2012 Elections

BY: Vidura Ufeli

Every four years, Americans are given the opportunity to choose whether they will evolve and grow with a new administration, new congress members, and a new commander in chief. Unlike many developing nations, America has a long and extended history of fighting to elect governmental leaders that are for the people, by the people, and of the people. However, as more and more Presidents were elected, less of them fully represented America’s demographics. Suddenly, the choice that we all believe we are blessed with when we are born or when we migrate to America, seems far from any real option or opportunity for Black Americans. Due to the presence of Jim Crow Laws and the inequalities in America, Black Americans have been kept from utilizing this “choice”. Furthermore, even when Black Americans finally achieved the right to vote, Blacks faced challenges in the racial and cultural underrepresentation in U.S. political factions, especially in top ranking positions, such as the U.S. President. As we entered into the 21^st century, discussions about eventually achieving a Black president became relevant and seemed to become a possible reality. Fortunately, our hopeful reality was finally brought into fruition, when then, U.S. Senator Barack Obama took a courageous stride to run and accept the nomination and position as President of one of the most powerful nations in the world. Thus, Barack Obama’s win in the 2008 election is often considered a win for the entire Black American population, because on that cold Inauguration Day in 2009, we could look upon the stage and see a reflection of ourselves and our obstacles in the face of Pres. Obama.

After four years of continuous challenges for the Obama Administration, due to the treacherous state of the union under the term of President Bush, Obama and the Black American people were faced with yet another challenge. Black Americans had to demonstrate to the world that America truly had made a positive stride towards achieving total equality and balance in our political system. America’s reputation was truly at stake before the 2012 elections, and similar to Obama’s familiar slogan, we all had to dedicate ourselves to moving “Forward”. Therefore, President Obama’s reelection is far more important than solely improving the state of our nation or the appeasement of the American people, his reelection is a reflection of the changes that are finally being made after more than 300 years of strife and discrimination against the Black American. Finally, America truly is moving forward and we can ALL say that we are moving towards a government system that is for ALL of the people, by ALL of the people, and of ALL of the people.