s inspiring. While each one of them is eager to make history, I can understand why Hilary is so desperate because this may be her last chance and because of age being on his side Obama may have another shot at the same opportunity down the years. Probably Bill and his wife might have thought it would be an easy ride back to the White House. May be they could not imagine that what they thought would be an easy ride would be challenged by a man called Obama
As I ponder all these in my mind, I came across two young Liberians recently talking about Obama. One of them said that he believes that Obama is America’s next president. His friend responded, “If Mandingo man can be president in Liberia, then Barak Obama will be president in America.” Comparing Obama’s chance of being president of the US with that of a Mandingo’s in Liberia was quite interesting to me because I happen to be a Mandingo. This also reminds me of Obama’s native Kenya where his people are locked up in ethnic conflict as a result of a flawed election. In Kenya, the accusation is that the Kikuyus want to monopolize power. It is only ironic that while Barak Obama is inspiring people in America to transcend race and consider for the common good of humanity, his people in Africa are still locked up in ethnic conflicts. One can only hope that Obama’s success in the race to the White House will help us to understand that we too must transcend ethnicity for the sake of peace and prosperity in Africa.
Only in America
Having read the stories of Henry Kissinger, Madeline Albright, Arnold Schwarzenegger and now reading the story of Barak Obama, all I am left with are these three words, “Only in America.” The fight that naturalized Americans and the son of African immigrant can rise to highest positions such as governor, secretary of state, and possibly a president speaks volume of how far the United States has come as a melting pot. One does not hear about these kinds of stories anywhere in the world, only in America.
What we are witnessing in America may be the realization of Martin Luther King’s dream of a nation where “people will be judged based on their character rather than the color of their skin.” The 2008 election is an historic moment for America. For the first time, a black man has come close to being elected as the leader of the “free world.” This is the picture of America we want to see. King’s dream has been romanticized in literature, films, music, etc. It’s been commercialized. This time around, we must make it plain and simple. As I may continue my work with Working America as the election progresses, I will be highly motivated and energized knocking on more doors to vote for change, vote for Obama. This is our time and we must seize the moment.
About the author: Nvasekie Konneh is a nine-year veteran of the US Navy and the author of the book of poetry, “Going to War for America.” He’s a community activist and chairman of the Liberian Writers Network (LWN) and Editor in Chief of the Limany website. Besides writing, Nvasekie Konneh is a music producer/promoter and CEO of the KonnLove Entertainment and Production based in Philadelphia, USA. Nvasekie Konneh is the Executive Producer of the Positive Force’s CD, “Liberia, Land of the Free,” and Massebe Kamara’s debut CD, “Dengo.” Contact info: KonnLove@aol.com.