Holding Feet to Fire: The Responsibility Behind Belief and Hope
By Aziza Claudia Gibson-Hunter

Photo Credit: Vincent Smith

During the course of this campaign, we've all learned what my wife reminds me of all the time - that I am not a perfect man. And I will not be a perfect President. And so while I will always listen to you, and be honest with you, and fight for you every single day for the next four years, I will also ask you to be a part of the change that we need. Because in my two decades of public service to this country, I have seen time and time again that real change doesn't begin in the halls of Washington, but on the streets of America. It doesn't happen from the top-down, it happens from the bottom-up. Barack Obama, April 22, 2008 Pennsylvania Primary
 
Not only African Americans, but Americans of all colors and people across the globe, are basking in images of a coolly tenacious Barack Obama walking hand-in-hand with his wife Michelle, who is both brilliant and statuesque. Their daughters, both obviously well loved, are delighting this nation with their innocence and youthfulness. Anxious for the transformation of America to begin, millions of Americans, watched in horror recently as billions of their tax paid dollars were used to buttress failing mortgage associations and corporations.  (According to an AP poll, 45% of adults were not in agreement with the 700 billion dollar bailout.)  Although elated by the history-making election, many are facing fears and bracing for the economic tsunami whose impending impact arrives each day with the morning news. It is as if the Obama family is a lovely backdrop to a surreal landscape etched with both danger and opportunity. As the inaugural date quickly approaches, African Americans, especially, have the ability to re-tool existing infrastructures built to bring Obama to office. These organizations can now be re-oriented to support or challenge the policies of the new administration. This could create and direct a force to help guide President-elect Obama in healing the abuses of past administrations.

That force can be organized, well researched, clearly articulated, precise and dynamic. He has told all Americans that he needs and invites our voices. Organizing, activated by hope and belief, can now morph into powerful positive activities, pushing for his promises to be fulfilled. We have not come this far to put the responsibility of making good on promises from a hard won election to chance!

There have been changes in the promises during the journey to the White House. African American communities across the land can reflect and study those changes, and identify those which we support. Some of the issues identified by various African American communities include:

• A freeze on foreclosures across the country and the restructuring of loans including a criminal investigation into fraudulent loans;

• Extended assistance through food stamps and unemployment insurance for those who have lost their jobs; 

• The withdrawal of US troops from Iraq;

• A moratorium on the relocation of US corporations to foreign countries and a stiff tax for those corporations that have made such a move, taking thousands of American jobs with them;

• Immediate action on the development of affordable health care for all Americans;

• A recommitment to early and secondary public education through policy changes that support state of the art technology enabling our children to be competitive in the world;

• A full people’s investigation into the Patriot Act and its implications on the human and civil rights of the American people. Repeal the unrestricted wire-tapping and eavesdropping on US citizens.

• An investigation into the prison industrial complex and its impact on America.

These were just a few of the concerns that were voiced during the campaign. Take a look at the Obama website (www.barackobama.com), and review his promises and know you are fulfilling your civic duty when you are engaged and an active advocate for change. If each of us takes a stand on an issue or policy that is dear to us and makes it our business to be informed about that issue, it can help all Americans. We can support policies that are in the best interest of our communities. Some of us can telephone our representatives, others can write letters, and artists can write songs or create images.  Still others might organize people to take some action. We all have a significant role to play.
 
Are you making a difference in your community; if so, how?  Aziza Claudia Gibson-Hunter would like to hear from you…share and help others become a part of the solution.  Please contact Gibson-Hunter at ghunterstudio@yahoo.com or visit her site at www.gibsonhunterstudio.com.