I’m no expert in race relations, while I detest actions that stem from racism, I also unapologetically enjoy the humor that emerges from these scenarios more especially with the elections that are winding up. After two years, I think it was wrong to be dubbed Race to the White House, it should have been aptly titled Marathon To The White House. Many politicians begun like it was a one hundred meter dash and were caught off guard when it turned into grueling marathon and you know the Kenyan side of Obama doesn’t loose marathons. His performance is such that political pundits are saying Obama is running for the Presidency of the United States and McCain is running just to stop him. I will however give credit where it’s due, John McCain’s journey to being the republican nominee, is one that I admire. He rose from the bottom five in his naval academy class to becoming the legitimate republican nominee for the presidency. As for Sarah Palin, she errr..hmm..**crickets**,no comment. Back to John McCain, in the year 2000 he lost to George W, this year he clinched the nomination. The undisputed journey is Obama’s that causing a new chapter to be written in the books of history.

A teacher in North Texas had to recently apologize to his black students for telling them that they can be anything but President. It’s new reality, it wasn’t too long ago in the segregated south, in Charleston, under Jim Crow laws that blacks weren’t allowed to vote. Now we have the unlikely ascent of Barack Obama - as a candidate, and the Democratic party nominee whose within reach of the White House. The first collectively known Black President, some Americans would differ by saying, his not exactly Don Cheadle black and some Africans would also differ by saying his not the Djimon Hounsou black. We can all agree that the name Barack Obama is unmistakably black.   While his Presidency is not about being black or white but about the fact that what binds us together is stronger than what drives us apart, the common good for our fellow humanity.

A Rude Awakening…

I was recently feasting on some bismati rice along with chicken dipped in sambar during lunch at Hilal, an Indian Restaurant with my friends from Bangladesh. I was temporarily distracted from a conversation that was progressing, when I saw Aishwarya Rai’s beauty consume the screen as she sang and danced. That’s an Indian chick with African assets, anyway, by the time I returned back to the conversation. The topic had shifted to politics and they were despondent. One mentioned the negativity that had consumed all the advertisements. I was quick to point out about two weeks ago how John McCain corrected one of his supporters who wrongly stated Obama was an Arab. “No Ma’am, He’s not an Arab. He’s a decent family man”. It was an impressive turn taken by McCain and the media had a field day replaying the clip to reflect a change of tone on the campaign trail. I equally took delight in that moment. The delight quickly evaporated as the sunlight of the reality kicked in, my friends had Arabic roots within them not only that, they were all Muslims who were decent family people. I could see their despondency, what if McCain responded, “No Ma’am. He’s not a Kenyan. He’s a decent family man” or ‘No Ma’am. He’s not a Christian. He’s a decent family man” or “No Ma’am. He’s not a Jew. He’s a decent family man”. The different scenarios could go on, something that clearly stands out, is the fact that this political season has ostracized both Arabs and Muslims.

I like the question that former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, a Republican, posed to the media, while endorsing Obama who he considered to be an ‘inclusive’ candidate. ‘What If Obama is a Muslim? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country?”. Powell proceeded to answer by stating, “No, that’s not America. Is there something wrong with some 7-year-old Muslim kid believing that he or she can be president?”

While the clear winner in this election is Joe the plumber, the losers are the Arabs and Muslims who have been detested politically. And maybe one day, we’ll have an American-Muslim running for the Presidency and a teacher reaffirms his Muslim students that they can also one day run for President.