2009 Blacks Still Have NOT Over Come

2009 Blacks Still Have NOT Over Come
By Denise Bolds 2/27/2009

For years blacks have not trusted the police and it is easy to understand why. The latest news of police officers in Harrison, NY placing racist material targeting President Obama on Facebook comes as no surprise. The hypocrisy is in the fact that these men took an oath to serve and protect the community both black and white. It is not enough that these officers were suspended immediately; how many other police officers feel the same way yet work as law enforcers every day? Remember, police carry guns. It has been said that guns don’t kill; it’s the people who hold them. Can a police officer’s oath be considered valid when that officer is racist with a gun in his hand?

Unlike white people, blacks have to be aware of their race and ethnicity every day, all of the time – it is not a choice but a reality that is inherent within a race. Home is not a sanctuary from racism; many neighborhoods don’t want black residents. It is also known that mortgage banks avoided black applicants and real estate agents direct blacks to certain neighborhoods for housing than others.

Racism affects one’s health, but don’t expect a black patient to be treated as well as a white one or for there to be an adequate availability of black physicians to treat black patients. The American Medical Association (AMA)recently issued a formal apology for committing discriminatory acts againt black U.S. physicians for over a century. The AMA excluded black physicians from participating in discussions and studies to reduce racial disparities in medicine. A profession under oath (Hippocratic) has supported racism for over a century.

Have blacks over come with President Barak Obama? NO. Obama, an ivy league educated African American became the 44th President of the United States of America January 2009 after a blistering campaign where Obama was depicted as not being qualified to lead a nation, being Muslim and being called “That One” by Senator John Mc Cain. All of this after America elected Former President George W. Bush at a huge cost; a recession and economic crisis that have not been seen in the United States since the Depression.

Political cartoons are racially toned and yet protected by the Fifth Amendment. The New York Post’s cartoon is not the only racist toned cartoon targeting President Obama. Politicians, public servants are sending racially toned cartoons: Los Alamitos California, Orange County Mayor Dean Grose sent out the following email: the White House and the front lawn is replaced with a watermelon patch with the caption: “No Easter Egg Hunt this year.” Mayor Grose’s email is just the tip of the huge iceberg on racism here in the United States of America. Mayor Grose has resigned from his post as Mayor after his gross act and has stated that he did not know that associating watermelons and blacks was derogatory.

Blacks must not be complacent with the election of President Barak Obama. Racism is NOT over in America; in fact this presidency has exacerbated this destructive behavior and belief. Blacks also cannot be distracted with the ignorance of these racist actions that cleverly hide behind the Fifth Amendment. White Americans actions describe a life of being unrestricted and uncensored – White is Right. This attitude prevails in actions that dominate history books and news.
There is another photo circulating about a window display at Barnes & Noble Bookstore: Books of Barak and Michelle Obama are displayed with a book about monkeys in the middle. It not clear if this photo is a hoax or not – the fact is these inflammatory acts are ugly and unnecessary.
The election of President Obama does not mean blacks have overcome – America has to understand that this presidency is the most important in the history of the United States. President Obama said in his recent speech The State of The Union Address: “The world is watching America” Very true. It will take more than a black president to cure racism in America.