Change is inevitable

Feb 25, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
Change is inevitable; like it or not it’s gonna come. Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight boxing champion, reason, that you can beat them (the system) at the game only if you are prepared to challenge the odds.
Barack Obama’s victory has proved that theory right once more.
When Johnson became the first black heavy weight champion in 1912, it was a proud and defining moment for blacks in the U.S.A; that victory stood them tall and they wore it like a badge of honour, even though it brought no change in the inhuman manner that were treated.
Jack Johnson became a hero and a symbol of black greatness in particularly the U.S.A.
The Obama victory has brought a much greater, unparallel pride for black people the world over. It has catapulted the spirit and aspirations of blacks to levels beyond, and has changed the tone of world politics permanently.
It was said of Johnson that he was a true black hero, for a true black hero had to strike a double blow: one for himself and one for the people from which he was born – two victories.
Obama, by becoming President, has achieved the one for himself; he is now saddled with the Herculean task of winning the other for the world and his people.
It is almost impossible to fathom the feelings and thoughts of American blacks, especially those who are over 50 years of age and have lived through the wretched, racist and oppressive times, who stood transfixed during the inauguration.
What were they thinking about this change of order, where until then wealthy only white multi-millionaires from among the ruling class were eligible contenders; where a grand superbly constructed edifice called the White House in which the president elect will serve his term, was built by the sweat and blood of their ancestors who were slaves, and now at long last, one from the flock has finally emerged to take command.
This Obama ascendancy to the presidency – the most profound and attractive event since landing on the moon is way beyond what our minds can unravel, an unbelievable but pleasant enigma. Why so many tears, why the ubiquitous emotional outpouring around the world?
The sea of tears that flowed down countless faces was something too deep, spiritual, and soulful to fathom, it was for what we understood but there was an undercurrent that defied any surface explanation, just meditating on some of the faces in an effort to get a peek into their heads was enough to move us to tears (thanks to both SN and the Kaieteur News for those candid pictures).
The gathering of Kenyans, both young and old, intently focused in rapt attention, crowded around a small old model TV mounted on a stool standing on a table; who could say exactly why so many U.S. soldiers in Iraq shed tears; the many anecdotes that we heard/read: of a woman taking her dead father’s spectacle into the ballot booth, so she could watch herself vote for a black man through her father’s eye – how touching; Bill Cosby taking pictures of his dead father, aunt, uncle, and other relatives gone, and saying “ok let’s do this together” and many more similar untold acts.
This stands to reason that this black figure who now holds the reins in the white dome has indeed befuddled many minds, “the English language has run out of words, phrases, comparatives, superlatives” to paint the perfect picture of that moving moment – we understood but could not explain.
The varied teary eyes reactions across the globe of different races cannot be comprehended by mere words, never before in modern history has an electoral victory for one man caused so much tears as when lives are lost.
It was for blacks tears of centuries of bottled up emotionalism through black ancestry, tears upon reflection upon reflection of many wrongs and injustices, of shattered dreams and lost lives of loved ones, at the hands of racial bigotry.
It was also for many tears of joy and renewed hopes and dreams; a sigh of relief after eight long years of despair and ‘bush wars’, for a new beginning and a brighter future, it was cleansing tears! The human race had finally shed tears on a wretched and dead past and for a better world and all faith, trust and responsibility are placed on the narrow but tough shoulders of His Excellency Barack Obama.
And those are some of the things, I think, that moved the world to tears and why the world is so sympathetic and optimistic and has boarded his train.
He has now become to the world another Moses. Can he deliver us? Let’s hope that with the help of the Supreme Authority he accomplishes his vision.
Frank Fyffe

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