The American Dichotomy:

The American Dichotomy: To Change With The Same

Forty-five years to the day after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Gave his famous "I Have A Dream" speech in Washington D.C., Barack Obama officially accepted the Democratic nomination for the office of President of the United States. As he accepted the nomination, Americans across this country were moved by how far we have come from the Jim Crow segregation motivated march on Washington.
African-Americans who never believed they would live to see an African-American become or even be nominated to become America’s Commander-In-Chief, beam with pride as they witness this watershed moment. White and Black Americans(as well as all other ethnic groups of Americans) who are hungry for change in American politics, devour the eloquent words of Hope and Promise delivered by Mr. Obama. In a country that for so long has been divided by race, it seems fitting that a son of a Black African father and a White American mother delivers such a poignant message of hope and reconciliation. Barack has the unique ability to simultaneously speak to the issues and concerns of African-Americans, while comforting White America’s uneasiness about treading in topical waters not discussed in depth here-to-fore.
We witness tears flowing from the eyes of African-American men and women raised in a pre-Civil Rights era America who never thought they would personally see this day. Some African-Americans(and White Americans) raised in post-Civil Rights era America use the fact of this nomination as evidence of our arrival into a post-racial, color blind society.
We should readily acknowledge that we have progressed from the "segregated restroom", "can’t eat at this lunch counter", "sit in the back of the bus" era which helped fuel Dr. King’s led march on Washington D.C. 45 years ago. It is amazing, inspirational and exciting to witness such a monumental advancement in the 45 years of time marking the space between these powerful moments.
While we recognize the advancements made over the past 45 years, we continue to hear and see incidents containing elements which would lead one to believe that race continues to be relevant in 21st Century Society and Politics. While campaigning during the Democratic Primary, Barack Obama was subjugated to suggestions, innuendoes and flat out racially charged comments questioning his religious affiliation, his patriotism, his ability to lead and his elect-ability. So many potentially damaging statements, comments and accusations were coming out about Mr. Obama that he felt it necessary to open a website specifically purposed do dispel all of the falsities being told about him. Have we ever witnessed a candidate bombarded with so much negative unsubstantiated fodder(believed by so many to be true) that he would need to set up a website for the specific purpose of dispelling each one? Still we cannot say definitively that it was racial, because it’s not overt enough. Much of what is said is implied or suggestive.
We live in a time in this country where the majority of voting age Americans are not happy with the Bush Administration’s politics and policies. We(as a country) are involved in a very unpopular war in Iraq. Our economy is suffering greatly as well. Most people’s view of the Republican Party is not very favorable due to the Bush administration. An overwhelming majority believe we need "Change". Here we have, in Barack Obama, a candidate who’s very political platform is built on "Change". A man who speaks with such presence and purpose that he makes many people who were initial opponents and those otherwise skeptical of politics believe that, "Yes We Can". In a climate of such disdain for the policies of the past eight "Bush Republican Years", with a loud call for "Change" and a candidate bringing a message of "Change" in such a galvanizing and refreshing manner; How is it possible for him to be in a virtual tie in the polls with a man(Mr. McCain) perceived so closely affiliated with the failed policies and missteps of the Bush Administration?
The Political Environment has changed significantly over the past 45 years; Have our attitudes?
Schools in many Southern states were integrated because of the Brown v. The Board Of Education decision of the 1950's. Making "separate but equal" unlawful and ushering in an era of Blacks being able to get into previously "White only" schools. Move ahead some 50 years to the present and we find that the same schools integrated in the 50's and 60's by Blacks were exited by Whites and subsequently became majority Black populated schools plagued by some of the same under funding and sub-par educational offerings which led to the equality seeking Brown v. Board case of the 1950's. So we find that although the law does not allow discrimination of entrance into a facility, attitudes and prejudices can produce some of the same results and effects.
Let’s make sure that when we vote, that although we may despise the overall wearing, tobacco spitting, hateful Jim Crow of the Civil Rights era, we do not support his more clandestine, subliminally suggestive, suit wearing, politically savvy, yet just as harmful grandson James Theodore Crow Esquire The Third.
Perceptions drive our thoughts and actions more than we may want to acknowledge.

Jonathan Richardson
Author/Speaker/Poet

This Articles is Part of the "perspectives" series By the author of the thought provoking book: The Complicated Life Of The African-American Man(What’s on his mind)