Can America’s First Black President, Barack Obama, Lead Other African American Men?
Illinois is one of 32 states across the country that has the ability to early vote before the general elections on Nov. 6. Among the hundreds of black women present during the last day of early voting at a local Chicago elementary school on South Stony Island were a like number of black men waiting to cast their ballot. While the average wait time was approximately three hours, the line cascaded down multiple hallways of eager voters. Is it worth the wait? How will this election affect the state of black men in America, and is President Obama able to lead other black men the second time around in light of what many see as a failure to do so during his first term?
One African American male voter, 20-years old, stated that the three hour wait was definitely worth it. “I want to be able to make a difference,” he expressed. When asked if his peers were just as eager to vote, he responded with slight hesitation that a few were.
How does the influence of the president impress itself upon today’s African American male population? There were men of all ages present today at the polls, and according to one volunteer over 400 voters came on a daily basis that were comprised of a large male turn out. What are these men hoping to accomplish by casting their vote? It was evident from the expressions on the faces of each male voter as well as their unwavering stance in line that they believed in Obama. Those who turned around to leave after hearing the amount of time allocated to wait were not as convicted in their notion that their vote counted and they were indeed making a difference.
Many men were accompanied by their wives, which mirrored the rod of support given by Michelle Obama to Barack. The president was in fact leading the African American male population in other ways besides voting; promoting a healthy family system and dynamic that was visibly non-existent before he began his first term campaign. Many men brought their children with them to the voting poll to be a part of a time in history never seen before; the opportunity to vote an African American man into office for a second term. Due to the age of the children present, this would be their first time aware of the magnitude of such a milestone and a moment they will never forget. –ebony s. muhammad
Despite the flood of criticism directed toward President Obama and his ability to effectively address or change the condition in the black community, many men remain hopeful and ready to back him for a second term.
