Never Underestimate the Youth of the Real America!

By Elizabeth Roach (bettanne@online.no)

As a nation we have so many things to be thankful for, and the youth of America go to the top of the list. Their devoted involvement in Barack Obama’s message of change was grossly underestimated by the political pundits. They were skeptical of any major turnout on the part of the young voters. Although they were excited by Obama’s rallies, it was said that their enthusiasm would not last; that when it really counted, they would probably not actually vote. Well, guess what? Their interest was not just skin-deep. These young people were enchanted by Obama’s poetic rhetoric and its content.
A worthy cause will attract decent young people and they will commit. Remember Kent State? Remember the Civil Rights Movement of the 60’s. Youth made a difference every time. A new cause was found in Barack Obama’s call for change. A committed youth saw through the McCain/Palin attempt to abscond with Obama’s message of change; they saw through the desperate Republican smear campaign; they ignored the divisive “us-vs-them” language that characterized it. And they delivered.

By the same token, African American voters command no less respect for their turnout. We have not seen such numbers relating to an election or political event since Martin Luther King’s "I Have A Dream” speech during the March on Washington. The Civil Rights Movement is another example of the power of Black unity when it is focused and determined to achieve a goal. Remember Andrew Young‘s call for African Americans to take their destiny into their own hands and to force the local bus company to end discriminatory practices by holding on to the mighty dollar “so tight the eagle screams.” That monumental challenge was taken on by a united black community. People walked everywhere rather than continue facing the humiliation of sitting in back of a bus. The loss of income forced the bus company to cave in to their demand.

If the African American community learns anything from the success of Barack Obama’s run for the Presidency, it is this: the force they mustered to vote as a block, should not be saved for special occasions. African Americans must nurture and maintain this political force. It must be ever present and on the ready to vault them firmly into the political arena on a level playing field.

And finally, all honor to the Americans who braved the elements, the long lines and the long hours to keep democracy alive in our country.