Being the First Black President

Over the past four years we have witnessed what some may call a radical change or a sign of progress--the first African-American president. In an article entitled Walking the Tightrope of Race: Social and Emotional Effects of Being the First, Dr. Terence Fitzgerald explores the implications of Obama's race in the last four years during his presidential term and in the current reactions to his recent presidential debates.

Fitzgerald relates the manner in which Obama has been graded and depicted by political pundits, so called newscasters, and the general public on idiot blogs over the past four years to a conversation he had with his mother when he was in the seventh grade. Fitzgerald recalls how he was publicly humiliated at school once when his name and others were called, announcing their honor roll placement for the semester over the school PA system. Fitzgerald told his mother of his feelings associated with the backhanded compliments from unsupportive white peers and ridicule from a segment of his own racial group. He felt isolated and alone.

Fitzgerald felt that this was especially true because he was one of just two African-American children announced. That alone carried many issues and concerns. Nevertheless, his mother simply said, “Sometimes being a person of color is like walking a tight rope above folks waiting to see the blood spew from your fall.” She told him that on one side, non-Blacks will think you are still beneath them and cannot wait for your fall. On the other side will be some of your own who hate that you are in a better position than they are. For those reasons, they will at times subconsciously wish for your demise. This introduced Fitzgerald to the idea of division among Black America. Today, we can witness an increasing division among Blacks due to socioeconomic status.

To Fitzgerald, division seems to become louder and wider as one begins to occupy spaces that have traditionally been denied due to skin tone. When one is seen as “the oddity,” the air of subjugation, fear, and at times hatred becomes thicker and psychological stressors can affect the emotional and physical statuses of the individual. It can create strife within the formation of an identity.

Fitzgerald goes on to talk about how the president has been depicted.

"I have seen in print and within the context of news stories within the 24-hour news cycle that have painted him as 'too Black.' On the other hand, was it that he has forgotten Blacks and their plight? I have seen others note that the president is not aggressive enough and not acting like a 'stereotypical scary black man.' During the second presidential debate, I received an automatic shock to my brain every time someone coined his approach to his political appointment as, “angry.” Whites have often deemed him as an illegal alien, monkey, Hitler, and other derogatory figures."

In the end, Fitzgerald feels that we as a nation have, for four years, viciously watched in excitement a political tragedy. The essence of racism, as seen during Jackie Robinson’s rise, is still prevalent as the president continues to move along the racial tightrope. The effects on race are truly boundless. In fact, he believes the thought that race within this presidential election is absent, is credulous at best.

I believe there is much truth in what Fitzgerald has to say. Just like Jackie Robinson, there has to be a few 'game-changers' before the stigma behind a radical change, such as race, can start to subside. However, I believe that because race is still a big issue in parts of the world it can only subside so much. Like his example from his own life about being one of a few Black students on the honor roll, it is hard enough to be president and then on top of that the first Black president. Perhaps its something to take into consideration when we make up our minds on who to vote for next month.