Reflecting on a President

At a Glance

Who: Barack Obama
What: Elected President of the US
When: One year ago today
Why: Multi-faceted choices
How: Democratic election process

One year ago today, we elected a president who said he had hopes, dreams, and plans for his country--our country.

Today, after a year of listening to him, and watching him with his fellow citizens, I recall "Election 2008" and ponder. Suddenly, a thought crosses my mind:

I wonder how it'd feel to be president
To be hated by many a resident
Who wished you would die
And when you asked why
They'd groan and say with a sigh--
"I just don't like how you look."

Like stanzas in a sonnet the words repeat with a different ending:
"I still think you're just a crook."
"Your decisions are from the wrong book."
"I think he's involved with the cook."
"Your mandate, Sir, you mistook."
"Your numbers are better on Facebook."

Until at last, it ends and the last verse is exactly the same as the first:
"I really just don't like how you look."

One year ago today, people voted for the candidate who became president for many reasons. For some it was because he was from their party, and therefore, he was--their choice.

Others voted for him because they couldn't stand anyone else in their party.

Some people just liked him, and therefore, he was--their choice.

There were those voted for him because their party selected people they could not ever bear to see in the White House, so they chose the candidate of the other party. While others voted because "it was time for someone from another race" to fill the position.

And then, there were those who refused to vote at all because of any one of, or all of, the above reasons, and therefore, this candidate was their choice.

Whatever the reason he received the votes, on November 5, 2008, Barack Obama became the 44^th president and the headlines across the United States proclaimed "Obama elected as racial barriers fall" or something similar.

But, I wonder if he agreed that headline.

I wonder what it really felt like to him to be multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-racial in a country that is multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-racial and the headlines don't just read "Obama Wins!"

Because, according to researchers, the truth of the matter is this: Barack Obama is multi-racial just like several US presidents before him--at least that is what researchers say.

I guess whether people believe it or not depends on whether or not they trust the research of others.

Researchers say Presidents Jackson, Lincoln, Harding, Coolidge, Jefferson, Eisenhower (just to name a few) were multi-racial. If so, then "where's the beef"?

Sadly, I think "the beef" often lies in two areas. First, many don't read. Second, many don't research so they don't know about the "one-drop rule" that made people "Negro" no matter how light the brownness of their skin.

People too often accept as true what is seen on the surface.

So, decades ago people were "Negro" whether they looked like it or not. But if the skin were very light brown, who knew the person was a "Negro", if they didn't know?

However, it wasn't always a crime to be multi-ethnic and multi-cultural and/or multi-racial in the United States. One was a person and one was judged by the content of his or her character.

There was a time, in this country, when most people who arrived on ships from the East, were free. They interacted freely with each other. They married and bore children without condemnation or fear.

I wonder if, in his times of reflection, Barak Obama might ever wish for that long-ago time.

I wonder if he ever thinks "I wish they would like me or hate me because of what I do, what I say, what I accomplish or fail to accomplish."

One year ago today we elected a president. If he succeeds, may it be because he led correctly. If he fails, may it be because he led incorrectly.

Not because he was the first president with skin brown enough for us to notice.