The First Black President: Barack Obama, Race, Politics, and the American Dream PDF
Preview The First Black President: Barack Obama, Race, Politics, and the American Dream
The First Black President Thispageintentionallyleftblank The First Black President Barack Obama, Race, Politics, and the American Dream Johnny Bernard Hill, PhD the first black president Copyright © Johnny Bernard Hill, 2009. All rights reserved. First published in 2009 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN® in the United States – a d ivision of St. Martin’s Press LLC, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010. Where this book is distributed in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world, this is by Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited, registered in England, company number 785998, of Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS. Palgrave Macmillan is the global academic imprint of the above companies and has companies and representatives throughout the world. Palgrave® and Macmillan® are registered trademarks in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries. ISBN: 978-0-2306-1861-9 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data. Hill, Johnny Bernard. The fi rst Black president : Barack Obama, race, politics, and the American dream / Johnny Bernard Hill. p. cm. ISBN 978-0-230-61861-9 (alk. paper) 1. Obama, Barack—Political and social views. 2. Obama, Barack— Infl uence. 3. United States—Race relations—Political aspects. 4. United States—Race relations—Government policy. 5. United States—Social conditions—21st century. 6. African Americans—Race identity—Political aspects. 7. African Americans—Social conditions—21st century. I. Title. E908.H55 2009 973.932092—dc22 2009009522 A catalogue record of the book is available from the British Library. Design by Macmillan Publishing Solutions First edition: November 2009 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 Printed in the United States of America. Dedicated to: My children: Regan and Jonathan Nieces and nephews: Ashley, Alex, Alexis, Brandon, Kenyatta, André, Keiara, Courtney, Travis, Catrice, Aaliyah, Malik, Miles, Lauren and Tariq, and Deante Dare to Dream! Thispageintentionallyleftblank Contents Acknowledgments ix Introduction 1 1 I Have A Dream! Martin Luther King, Jr., the Civil Rights Movement, and Barack Obama 17 2 Obama and Race in America 35 3 A Black Man in White America 51 4 Obama, African Diaspora, and the New Meaning of Blackness 65 5 Race, Identity, and the Roots of Black Nationalism 81 6 Obama and the Changing Face of the Black Community 97 7 Race, Power, and Technology in the New Millennium 113 8 Obama’s Economic Vision and Black America 125 9 Why Obama’s Presidency Will Change the World 141 1 0 Obama’s Presidency and the Black Agenda 151 Notes 165 Bibliography 179 Index 187 Thispageintentionallyleftblank Acknowledgments Since Barack Obama announced his historic bid for the presidency of the United States in Springfi eld, Illinois, in 2007, I have thought very carefully about what it means to refl ect on the historical and social aspects of the moment. Without the support of many friends, colleagues, and relatives, I highly doubt this project would have moved beyond mere speculation. Through their urging, I was both encouraged and empowered to lay down these tentative thoughts on race in America and how Obama may come to our aid in these refl ections. At every stage of the campaign, Scott Williamson, my close friend and colleague at Louisville Seminary, was an important conversation partner. He was incredibly instrumental in helping me think through various aspects of the project, the audience, and sources. I also wish to thank my colleagues at Louisville Seminary who have provided a continuous source of strength and encouragement throughout. My deepest thanks and appreciation go to my beloved family. To my sisters (Gina, Leanette, Sherri, Joyce, Melissa, Teresa, and Cheryl), I say thank you for lending your ear and hearing my constant bickering and pontifi cation about the issues raised in this book. My friend Michael Cook, who is now in a doctoral program in counseling at Columbia Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia, was a calm voice and affi rming personality at many points of frustration during this project. For that, I am eternally grateful. Finally, my wife, Trinia, has been a steady rock and faithful partner who has been central to making this book a reality. Additionally, I found myself con- stantly refl ecting on the lives of my beautiful children, Jonathan and Regan, in writing the book with the hope and expectation that their lives might be a little better and brighter than previous generations because of Obama’s presidency. They will not know of a world without a black president, which holds tremendous possibilities for how they envision the world and their lives into the future. For them, I say with the sincerest of simplicity—I love you and dare to dream.
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