Barak Obama and Freedom Road
Senator Barak Obam is only the 5th African American to serve in the Senate.
In 1966, Edward Brooke, was the 1st to be
popularly elected. Obama is the 3rd to be popularly elected,and the 1st African American to have a legitimate chance of being elected President of the United States.
Recently, the news media focused unprecedented attention on, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obama''s former pastor. Linking the two is a calculated distraction to persuade voters from voting for Senator Obama. In 30 years of
ministry, Wright never had international
media exposure like the simultaneous live
broadcast of his speeches on CNN, CSPAN, and Fox. How often does anyone speak before the Detroit NAACP and the National Press Club and get broadcast worldwide?
Media fallout from Wright''s speeches was predictable. Articles in the New
York Times and Washington Post blasted Wright. Negative wire reports were compiled from these articles and sent to thousands of newspapers across the country.
What is the focus of these articles? Namely, Wright was escorted to the podium by a member of the Nation of Islam. Wright praised NOI leader Louis Farrakhan and defended a statement Farrakhan made 20 years ago against Zionism. Wright stated that Farrakhan is not his enemy. Wright accused the U.S. government of creating AIDS and blamed U.S. foreign policy for the attacks on September 11th.
The Republican National Committee
immediately began running TV ads in Indiana and North Carolina linking Democratic candidates to Wright and Obama. Rush Limbaugh unleashed ''Operation Chaos'' to undermine Obama by supporting Senator Clinton. Conservative strategist support Clinton because they believe she will be an easier foe in November.
This is reminiscent of the Reconstruction era. Shortly after the Civil War, blacks received the right to vote and many were elected to local offices and state legislatures. Several
blacks were elected to the U.S. House of representatives and through much travail finally seated. The carpetbagger Mississippi legislature elected the first two blacks who served in the Senate. Only one served a full term. To date, there has never been more than one black to serve in the Senate at the same time.
Freedom Road is the title of a 1944 novel by Howard Fast. The book was reprinted in 1995, with an introduction by Edward Foner and Foreword by W.E.B. DuBois. In 1979, the book was made into a TV mini series. Muhamad Ali portrayed the fictional Gideon Jackson. After the Civil War, Jackson returns to the South Carolina plantation that was his home until he escaped slavery and ran away to
join the Union Army. Jackson is elected by black and white farmers to represent them in the South Carolina legislature and later the U.S. Congress.
Gideon Jackson embodies the hopes and dreams of those who elected him to office. Blacks and whites form an interracial democracy in an effort to build a better society. The movie ends in tragedy as The Bargain of 1876 brings an end to Reconstruction. reigns as blacks are disenfranchised and condemned to economic dependence as sharecroppers and laborers.
Freedom Road sold over 32 million copies worldwide and has been published in over 82 languages. Thou fictional, Fast captures the dreams and spirit of optimism held by blacks during Reconstruction. Likewise, Senator Obama epitomizes the same hope and optimism as he campaigns for President. Senator Obama is only the 5th African American to serve in the Senate. There have been many who were more than qualified to run for office.
Today, the methods may have changed, but the intent is still the same. It may be another 100 years before we see
another Barak Obama. I urge everyone to read the book and to watch Freedom Road. Afterwards, think about our nation''s history from 1865 to today. Then, get out and support Senator Obama.
Arthur W. Smith, Jr.
Chesapeake, VA
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