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Barack’s Place in Black History
Back in November, a group of folks from work trooped to a local bar to grab some drinks for another coworker’s birthday. All the usual suspects came thru, we grabbed a few beers and began to chat it up for a few. As I walked back to the bar to grab another bottle of Miller High Life, it is the Champagne of Beers, I overheard two of my White coworkers having an intense discussion about Barack. I wasn’t quite in the mood to be the Universal Black Delegate, but I was stuck. I was incredibly thirsty and the bartender was moving slower than a big girl in a swimming pool.
As I anticipated, when the two of them reached a stalemate one coworker quickly turned toward me to ask, and I paraphrase, [Seattle] is Barack a more important figure to African American history than Martin Luther King, Jr.? Honestly, it was a more insightful question that I anticipated. So I took a second to collect my thoughts and really give it the answer it deserved – “No.”
My two coworkers’ jaws dropped like they were Looney Toons characters and my response was soon met with a “What?!” And I’m sure some of you of looking at your computer screen and whispering in your office or apartment, “It’s only been five months and this Negro has already lost it.”
Once the shock subsided I explained to them, as I will now explain to you, that MLK Jr. was an active part of the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. King voluntarily took that cause, brought it onto his shoulders and marched forward. Barack is not here to lead African Americans to the proverbial promise land and it is ignorant for African Americans to think that he would. It’s not in the president’s job description to uplift Black people. As you can tell from Barack’s recent predecessor.
Barack will do wonders for America both here and internationally; however, will he be the savior of Black America? I highly doubt that. Beyond being a great example for the young hooligans to see there’s more to life than being a rapper or an athlete, I don’t see him doing much else for Black America specifically. He’s got a downward spiraling economy, a tainted global reputation, a crumbling infrastructure and about 300 million disillusioned people to get back on track. I’d rather him handle all that first.
Furthermore, shouldn’t we stop looking for one person to save the lot of us and move forward as a people? You don’t see everyone else looking around for the savior of their respective race. But that’s another topic for another day.
Let’s get back on track. Will Barack take up more space in your kid’s African American Studies books than Martin Luther King? Or will he receive just as much press as his previous White counterparts have?
Seattle – MLK Jr.? Haha. Man, I Rock With Huey P – Washington
18 Responses to “Barack’s Place in Black History”
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seattle, this is a great post!!! so well-thought out and so true!
i actually totally agree with everything that you’ve written here. at first, i must admit, i was looking at you with a side eye but after your thorough and logical explanation, i’m on ur bandwagon.
but to answer your question about who’s going to be in the history books more, i think that actually depends on what obama accomplishes in his tenure. i’m sure that it will also be included in black history as well because he is the first black president but because he is the president, his history will also be included in other areas of the history books.
all that aside, i really hope that obama is able to not only turn around the state in which the country is in, but also the morale. i believe in him…
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you are so right mr.seattle.
so many of “us” folk are looking for barack to be this alpha and omega to be this savior do a dying nation.
“someone call obama maybe he’s got an answer the country needs chemo cause its dying from cancer” – Akua 9/11 poem
I feel like he is an excellent leader. God has placed him at the helm of a sinking ship which is a heavy burden to bear. being the fall guy is the hardest position to be in. I thank him because it is now possible with the drive and determination that u can be anything u want to be.
MLK planted the seed that stirred inside barack’s soul that made his run for presidency come to fruition.
langston hughes said what happens toa dream deferred? does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?
a dream deferred turned into a presidency 40 years later.
Job well done MLK…happy birthday.
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Fantastic Post!
I think that MLK Jr holds more importance. I believe that without him, this wouldn’t be so monumentamental. Yes, still important… but not as BIG.
King has this dream so long ago, he fought for this, he wrote a speech about it…. now his dream is coming into fruition.
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This is a great post. I agree. Barack is not a civil rights leader, he is a President. If anything, people need to take it upon themselves to take his position as inspiration to do better and be better. Dr. King had a different message, in a different era, and was meeting a different need. Yeah, our President is Black, but America isn’t. Perspective, people. Perspective.
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BLaCk Bruce WaYnE Reply:
January 19th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
I second Ms. Jenkins’ points.
1.) Brilliant post!!
2.) As she said, Barack is not a civil rights leader, he is a President. That means there will be some decisions that he’ll make in the future that some of us may not be down with. He is looking out for the overall perspective of the U.S.
WELL NOTED MS. JENKINS…PERSPECTIVE!!!
P.S.: Another way to look at this is through Jackie Robinson’s historical accomplishments. Would we say Barry Bonds or Ken Griffey, Jr. is more important than Jackie Robinson? I think not! Without MLK, the idea of Barack is not even a dream…
Paz in Baghdad
-BBW
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I was finalizing my plans to go the inauguration when I remembered my grandmother telling me if I was going then she would definitely have to watch the t.v. It never occured to me that the only reason why she was watching it on t.v instead of taking the 2hr drive to Washington with me was she was too scared to go. That back in her day she can remember the kinds of thing that happen to black people when they try to unite and gather together. I think Martin Luther King had the greatest contribution to Civil Rights in history. After him there was change. Barak Obama’s change is different, it gave hope to young blacks and old blacks. Yet he never said he was going to be a black president to advocate that blacks are treated equally, his fight is for Americans. So when he ends up in the history books later down the road I see him as a part of American History. Not a part of African-American History.
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ChokLitFacory Reply:
January 19th, 2009 at 11:44 am
You don’t think he will be included as a part of African-American history at all? I find that hard to believe.
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Danielle Reply:
January 19th, 2009 at 11:56 am
Yes I believe he’ll be a part of African-American History as the first black president. But I don’t think it will be a noted revolutionary movement for black Americans through him. I could be wrong.
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Yea Barack has made some mark in history…1st black president…1st black president…1st black president!!!
But unlike MLK jr he is not an activist for the black community. I see it like this he’s not a franchise player or team captain…he’s more like the 1st black player in the NHL- he’s the first of..
Happy King Day! I have a dream that my boss will stop signing notes with The Notorious Dave
or I will have to pop his tires or pop him in the mouth…his choice!!
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CO-SIGN! I 100% agree with Seattle. Barack has never once said or implied during his entire campaign that he was ONLY for Black America. IF that were the case, he would have ended up like Jesse Jackson ended up twice! Barack represents everyone and is a historical figure for everyone. Dr. MLK lead the historical progress which has continued to open many doors for blacks and other minorities including Obama’s place as U.S. president. It is inevitable that Barack will eventually have a national holiday also.
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Happy MLK Day everybody!
Great post, Seattle. I think even Pres. Obama himself wouldn’t say he was more important than MLK. As you said, he isn’t leading us to “the promise land” so it’s unfair to compare the two. Yes he is inspired by MLK, but he isn’t him. I think Barack’s inspiration is different because he isn’t inspiring us to follow him, he’s inspiring us to lead.
And since you mentioned education and Barack, I am interested in how Black history is taught in schools now. I remember when I was a wee shawty, Black History Month was THEE month to talk about us. And it was always the same ol’ same ol’…MLK, Harriet Tubman, the usual. And I’ve learned from my peers that this experience wasn’t just special to my school. I wonder now that Obama is our upcoming President (one more day ninjas!), if the time spent on learning about Black history will be spread out a little bit more throughout the year. Discussing the 2008 election alone will require more than one month anyway.
Have an introspective and lovely Inauguration viewing, my people!
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Danielle Reply:
January 19th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
My daughter learns very frequantly about Black History in school. She’s in 3rd grade right now and she can pretty much tell you about “the same ol’ same ol’…MLK, Harriet Tubman, the usual.” But sometimes she suprises me with new info.
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Cheekie Reply:
January 19th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
“But sometimes she suprises me with new info.”
I’m always glad to hear that because I’ve always stressed through the years that it’s important to diversify the history taught in regards to our people. I’m not knocking the importance of learning about MLK and the rest (because it is!), but it becomes a bit suspect when schools are teaching him in order to satisfy some sort of a “Black History quota” and little else.
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Like I have always said, no president can fix the hood; black or white. Now Obama may fix the almost hood but he aint even gotta do that to be considered a success. We gotta remind folk that he aint Martin, Malcolm or Medgar. He’s good not that good though. And I swear if I see another picture of Mt. Rushmore with Obama, Martin, Malcom and Jesus, I might hit some one.
However, I am glad that black ppl are proud of someone
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Well said. I think they are equally important, just as you and I important to black people and the movement.
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I know I’m late, but maybe it’s a good thing that not too many people read this.
I absolutely disagree with the central argument of this post.
In response to the question, Is Barack a more important figure to African American history than Martin Luther King, Jr.? my answer is, he will be just as important, if not more.
Martin Luther King, Jr. holds a tainted legacy, because he was not his own inspiration. The history of how his greatness has become the central focus of the civil rights struggle is attributed to the SCLC. The people who sought to establish the group needed a preacher to lead them. In the mid-1900′s America was still stuck in its proclamation made to the global community that she is a Christian nation, separate from the sacriligious crimes committed during WWII. Therefore, Black America would be more likely to join a Christian cause and the government would be more accepting of a movement with a solid foundation in Christian fundamentalism. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was asked repeatedly, and declined many times, to be the face of the movement. He finally came around and was deemed the official founder of the SCLC. Initially, at times when his family was threatened, he wanted to respond with violence. The members of the SCLC urged him not to, as it would ruin the philanthropic purpose of the organization. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was introduced to the non violent teachings of Gandhi by his main advisor from the SCLC, Bayard Rustin. The conception of MLKJr.’s speech, informally the “I Have a Dream…” speech, certainly was not his own, but who to credit remains disputed. President Kennedy was running for office and knew that the only way he could gain majority support was to keep a safe distance from the Civil Rights Movement, so he helped them subtly. Kennedy enabled the platform for MLKJr.’s speech for two reasons, the first being the benefit of his campaign and the second being arrangements made by unrecognized members of the SCLC. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s memory serves as a reminder of what one man can do with the encouragement of his people, Barack Obama’s memory will serve as a reminder of what one man can do when he believes in himself. I think Obama’s message is just as valuable to civil rights as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s. While Dr. King, Jr. was talented in many ways, it took a community of visionaries to call that talent to action. It is the unrecognized members of the SCLC and other Civil Rights organizations over whom tears were shed the evening the polls closed, and the individuals behind the scene who built Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s positive public image.
The two public figured preached a message of self confidence in making a difference, and accepting the power of that belief to supersede all else. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was what this country needed to call upon justice roughly 60 years ago, Barack Obama is what this country needs now. One taught a message of independence as a culture of people, the other teaches a message of independence as an individual–when comparing their teachings, each holds a different value dependent upon circumstance.
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“Dr. King voluntarily took that cause, brought it onto his shoulders and marched forward.” To that, I say false.
“Barack is not here to lead African Americans to the proverbial promise land and it is ignorant for African Americans to think that he would.” False as well, as people of color we do not have a choice in serving as leaders (positive or negative) within our respective cultures unless we wish to separate ourselves from the color of our skin, physically.
“It’s not in the president’s job description to uplift Black people.” False, it’s the president’s job to uplift all people, and Black people fall in that category.
Southern
wordyarticulate BelleSource: Cross reference of “I May Not Get There with You: The True Martin Luther King, Jr.” by Michael Eric Dyson and “The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr.” by Martin Luther King, Jr. & Clayborne Carson.
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When it comes to black heroes, I think I’d put Harriet Tubman and Nat Turner at the top of the list. MLK was certainly effective, but like Gandhi, his effectiveness depended on the decency of the people in the country he was trying to change.
As for Obama, how significant he ultimately proves to be remains to be seen.
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To even ask/being made to choose who is more ‘important’ in regards to Black History is blasphemous to begin with. Every leader has their place and personal story.
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