Anthony Carter and Thabiti Anyabwile have each written very engaging posts regarding the candidacy of Barack Obama. Their posts are important regardless of whether you plan to vote for Senator Obama or not. As I said before even if he loses Barack Obama has made it nearly impossible for future black candidates to run as a traditional black candidate. In fact the country has already begun to see this in the elections of Deval Patrick the governor of Massachusetts and Michael Nutter who was elected mayor of Philadelphia with overwhelming white support.
Senator Obama has kicked it to another level as people all over the country and even the world consider him as a competent candidate to lead the United States of America. It's that reality that could have young African-Americans look at themselves and think 'there really are no limits to where my drive, hard work and talent could take me'. But perhaps more importantly Senator Obama's candidacy could finally move the rest our society into thinking the same way.
To Him Who Loves Us...
Pastor Lance
3 comments:
As an African American pastor, having two sons, of teen age, my oldest being 17, and discussing the real benefits of this particular campaign with him, just hours ago, I would caution all, as I did him, that while this run has proven, that we presently live in a time where publicly the possibility appears to exist, and the sentiments of the nation at large appears to be embracing, to a degree, this unique and plausible fact, yet because we have not arrived there yet, and because we can be sure of, the very real and present danger of deep seeded racism, in many many parts of our beloved America, we should not count our chickens before they hatch.
It would be naive and short sighted to draw too many assumptions about the capicity of this nation to endure, without certain ramifications, even potentially violent and hostile reactions, local and at the higest levels, the actual victory of a Black man to the office of the presidency.
I reminded my son, of the dangerous years of the sixties, when we were shocked, by the assasinations, of both King and Kennedy.
Why were we shocked? Because we allowed hope to venture into unguarded territory.
The unguarded territory of believing that consensus or political momentum, equalled a cessation of vitriol resistance and determination to fight for the maintenance of the status quo.
There is a lot of work to be done, to make these sort of gargantuan efforts,of change, both safe, possible and lasting.
With my deep and profound concerns for the underpinnings of our moral fabric dissentigrating both in culture and Church, and a vast and obvious absence of the presence of divine power operating; Vibrantly functioning both in the pulpit and having reverberating effects throughout our neighborhoods and educational institutions, so that right response to so radical a change,could be confidently assumed, based upon a more sure foundation. A foundation designed to anticipate, and endure the shakings of the dark forces of destruction.
Have we laid the foundation for such a brand new house? I doubt it very seriously.
By Grace, Alone
PJesse
Pastor Lance you said:
It's that reality that could have young African-Americans look at themselves and think 'there really are no limits to where my drive, hard work and talent could take me'.
That may need to prefaced with a lot of God's grace there could be no limits. The hard work and boot strap mentality can drive people to some very unbiblical ambition and I see it everyday in the Church. Work hard, get promoted, pursue the American Dream, while Christian fellowship, service to the King, and accountablility are all punted. Just my thoughts bro.
thanks brothers for your responses. brother Jesse, you're right in saying that we haven't laid a foundation for the possible election of Senator Obama and what that could mean.
I was actually surprised that he decided to run after serving less than one term in the senate and was even more surprised that he gained such quick momentum leading up to the primary season. while his election wouldn't mean an end to racism I do believe it could signal a significant change in racial attitudes.
brother Lionel thanks for the correction you suggested. I should have been clear that many young African-Americans could see that the specter of racism isn't as daunting should Obama get elected. That still means that ambition rightly placed seeks advance for the sake of service to our Lord and our communities. Thanks for keeping up on me.
peace
LL
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