Eyes on the Prize
Last month we acknowledged the first 100 days of President Obama’s tenure as President of the United States and it has been marked with a plethora of Changes for Americans; from the signing of the SCHIP Bill to the resent passing of his budget and to the exclamation point of now being able to name a justice for the United States Supreme Court.
President Obama has created a mantra of “Yes We Can” and elevated the expectations of Americans as to how our country must work in order for all to be able to pluck from the tree of opportunity.
This first 100 days was analyzed from every imaginable angle, however, while it was right for us to acknowledge this political milestone, It is also incumbent upon us, the African American Caucus, to be aware of the other issues floating in the political atmosphere concerning African Americans, as well as for the United States, after all President Obama cannot and should not do it all by himself.
For reasons that are unexplainable, there are those who believe that since we have an African American president, we no longer need civil rights laws, and that racism is dead. This is in contrast with those who do not believe that just because we have had women governors’, mayors and senators that women’s rights issues are dead and need to be off the books.
Mrs. Alma Powell has said that in the United States of American, 48% of African American students are graduating from High School, and North Carolina is not that far from this percent. It is said that 50% of African Americans are unemployed, and there are more young African American men in jail than in Universities. Also be aware that the United States Supreme Court is hearing cases that will place affirmation action and the Voting Rights Act in jeopardy.
Now more than ever, the African American Caucus must remain vigilant concerning these issues and remain active in every county as all politics is local.President Obama understands that power must flow up and not trickle down. And so should we. As the African American Caucus of the North Carolina Democratic Party, we should also understand and acknowledge this, and our Goal should be no less than to create the atmosphere for this to occur.
Thank you for all that you are doing. Let us keep our focus, our “Eyes on the Prize “and march forward.
Chenita Johnson, President AAC-NCDP chenitajohn@hotmail.com
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