A Very Big Job!

Sometimes I think it is an advantage that I have come from somewhere else to East Texas. I know I am different. (People point out that I speak differently.) Perhaps this is not a bad thing that I have a different view and have only been here for twelve years. You know I came from Toronto, a diverse city where people of all colors and languages mix and mingle. A person can go into any restaurant and see people of all nationalities and hear many languages spoken.

America - The United States - and Canada are countries full of immigrants. (I too am an immigrant!) If no one had chosen to come to North America, we would be very sparsely populated and we would not have come as far as we supposedly have.

How far have we really come since Martin Luther King Jr. had his dream? How many African-Americans truly have the same opportunities that White Americans have?

Actually, if you look closely, you can see that some Blacks are actually doing very well. Why is it that there is not a higher percentage of successful Blacks? Is Barack Obama being President going to change that? Young Blacks need role models. Barack Obama is a not the first person to represent what can be achieved if you work hard at attaining your goals. He just happens to be the first one to run and be elected President.

It could very well have been Colin Powell instead of Barack Obama. If you recall, he told Barbara Walters he did not have "the fire in his belly" to be President.

Condoleza Rice has served America well as Secretary of State. If you look carefully, you will find several outstanding Blacks in government and business. What is it that separates successful Blacks from non-achievers?

Many - not all - young Black people have been raised in single-parent families with no father. Mr. Obama has mentioned this and of course, comedian Bill Cosby has also addressed this.

The figures for young Black men graduating high school in United States are around 32%.

It is long overdue that people who are true patriots of the United States - people who really want to see things go well - extended a hand to underpriviledged Black young people. It is time for faith-based groups to mentor young Blacks who do not have enough positive role models.

It is time for Blacks and Whites to work toward encouraging disadvantaged young Black people, showing them that the road to achievement is paved with hard work and kind actions. I have heard some of the stories that are passed down from grandparents to parents to children about how badly Blacks have been treated, particularly in the South. It is fact that Blacks were abused terribly.

Will Barack Obama make a difference to what young African-Americans can achieve? Maybe, maybe not. He is indeed an excellent role model, as is his wife, Michelle. I see and know other Blacks with all the same characteristics as they have developed. But we must reach out to others who have not had loving parents who worked at two jobs to send their children to college. We must show the not-so-privileged that they too can have the American Dream, no matter what their color.