Barack Obama: African American Success Story
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Does having an African American President really make a difference? And if so, what is the difference?
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President Obama is one of the most important African American successful role models in history.
The President made history again by being nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize after only 10 months in office.
Of course, for African American people, this success has particular significance.
What can African American people learn from his success?
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Table of Contents
- Looking Back over the Obama Presidency
- State of the Union Address
- What Is Black Love?
- Why Do We Need Role Models?
- Obama Is Still Fighting Back
- Serious Questions about Haiti
- Supporting Local People
- What Is African American Success?
- Amazon
- The Two Americas
- Making History
- Opening the Borders
- A New Mindset
- Leading from the Front
- Featured Lenses
- Resources
- If you liked this, you might also like these titles
- Guestbook
Looking Back over the Obama Presidency
Evebts exploring the Obama Presidency
Films and photographic exhibits exploring the Obama Presidency.
- The Obama Presidency: A Look Behind the Scenes
- The Obama Presidency: A Look Behind the Scenes
This exhibition of 56 photographs by Pete Souza, the chief official White House photographer, forms a visual diary of nearly two years of President Obama's time in office, from September 2009 through May 2011.
Listed in "Black History/Cultural Events". - By The People
- The film By The People tracks Obama's halting progress from long-odds candidate to front-runner in the 2008 presidential race. It's a roller-coaster ride that includes all the victories and upsets that were followed by millions in the media, seen from within the Obama campaign: from thrilling wins and disappointing losses in key states, to controversies stemming from Obama's associations with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and domestic terrorist Bill Ayers; from the high of receiving his party's nomination over Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, to the low of losing his beloved grandmother the day before his final victory over Sen. John McCain on Election Day. [From HBO's By The People website]
Listed in "Black History/Cultural Events".
State of the Union Address
The State of the Union Address 2012 Indexed by the New York Times
The New York Times has published President Obama's 2012 State of the Union Address and indexed it according to topic.
The President has emphasised the importance of building an economy that will be robust in the long-term.
Personally, I think this is one of his drawbacks. People today are looking for a quick fix. Nobody wants to plan for the long-term.
Anyway, that's an aside.
He spoke about:
- Supporting small business and entrepreneurs.
- Creating new jobs.
- Developing sustainable energy.
Some of the biggest applause was about giving women equal pay for equal work. Is this really an issue for people to get so excited about now, in 2012?
President Obama has a great vision and ideas on how to bring it into being.
See below to read the speech and watch a video of it.
The President has emphasised the importance of building an economy that will be robust in the long-term.
Personally, I think this is one of his drawbacks. People today are looking for a quick fix. Nobody wants to plan for the long-term.
Anyway, that's an aside.
He spoke about:
- Supporting small business and entrepreneurs.
- Creating new jobs.
- Developing sustainable energy.
Some of the biggest applause was about giving women equal pay for equal work. Is this really an issue for people to get so excited about now, in 2012?
President Obama has a great vision and ideas on how to bring it into being.
See below to read the speech and watch a video of it.
- State of the Union Address
- The New York Times has indexed President Obama's 2012 State of the Union Address according to topic.
- Tavis Smiley on the State of the Union Address
- Some very interesting observations. All Americans are more aware of class differences, i.e. differences in "fairness" and inequality. African Americans are much more aware of conflicts based on race and class.
- What Michelle Obama's guests tell us about the State of the Union
- The First Lady's guests included Warren Buffett's secretary, the one who reportedly pays a higher tax rate than Buffett does. There's Joan Milligan of Orlando, Florida, who staved off foreclosure by refinancing her mortgage through the HARP program, which Obama wants to expand. What does the guest list tell us about the President's agenda?
- State of the Union: Barack Obama gets an F for world leadership
- Nile Gardiner appears to have missed the point that most Americans care most about what is happening in America - and they will be the people voting in the next Presidential election.
What Is Black Love?
- What Is Black Love?
- This month's Ebony focuses on Black love. And it's great to see President and Mrs. Obama on the cover as an example of Black love.
What is Black love? Go here to read more.
Why Do We Need Role Models?
Why People Need Positive Role Models
We need to be aware of people who have achieved the kinds of goals to which we aspire. We can model ourselves on teachers, top athletes, business leaders and others who represent success and achievement. This applies to people of all races, backgrounds and cultures.
President Obama, as a global leader, is one of the most important role models we have.
Positive role models can help to transform the ways in which we see ourselves and our ability to attain our aspirations.
To read more about the need for positive Black role models, see Do You Think Like a Success?.
Obama Is Still Fighting Back
President Obama's birth certificate proves he was born in the U.S.A.
President Obama has displayed his birth certificate on YouTube as proof that he was born in the U.S.A. - contrary to what his detractors claim. Some people will go to any lengths to discredit the President, but this is low even for the haters.
As the President said, "we don't have time for this kind of silliness. We've got better stuff to do".
Although he has experienced a lot of opposition in his first two years in office - he has been smeared, attacked in the Press and received death threats - he continues to work for positive change.
President Obama said "Yes, We Can!" He emphasises the fact that we are working together. Yet he leads from the front and takes powerful and controversial steps to realise his vision. To read more, see Celebrating Barack Obama.
He said his government is providing more students loans, trying to encourage private job growth, and making tough decisions now that will help the county reclaim its rightful stand as the top leader in innovation and entrepreneurship.
When I interviewed Diane Abbott MP for my book Black Success Stories, I asked her how people could become involved in politics. At that time, Barack Obama was unknown to most of the world. Ms. Abbott's recommendation was that people become involved at the local, community level - as did the future President.
To read more about Black Success Stories, see Do You Think Like a Success?.
Diane Abbott was not chosen as Labour leader, but one day there could be Black leader of the Labour Party.
One year after his election victory, President Obama had the lowest approval rating of his presidency so far, but people all over the world are still celebrating his election victory.
This article suggest the President is recovering his style.
Is the President living up to his campaign promises? For a look back at his inauguration, see Obama's Inauguration Day.
Click here to watch a recent video from the President.
Of course, for African American people, this success has particular significance.
We have been excluded from the decision-making process for many generations. We saw evidence of this as recently as the 2000 Presidential election, in which many African American and Latino votes were not counted.
Before the election, Chris Rock said was that, if Barack Obama won, he, Rock, would no longer have to tell his children "You can be anything you want" every time they left the house.
Beyonce has said that her young nephew doesn't even understand why it's a big deal that we have an African American President. Click here to read more.
One thing we can learn from the President's example is to be aware of our history, to learn from it, but not to allow it to hold us back or limit us in our ambitions.
As the President said, "we don't have time for this kind of silliness. We've got better stuff to do".
Although he has experienced a lot of opposition in his first two years in office - he has been smeared, attacked in the Press and received death threats - he continues to work for positive change.
President Obama said "Yes, We Can!" He emphasises the fact that we are working together. Yet he leads from the front and takes powerful and controversial steps to realise his vision. To read more, see Celebrating Barack Obama.
He said his government is providing more students loans, trying to encourage private job growth, and making tough decisions now that will help the county reclaim its rightful stand as the top leader in innovation and entrepreneurship.
When I interviewed Diane Abbott MP for my book Black Success Stories, I asked her how people could become involved in politics. At that time, Barack Obama was unknown to most of the world. Ms. Abbott's recommendation was that people become involved at the local, community level - as did the future President.
To read more about Black Success Stories, see Do You Think Like a Success?.
Diane Abbott was not chosen as Labour leader, but one day there could be Black leader of the Labour Party.
One year after his election victory, President Obama had the lowest approval rating of his presidency so far, but people all over the world are still celebrating his election victory.
This article suggest the President is recovering his style.
Is the President living up to his campaign promises? For a look back at his inauguration, see Obama's Inauguration Day.
Click here to watch a recent video from the President.
Of course, for African American people, this success has particular significance.
We have been excluded from the decision-making process for many generations. We saw evidence of this as recently as the 2000 Presidential election, in which many African American and Latino votes were not counted.
Before the election, Chris Rock said was that, if Barack Obama won, he, Rock, would no longer have to tell his children "You can be anything you want" every time they left the house.
Beyonce has said that her young nephew doesn't even understand why it's a big deal that we have an African American President. Click here to read more.
One thing we can learn from the President's example is to be aware of our history, to learn from it, but not to allow it to hold us back or limit us in our ambitions.
Serious Questions about Haiti
What Is President Obama Doing about the Crisis in Haiti?
Nearly nine months after the earthquake, Haiti is still in a crisis situation.
Many people are still without housing or healthcare. Only 3% of the funds raised to help the Haitian people have been used.
My question is: what is President Obama doing about the situation?
For other serious questions about Haiti, see: Two Films about Haiti.
Many people are still without housing or healthcare. Only 3% of the funds raised to help the Haitian people have been used.
My question is: what is President Obama doing about the situation?
For other serious questions about Haiti, see: Two Films about Haiti.
Supporting Local People
President Obama Supports Workers at Republic Windows and Doors
As reported in Michael Moore's film "Capitalism, A Love Story", when the workers at Republic Windows and Doors in Chicago staged a sit-down strike, tPresident Obama stated that the workers were "absolutely right" to demand what they had earned. He added that "What's happening to them is reflective of what's happening across this economy".
Following this statement, many local people lined up to show their support for the workers, offering them food and other supplies.
Following this statement, many local people lined up to show their support for the workers, offering them food and other supplies.
What Is African American Success?
This is a question I am pose ongoingly. What is the nature of success - not just for African American people but for people of African heritage all over the world?
I explore this question more in my book Black Success Stories and in the More Black Success free ebooks.
Here's another question: what does having an African American President mean for African American people, in real terms?
The psychological effects cannot be underestimated. Suddenly, that thing our parents told us from the time we were small turns out to be true: we can be anything we want to be. For more about this, see Celebrating Barack Obama and Obama's Inauguration Day.
What does it mean for the overwhelming majority of African American people? In a time of spiralling debt, economic disaster, widespread homelessness, in which African Americans continually appear in the worst statistics in terms of crime, lack of education, unemployment and disempowerment, along with family breakdown and health challenges including cardiovascular disease and diabetes - what does having a Black President mean for us? In practical terms, does it make a difference?
I explore this question more in my book Black Success Stories and in the More Black Success free ebooks.
Here's another question: what does having an African American President mean for African American people, in real terms?
The psychological effects cannot be underestimated. Suddenly, that thing our parents told us from the time we were small turns out to be true: we can be anything we want to be. For more about this, see Celebrating Barack Obama and Obama's Inauguration Day.
What does it mean for the overwhelming majority of African American people? In a time of spiralling debt, economic disaster, widespread homelessness, in which African Americans continually appear in the worst statistics in terms of crime, lack of education, unemployment and disempowerment, along with family breakdown and health challenges including cardiovascular disease and diabetes - what does having a Black President mean for us? In practical terms, does it make a difference?
Amazon
The Two Americas
Like many African American children, I grew up hearing the "You can be anything you want" speech. I even believed it, up to a point.
But I, and other Black children, knew that there were two Americas. The one that stood for liberty, equality and justice. And the other one.
The America in which we lived was one in which justice was denied and dreams were deferred.
Barack Obama is too young to recall the times when African American people were beaten for wanting to sit at a lunch counter, or threatened and even murdered for wanting to vote.
But he lives in a time where African American men are still disproportionately found in the prison system and on death row. And when prisoners' labour is still sold cheaply to major corporations such as Microsoft.
So what can we learn from Barack Obama's example?
He has not been defeated by low expectations based on history. He has cultivated successful thinking which led to successful actions.
President Obama has not allowed his perceived weaknesses to hold him back. When his opponents criticised him for his lack of experience, he turned this around and told us he represented change.
President Obama has been willing to ask the electorate what we want, and pay attention to the feedback he gets.
He has utilised new methods in order to achieve his goals. Unlike his main opponent, Senator McCain, Obama is noted for his use of new technology and the Internet. This particularly made him attractive to younger voters.
President Obama has stuck with his principles and his values. He has made a point of being inclusive by mobilising younger voters, particularly young African American people who frequently fail to vote or even register. This demographic often feel alienated from the whole electoral process, even when they are in a position to be able to vote.
President Obama has vision and he shared his vision effectively with the American people. He made it clear that he planned to be the President for all of the United States, rather than being a Black President specifically.
President Obama demonstrated his commitment to family values by including his wife and children in his campaign, and through his ongoing connections with both of his grandmothers.
These are some of the lessons African American people can learn from Obama's success. In order to be successful in any field, we need to be flexible. We need to turn our perceived weaknesses into strengths. We need to remember where we come from, honour our heritage, without being tied to the past. We need to use new and different methods. And we need to listen and pay attention to the feedback we get, whilst remaining true to our values.
That way, one day Black parents will no longer have to give the "You can be anything you want" speech to our children. Because, as Chris Rock said, it will be obvious.
If you have enjoyed this article, please share it with others who can benefit from it.
But I, and other Black children, knew that there were two Americas. The one that stood for liberty, equality and justice. And the other one.
The America in which we lived was one in which justice was denied and dreams were deferred.
Barack Obama is too young to recall the times when African American people were beaten for wanting to sit at a lunch counter, or threatened and even murdered for wanting to vote.
But he lives in a time where African American men are still disproportionately found in the prison system and on death row. And when prisoners' labour is still sold cheaply to major corporations such as Microsoft.
So what can we learn from Barack Obama's example?
He has not been defeated by low expectations based on history. He has cultivated successful thinking which led to successful actions.
President Obama has not allowed his perceived weaknesses to hold him back. When his opponents criticised him for his lack of experience, he turned this around and told us he represented change.
President Obama has been willing to ask the electorate what we want, and pay attention to the feedback he gets.
He has utilised new methods in order to achieve his goals. Unlike his main opponent, Senator McCain, Obama is noted for his use of new technology and the Internet. This particularly made him attractive to younger voters.
President Obama has stuck with his principles and his values. He has made a point of being inclusive by mobilising younger voters, particularly young African American people who frequently fail to vote or even register. This demographic often feel alienated from the whole electoral process, even when they are in a position to be able to vote.
President Obama has vision and he shared his vision effectively with the American people. He made it clear that he planned to be the President for all of the United States, rather than being a Black President specifically.
President Obama demonstrated his commitment to family values by including his wife and children in his campaign, and through his ongoing connections with both of his grandmothers.
These are some of the lessons African American people can learn from Obama's success. In order to be successful in any field, we need to be flexible. We need to turn our perceived weaknesses into strengths. We need to remember where we come from, honour our heritage, without being tied to the past. We need to use new and different methods. And we need to listen and pay attention to the feedback we get, whilst remaining true to our values.
That way, one day Black parents will no longer have to give the "You can be anything you want" speech to our children. Because, as Chris Rock said, it will be obvious.
If you have enjoyed this article, please share it with others who can benefit from it.
Making History
The President is making history so fast it's hard to keep up!
The Healthcare Reform Bill has been passed by the House of Representatives by a margin of just five votes.When it is passed by the Senate, it will make healthcare available to millons of Americans who currently do not have access to it.
President Obama was given a Nobel Peace Prize after only 10 months in office. Some say he had not earned it yet, but was given it in trust towards his future actions. His decision to send more troops to Afghanistan was a very tough one, over which he deliberated for months. It remains to be seen what effect having won the Nobel Prize will have on the President.
Typically of President Obama, he has said that this prize award does not reflect his achievements, but is "an affirmation of American leadership, on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations".
The Healthcare Reform Bill has been passed by the House of Representatives by a margin of just five votes.When it is passed by the Senate, it will make healthcare available to millons of Americans who currently do not have access to it.
President Obama was given a Nobel Peace Prize after only 10 months in office. Some say he had not earned it yet, but was given it in trust towards his future actions. His decision to send more troops to Afghanistan was a very tough one, over which he deliberated for months. It remains to be seen what effect having won the Nobel Prize will have on the President.
Typically of President Obama, he has said that this prize award does not reflect his achievements, but is "an affirmation of American leadership, on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations".
Opening the Borders
President Obama will end the ban on HIV+ people travelling to the U.S.A.
President Obama recently announced that the U.S. will do away with legislation which banned people who are HIV+ from travelling to the United States.Ryan White, a young boy who was dying of AIDS, raised awareness about HIV and AIDS within the United States and campaigned for more research into the condition. He became friends with celebrities including Elton John. To read more, see What Can We Learn from Elton John?
The President recently signed a bill to extend the Ryan White CARE Act, which was originally passed shortly after Ryan's death in 2000. The Ryan White Programs are the largest provider of services for people living with HIV and AIDS in the United States.
The President said, "If we want to be the global leader in combating HIV/AIDS, we need to act like it."
He also stated, "We talk about reducing the stigma of this disease, yet we've treated a visitor living with it as a threat," Mr. Obama said. "We lead the world when it comes to helping stem the AIDS pandemic, yet we are one of only a dozen countries that still bar people with HIV from entering our own country."
A New Mindset
The President is very aware of Black history, the effect of it, and his role in it. Although aware of history, he is not limited by it. This is one of the important lessons we can learn from him.
In his address to the NAACP, the President stated: "We need a new mindset, a new set of attitudes -- because one of the most durable and destructive legacies of discrimination is the way that we have internalized a sense of limitation; how so many in our community have come to expect so little of ourselves," he said.
Referring to past battles for civil rights, he added, "What is required to overcome today's barriers is the same as was needed then -- the same commitment. The same sense of urgency. The same sense of sacrifice".
In his address to the NAACP, the President stated: "We need a new mindset, a new set of attitudes -- because one of the most durable and destructive legacies of discrimination is the way that we have internalized a sense of limitation; how so many in our community have come to expect so little of ourselves," he said.
Referring to past battles for civil rights, he added, "What is required to overcome today's barriers is the same as was needed then -- the same commitment. The same sense of urgency. The same sense of sacrifice".
Leading from the Front
President Obama's style is definitely to lead from the front. He is highly courageous and breaking new ground seems to come naturally to him. Yet his work is all about inclusion, including as many different people and different types of people as possible, regardless of age, race or any other differences.
He is pushing for major reforms in healthcare which will benefit millions of Americans. 12,000 people per day lose their health insurance in the United States and are thus unable to access healthcare.
Click here to read about the President's recent speech on healthcare to the AARP.
He has made unprecedented moves towards improving relations with Muslim countries. This demonstrates his level of vision - it will be a safer world for everyone if we can live in peace with our Muslim neighbours.
Click here to watch a video of his speech in Egypt.
He is pushing for major reforms in healthcare which will benefit millions of Americans. 12,000 people per day lose their health insurance in the United States and are thus unable to access healthcare.
Click here to read about the President's recent speech on healthcare to the AARP.
He has made unprecedented moves towards improving relations with Muslim countries. This demonstrates his level of vision - it will be a safer world for everyone if we can live in peace with our Muslim neighbours.
Click here to watch a video of his speech in Egypt.
Featured Lenses
Resources
- Black Success
- Articles and blogs on how to achieve success.
- Success Strategies for Black People
- This book will help you to achieve your goals and realise your unlimited possibilities.
- Black Success Stories
- True stories of success and achievement.
- The Key to Confidence and Self-Esteem
- Article on how Black people can overcome our negative conditioning and create a positive self-image.
- How Obama and Washington Think of Each Other
- Interesting article.
If you liked this, you might also like these titles
- Nonviolent Communication
- Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall Rosenberg. Click here to read my review.
- Success Strategies for Black People
- A book to help you realise your unlimited possibilities, achieve your goals and transform your life. Click here to read about how to get the best from this book.
- The Audacity of Hope
- The Audacity of Hope is Barack Obama's call for a new kind of politics-a politics that builds upon those shared understandings that pull us together as Americans. Lucid in his vision of America's place in the world, refreshingly candid about his family life and his time in the Senate, Obama here sets out his political convictions and inspires us to trust in the dogged optimism that has long defined us and that is our best hope going forward.
- Long Walk to Freedom
- The best-selling memoirs, begun during the South African president's years in prison, traces the Nobel Prize-winner's historic life from his traditional tribal childhood to his triumphant rise to power. Reprint. NYT.
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What can African Americans learn from the success of Barack Obama?
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Why did young African American people vote for Obama?
What changes have we seen in President Obama's first year in office?
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Why do we need positive role models?
President Obama
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leadership
leading from the front
role models
the need for positive role models
What can African Americans learn from the success of Barack Obama?
What can African Americans learn from Black history?
Why did young African American people vote for Obama?
What changes have we seen in President Obama's first year in office?
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Beyonce
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What Obama Needs for Kwanzaa
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Guestbook
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dellgirl
Nov 8, 2011 @ 9:22 pm | delete
- Beautiful lens, you have done a great job. Have a great week!
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Zhana21
Nov 10, 2011 @ 4:39 am | delete
- Thanks very much for your comment, Dellgirl.
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Forerunner405
Oct 20, 2011 @ 2:22 pm | delete
- Does it really matter that much if Obama was actually born in the USA? Surely anyone should be judged on their abilities, the size of their heart and the strength of their character. Just my thoughts not being from the USA.
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Zhana21
Nov 10, 2011 @ 4:40 am | delete
- It does matter. Some of Obama's critics have tried to claim he was not born in the U.S. - which he had to be in order to become President.
Thanks for your comment.
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pawpaw911
Jul 22, 2011 @ 4:27 pm | delete
- I will be glad when Martin Luther King's dream comes true.
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by Zhana21
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