American African Policy & President Obama

Written by Paul I. Adujie

Lawcareer2007@aol.com

New York, United States

With the recent election of Mr. Barack Obama as president of the United States of America, it is my view that America is finally living up to its constitutional promise of equality of her citizens; wither race, color or creed etc. America in doing so, has allowed herself, in Christian parlance, to be born again. America has now partially atoned for the enslavement of Africans, and complete disregard of a large chunk of her human capital.

America has, with this singular act of electing a person African descent, permitted itself of a rebirth and a renewal, and how wonderful it is, as it is happening regardless of the cynicism which have arisen as a consequence of the checkered history and plight or precarious predicaments of people of African descent in America; against all odds, and epochs of dashed expectations borne of harsh experience of African Americans.

Race or color of skin, have unfortunately been how life is lived in America, and racial terms and themes have been pervasive in America, but, a person of African descent is now slated to become the 44^th president of the United States, and not a moment too soon, this, after these hundreds of years in America, by people of African descent. Mr. Obama until his election as president was the only senator of African descent, out of 100 US senators. Even though African Americans, constitute more than 13.4% or about 40.9 million out of the US total population of about 306 million, with Caucasians population of 221.3 or 74% of the US population respectively.

President-elect Barack Obama’s ascension is at once aesthetically pleasing; it has a very decorative value and a symbolism; as well as substance in relation to human progress in America and the entire world hence everyone is agog, over Mr. Obama’s election. As the world knows, Mr. Obama is a first generation American with an African immigrant father; this therefore fulfils the ideals of America as a melting pot and a land of infinite possibilities. America is fulfilling its promise and she is at the cusp of realizing her full potentials.

 This progress is even perhaps more meaningful, above and beyond, for African Americans, continental Africans and all peoples of African descent, worldwide; It must be stated quickly though, that the advantages and dividends to these Africans, that is, African Americans and people of African descent , and to continental Africans remain to be evaluated. There is an inherent are-we-there-yet question, which must be answered.

Is a color blind world in sight? There those revisionists who are already asserting that with the election of Mr. Obama as president of the United States, people of African descent, continental Africans, and more particularly, African American should no longer seek Affirmative Action Programs etc, measures instituted to redress historical injustices and such enduring vestiges which have negatively impacted, and continues to impact African Americans. This sorts of thinking, is to say the least, jumping the gun!

Regarding continental Africans, it is the case that historically it has been fashionable, romantic and even sexy, for some in America, Europe and elsewhere outside Africa, to ostentatiously and conspicuously publicly analyze the human condition in Africa and of Africans and they proceed do nothing, even as they pompously and condescendingly present the beggar –charity-basket case as situations of Africa, and the savior role Americans, Europeans and other non-Africans must play to set Africa aright. But these have historically amounted to loud talk and no action.

Could Mr. Obama be the true lover of Africa, and a doer, who would speak softly and carry a big bank-wallet of ideas? Hence he has refrained from the usual loud but empty public proclamations about matters pertaining to Africa?

Africa has always been exploited and then neglected historically; Africa was variously exploited for her human resources during slave trade, then exploited for her natural resources post-slavery and during colonial period; Africa is now exploited for her bountiful natural and mineral and or energy resources and cheap labor.

Africans should be reminded of how Reagan and Thatcher supplied the lifeline oils which lubricated Apartheid South Africa, as America and Britain sustained Apartheid regime longer than was possible, through the warped policy known as constructive engagement.

Africans should be reminded of how liberation movements labeled terrorists by the US and the UK, the US under Reagan and the UK under Thatcher wanted liberation struggles in Angola, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe defeated. Those anti freedom, anti progress and anti democratic movement were eventually defeated. Lancaster House Agreement intended to provide economic relief and land redistribution-re-appropriation slated for post independence Zimbabwe were not adhered to; which in my view constitutes the origin sin, before today’s troubles in Zimbabwe.

What is new? Now, Obama is certainly not Reagan or Thatcher, so let us see? In some perverse sense, those like Reagan and Thatcher etc, with known aversion to fashioning humane and intelligent policies toward Africa and those apparent sworn aversion to happiness in Africa can be understood, as Africa is often said not to posses any national security or strategic interest to America and Europe, and needless to say then, therefore, Reagan, Thatcher etc or Sarah Palin, Governor of state of Alaska, vice presidential candidate for Senator John McCain, she it was said, who knew no distinctions between country and continent, when it comes to Africa, some make it plain that they have no stake in the outcome, or whatever become of our continent. So, what will Mr. Obama do differently?

The truth of the matter however, is, what affects Africa affects the world, whether it is an issue such as global warming, or Somali Pirates, the increasing costs of energy to power global economy or a genuine fight against extremism and terrorism, it is wiser to have a policy of all-for-one and one-for-all, a world of shared interrelationships and interconnectedness. It is hoped that people will stop seeing Africa as the inconvenient part of the global scheme of things

All eyes and ears are open regarding what would be President Obama US-African Policy; when Mr. Obama visited Berlin, Germany to the thunderous applause more than 100,000, I was elated that he, a person of African descent was receiving all the accolades and attention, which his campaign garnered here in the United States, and then, abroad as well. But, this was tempered by my wonder about where he stood on matters Africa.

President-elect Obama formally announced his run for presidency of the United States on February 11, 2007 and his African Policy remained nonexistent or terse at best, whereas, he was professorial and esoteric on Israel, the economy and Mr. Bush’s two foreign wars in Afghanistan and Iraq respectively. At the conclusion of the elections and Mr. Obama’s world acclaimed historic victory, led to more policy pronouncements on his part, and on the parts of those, with direct and indirect involvement Mr. Obama’s cabinet and White House staff selections.

And, former US Congressman and savvy political hand, tough political operative and tactician Mr. Rahm Israel Emanuel was selected by Mr. Obama to be his chief-of-staff, and Mr. Emanuel’s father in an unguarded statement, asserted that his son, will, as a matter of course, deeply influence a President Obama’s American-Israel policy; This led to a firestorm of criticisms, as part of the statement was pejorative of Arabs and, while creating the appearance that Mr. Obama will be hostage to his chief-of-staff regarding Israel  Mr. Rahm Israel Emanuel was recently described by JTA.ORG as an 

Attack-dog, policy wonk, enforcer and committed Jew

This incident is led me to revive what have been my publicized worry and wonder about President-elect Obama’s unstated/understated and generalized, or hazy stance, regarding what will be his US-African Policy, and what exactly in real or specific terms, his forthcoming administration’s African Policy would be or put in another way, why exactly was that not apparent or spelt-out, during the campaigns, as were other policies repeatedly mentioned in contemplation for a would be the United States African Policy during President Obama’s administration?

Should Africans and people of African descent just assume that the Africa and the Caribbean would receive better or favorable attention, and treatment, unlike what has been the case in the past? Should continental Africans and peoples of African descent have reasons now, to heave sigh of relief? Would this lead to more expectation fatigue?

Should very public demands be made? Should we be upfront like every other interest group? Or discreet lobbying is preferred? This puts in context, the Rahm Emanuel’s father’s statements regarding what would be America Policy in relation to Israel.

During the campaigns, Senator Obama, as he then was, visited and toured Europe ( Berlin, London and Paris etc) He then visited Israel etc all well and good; but no visit to any part of Africa and no mention of what would be his US African Policy.

During the campaigns, I was enthralled and enthusiastic about Mr. Obama’s candidacy and the positive ramifications; when Mr. Obama won, I cried tears of joy, I entered euphoria and trance-like state and I remain ecstatic about the endless possibilities for America and the, all inspired by Mr. Obama victory and eventual governance; even still, I recognize that enormous economic and political challenges lay ahead, I recognize as well that color and racism in America have not suddenly ended or died and so, it not time just yet to go ahead on, to a fishing vacation.

During the campaigns leading to the elections, I can understand at the time, if some thought Africa was a delicate or even inappropriate distraction for candidate Obama, an issue that could have been amply exploited by his opponents and detractors. But, elections are over now, the Obama presidency policy-positions are being set on crucial issues; and besides, the candidate was emphatic about Israel, just as emphatic and matter-of-factly like the senior Mr. Emanuel

I am wondering whether there is a pattern here or why is Israel recurring? As it were during the campaigns and now, soon after the elections as well. The Reverend Jesse Jackson is not Mr. Obama’s father; he was not part of Mr. Obama’s campaign nor was he Mr. Obama’s Foreign Policy guru! And yet, a scathing and scalding article was published in the New Post Newspapers, in which the Reverend Jesse Jackson was portrayed as giving interview insight into what will be Mr. Obama’s scaled-down American most favorite-nation status in matters Israel. This, even though, Mr. Jackson was not part of Mr. Obama campaign apparatus or spokesperson for Mr. Obama except of course that the Reverend Jackson is a person of African descent, and had in the past made flippant statements about New York Jews. During the campaigns, it did appear as if there were attempts to label and portray certain persons in particular ways, in order to defeat Mr. Obama at the polls, Mr. Obama weathered the avalanche and the unrelenting storm and they rest, as it were is now history!

Mr. Obama will become the 44^th president of the United States come January 20, 2009!

It is really nice to have the symbolism of President Obama as a person of African descent as president of the United States of America; he certainly must not be docile regarding Africa and beyond that,  It will be really even nicer still, to begin to know what President Obama would do differently regarding the African continent, and Jamaica, Trinidad/Tobago, Haiti, Antigua, Cuba, Guyana and all the Islands and Caribbean nations etc which brims with peoples of African descent, AND, if not during an Obama presidency, when? When will the lot of Africans and peoples of African descent fare better in terms of US Foreign Policy?

I am aware of course, that Mr. Obama has in the past, visited Kenya, Ethiopia and I think Chad; but well before he declared his presidential ambition; It is also gratifying to note that while this article was already being written, Mr. Obama telephone President Yar’Adua, to discuss American-Nigerian bilateral issues, as well as, multitudes of issues concerning the African continent. This is a start, baby-steps perhaps, but a start nonetheless.

The world is keenly watching Mr. Obama with boundless optimism as he has motivated and inspired America and the entire world. He has demonstrated beyond words that he is qualified, competent, disciplined and focused. He is clearly good for America and the world. There are of course extraordinary challenges ahead for his presidency.

 I am eagerly anticipating his African Policy formulation and implementation

All eyes and ears are open regarding what would be President Obama US-African Policy.

.

Paul I. Adujie is a Nigerian lawyer, resident in New York, United States and a member of the International Bar Association

Google: Adujie/Obama for commentaries through the US presidential elections

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/obama-in-berlin/?scp=1&sq=Obama%20in%20Berlin%20Adujie&st=cse

http://www.nypost.com/seven/10142008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/the_o_jesse_knows_133450.htm

Robot  # 1 | 25.11.2008 00:35

American African Policy & President Obama Written by Paul I. Adujie Lawcareer2007@aol.com New York, United States With the recent election of Mr. Barack Obama as president of the United States of America, it is my view that America is finally living up to its constitutional promise of equality of her citizens; wither race, color or creed etc. America in doing so, has allowed herself, in Christian parlance, to be born again. America has now partially atoned for the enslavement of Africans, and complete disregard of a large chunk of her human capital. America has, with this singular act of electing a person African descent, permitted itself of a rebirth and a renewal, and how wonderful it is, as it is happening regardless of the cynicism which have arisen as a consequence of the checkered history and plight or precarious predicaments of peo...Read the full article.

DaBishop  # 2 | 25.11.2008 10:33

Welcome back Brother. The world is keenly watching Mr. Obama with boundless optimism as he has motivated and inspired America and the entire world. He has demonstrated beyond words that he qualified, competent, disciplined and focused. He is clearly good for America and the world. There are of course extraordinary challenges ahead for his presidency. Very true. My thoughts on Race... A President Obama and the Race Question One will be playing the ostrich if one shrugs as ordinary the election of the first African American President. Some seek to minimize the achievement by solace in the fact that the President-elect is really bi-racial. They forget completely that in time past, one drop of colored blood was considered colored. To many citizens of the US and the world, Barack H. Obama is just another intelligent patriotic American whose political time has come. To many, he is representative of the generation who gets up, pick themselves up, organize and have things done, working side by side with all manner and shades of persons. There are a few around the world who have not yet recovered, and are not likely to recover from the shock of an Obama Presidency in the USA. Race relations are supposed to have imperiled the well being of the campaigns in the first place. Complaints of wrong-doing or racial maltreatment by his pastor was supposed to shipwreck the course of the campaign. The elephant in the room was to be race; we were not supposed to express those concerns since they were divisive, why just flap them under the rug. Yet the opponent ran a campaign full of innuendo regarding ‘that one’. On September 10, 2001, the government of George H. Bush of the USA withdrew Condeleeza Rice and Collin Powell from the Race Conference effectively dodging the issues raised at the conference as reported by New York Times: Human rights activists say that if governments follow through on even some of the suggestions, such as embarking on publicity campaigns to promote racial tolerance or teaching children about Africa's contributions to world history, it will help improve understanding across racial and ethnic lines. ''If governments would really put in place what they agreed to here, the world would be a much better place,'' said Reed Brody, the director of advocacy for Human Rights Watch. Whether governments will actually make good on these commitments is far from certain. During the conference, many countries used their political muscle to ensure that they would not have to deal with prickly issues of race or discrimination. The elections and their results are an indication of the forward thinking of majority of politically active persons who knew too that it was also a referendum on race-relations world-wide. In code speak, Obama suffered the indignity of his ‘patriotism’ being questioned, or his ‘trustworthiness’ being called into question during the electoral process being referred to as ‘that one’. Predictably, some commentator goes on about black peoples’ ability or lack thereof of leadership skills. This is only making public what some who have really fully interacted among the races can tell. It is inconceivable in the eyes of the skewed that a black can be a lawyer, deeply insightful or be even organized enough to sweep aside the existing system. What one looks forward to is whether Obama will take remedial action to correct the institutional racism. One would like to know, how many of the EEOC cases are disposed of; How much of the color of law complaints are handled; how much dynamism is pushed in the way of the Civil Rights Department of the Justice Division. The laws of the society had been skewed in such a way that the underdogs remain underdogs with no upward mobility. Most Communities are organized in such a manner that there is upward movement of the classes, you could with hard work, a plan and some education, dig your way out of poverty. Sociologists would doubt the applicability of that modem in the past eight years in the US. Would a President Obama look to see that the promise of America does not erode? Institutional Racism has existed in many areas of public service right in the open. There are certain counties where is common knowledge that black persons go only to attend jail. In the event of a complaint, there often is a cover-up with a splattering of token blacks to fill the gaps. But looking at the persons eye-to-eye one would see the insincerity just as we know phony integrating preachers. President Obama himself would need to read to himself, again, his well-articulated thoughts in his own speech, Towards a More Perfect Union. That in my opinion would be a good place to start.

Mikky jaga  # 3 | 25.11.2008 12:13

Good to read from you again! Africa should at least be satisfied that a giant step has been taken to redress series of injustice perpetrated against people of African descent in America over the years. What looked impossible in the days of MLK has become a reality today. That, my brother is one big thing to rejoice about. As in all human endeavours, changes come gradually but surely. Whatever may be President Obama's African policy during his tenure will be a starting point where others will build upon in future. Jesse Jackson stood as an independent, made his impact and left. Obama moved further, gained the endorsement of a major political party and became the president. We may not have arrived yet, but we will get there some day. Like MLK, I have a dream that one of these days American presidents will be grilled on their African policy before elections because Africa will one day become so strategic in international affairs that it cannot be ignored anymore. I wait the day.

fxo  # 4 | 25.11.2008 13:36

Its interesting reading many articles by Africans, about Barrack Obama. I read some and laugh. I am not one to trust without the benefit of a good background . Barrack Obama so far as not done anything for Africa that we can point to. He was elected by Americans whose needs and enshrined policies come first. Many Africans especially Nigerian are looking forward to His' Africa policy, but the truth is the Africa policy many seek is cash or tip or 'dash' creatively refered to as AIDs. The Asian, Europeans and maybe the Latin AMericans are ready for real relationship based on trade with the US. Africans just want Obama to open up the US Treasury and start 'spraying'. In the last few months I have traversed the continent, I compare what I can see with what I have seen in Asia and Eastern Europe, Obama will be a bad businessman to do business in Africa when there are prepared partners elsewhere. The truth is I am not too excited about Obama-Africa relations because I know 'fortune favor the prepared mind' only. The unprepared mind hopes, prays and depend on luck. Sometimes they get lucky, many Africans see Obama and think its there victory, but its a victory they did little to make possible. I blieve Obama is America's victory, not Africa's. And the only people who deserve to celebrate are Americans, black, white, brown, yellow of all hue.

allaccess  # 5 | 26.11.2008 09:39

FXO, Obama’s victory is a victory for the Blackman the world over, it is a statement that can be interpreted by all and sundry to suit their own circumstances. You said “Barrack Obama so far as not done anything for Africa that we can point to” This statement is unfortunate as it is exactly the problem with the mentality of most Africans; they are always waiting for someone to fix their problems. We need good leaders to change things, let the Americans fix it, where are the elders plsssss to sort it out. NEVER will they get off their ar3es to sort their own mess out. If the closest thing to democracy (Adams Oshiomole) can be gotten in Edo State, why can’t the rest of Nigeria revolt for similar all over the country? You sit idly by and allow your votes to be decided in someone Abuja mansion then turn around waiting for an American president called Barak Obama to go there are fix it for you. Obama’s victory means anyone regardless of race can achieve anything they set their minds to. FXO you should set your mind and advice Nigerians (i mean the people not “leaders”) to set their mentality to change, practical change that will make an immediate impact on the nation, instead of waiting for Obama to do it for you Hear this “Many Africans especially Nigerian are looking forward to His' Africa policy” What a statement! An African policy includes Algeria, Libya, South Africa and Botswana? There are individual policies to suit every country in Africa. It is for these people to decide what direction they want to go.

Fine Naija Bobo  # 6 | 26.11.2008 10:46

Glad to have you back to the village, Barrister