Sen. Obama’s ability to present himself as a candidate of change, and to have his message accepted by enough voters to possibly become the first African-American to hold the highest elected office in this country is affirmative action. It affirms (finally) that an African-American male who has the education, experience, personality, platform, and political know-how can set his sights on the presidency of the United States and have a fair chance to reach that goal.
The outcome of the next presidential election will not be known until November. However, the problems of race and equality in this country will continue. Thus the need for some form of affirmative action in the United States remains until our country is willing to live up to the true meaning of its founding ideals, as there will always be a group or class of individuals whose desire to have and experience the American dream will be thwarted by their inability to participate fully in all this country has to offer. Sen. Obama’s election as the Democratic nominee for the presidency and his possible election is another in many steps America has taken as it continues to move to become a truly equal society.
Dr. Wayne A. Jones is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at Virginia State University.
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