I have observed two extremes for Black America recently. The economic recession has exaggerated these extremes. The upcoming election will determine what is done for those of us in the middle.
At the lowest extreme, there are those whose lives have been devastated by the recent recession, and those who are losing hope for a better future. Blacks suffer from more severe impacts of poverty, poor education, struggling families, incarceration rates for Black males, and unemployment at devastating levels.
At the other extreme is the growth rate of Black businesses (3 times the national rate), a record number of Black elected officials, middle class Blacks in key positions in government and industry (not in high numbers, but access to leadership, wealth and power), the very wealthiest of Black Americans doing well and thriving (i.e., Oprah, Bob Johnson, Magic Johnson, Bill Cosby, Tom Joyner, Tavis Smiley, etc.), and of course, the ultimate success of Barack Obama, President of the USA.
Therefore, most of us are in the middle. We can support our own advance or that of others (ahead of us or behind us), or we can conclude that what we can do as individuals will make no difference. Our vote in the upcoming election will have the greatest immediate impact on our future. Apathy and sitting on the sidelines is not an option that we can afford.
We are faced with the most important choice since 1964 in the upcoming election. Our future is tied to President Obama's success.
Our most important need today is Jobs, followed by Education, and Health Care. The election in November is the most important for African Americans since the Great Depression. If President Obama wins the upcoming election, we will continue to make progress out of the disastrous policies of the Republican Party that created the mess we are in. None of us is pleased with the progress, but to paraphrase a slogan from the Clinton era: IT'S THE ALTERNATIVE, STUPID!
Here is a comprehensive perspective on what the Obama Presidency has done for Blacks from TheRoot.com.
The Agenda: What Obama Has Done for You.
Part 1: What Health Care Reform Means for African Americans
Part 2: How Obama's Green Policies Benefit Blacks
Part 3: How Obama's Economic Policies Affect Blacks
Part 4: How Obama's Educational Policies Benefit Blacks
Part 5: How Obama's Civil Rights Policies Are Benefiting Blacks
If President Obama loses this election, all of us will lose much of the progress we have gained since the Civil Rights legislation of 1964-65. Every gap that we experience in our goals of upward mobility will widen, while the wealthiest and most privileged Americans receive more breaks. The damaging effects of a Romney Presidency cannot be over-exaggerated.
Here is what will happen if Romney is elected:
- Federal Government cuts will result in more attacks on Public Sector unions that will destroy jobs where African Americans are disproportionately represented. Additionally, wage gains for those who are employed will be rolled back to "balance budgets". So, most of us will be worse off, even if we have a job.
- A move toward privatizing K-12 education in the name of "choice" will further destroy public education in urban neighborhoods.
- The healthcare gains of the Affordable Care Act will be severely curtailed, if not repealed. Medicare and Medicaid gains will be rolled back, and healthcare insurance for children and young adults will be eliminated.
- The tax cuts proposed by Paul Ryan will institutionalize class division. Flat tax proposals only secure the privileges of those who are well off, and prevent economic upward mobility for those striving to climb the economic ladder.
The only way to improve our condition, and provide President Obama with the possibility of fighting against the absolute opposition of the Republican Party, is with our votes -- in this election, and in the mid-term elections of 2014 -- to restore majorities in both houses of congress.
We don't have money, and we don't have privilege. Complaining won't help. But being strong advocates for our priorities is only valid if we confirm our advocacy with our votes.This is a fight for President Obama's political life, and our economic future. A failure to vote is akin to handing over the future of our children to tyrants who mean us no good.
Our choices have never been more stark. We can vote to re-elect President Obama, or we can allow Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan to destroy what is left of our economic status when they return to the policies that nearly wiped out the Black middle class. We can hand them complete victory, or choose to fight with President Obama to restore our path to a better future.