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OBAMA & Black History Month

Mumía Abú-Jamal

25/02/2015

Opinión

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As the Obama Administration winds down, what is its relationship to Black History Month – 2015?

Of course, the election of an African–American was indeed an historic event, and history books will record this fact.

But it was also an attempt by the Democratic Party to lock in a constituency that would fuel its political ascendancy for generations.

In symbol, the election of President Barack Obama was a shock to the system. In substance, it was a lot less so, for beside this symbol stood a reality that Black life was under siege.

In 2014, summer broke with Black protest from coast to coast, led by youth; young people who knew in their heart-of-hearts, the White House could not protect them from a peculiar American practice of police terrorism, when cops could harass, intimidate, beat, choke, kick, stomp – and kill kids, boys and men – with perfect impunity.

Symbol, shining and bright; met substance, of blood and tears, and one shattered the other.

Tens of thousands stormed the streets in over 200 cities, to howl at injustice, and to demand – now – finally – ‘justice’.

For them, Ferguson became their Selma – and they faced automatic weapons and mad cops, with courage and fury.

Symbols are powerful things, yes; but Reality is more powerful still.

8-2-2015

https://www.alainet.org/en/active/81086