The Daily Beacon

I’ve been given the opportunity to write an op ed column for The Daily Beacon, my university’s newspaper, this summer. It will be published every other Tuesday, and I will also be posting them here as well.

Obama in Ghana
“Obama is a hotcake,” a Ghanaian just told me. You better believe it. Last Wednesday all the local Ghana news papers were filled with stories of Obama’s victory over Clinton. On the streets, in taxis, in the media, all of Ghana is talking about Obama. Ghanaian music stars have concocted odes to Obama that beat from passing cars and roadside spot bars. “Obruni,” they ask me, “are you for Obama?.”

Although in the interest of time, I knew better than to ask a Ghanaian, “Why should I vote for Obama?” But because of the sheer insistence without any substance behind his democratic support, I couldn’t resist. Why? Unity. If America can elect a president with African descent, the whole world will realize we’re all one. It’s a step in the right direction, mate, but I’m afraid it’s not quite that simple.

Others have more honest, self-serving reasons why America should elect Obama as our next president. Our “hotcake” friend says an African president will draw attention to Africa. He would bring aid and support to the continent. An African as the president of a world superpower would be a great symbol to the world. Don’t forget Africa.

However, when I brought up the fact that the Bush administration, despite its flaws, has brought more medical aid to Africa by means of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), than ever before in United States history, I was looking back onto a blank face. Although still barely making a dent in the African AIDS pandemic, PEPFAR has brought light and global support that is taking great steps in improving the state of health care in Africa. And that was by a white guy.

Increased African aid and a symbol of unity could potentially be nice side effects of Obama’s Presidency, but what about policy? I tried to explain to the Ghanaian preaching unity that, as citizens of the United States, we have a responsibility to consider the candidate’s platform. Will they support legislation that will improve our country? Are they strong enough to lead our nation? You cannot get these answers by looking at the color of one’s skin.

Although many Americans will try to argue that race is an issue of the 60s, this election has taken the awkward ugly step-sister out of the closet, given her a make-over, and thrown her a coming out party on CNN. No one can hide from the fact that race is playing a huge role in this election. The prospect of a black president has made Americans confront the fact that our nation never completely reconciled its prejudices and stereotypes. America just swept race under the rug along with the crumbs from the cookie mom told you not to have.

Africans shamelessly support a man because of the color of his skin. Is this true of Americans as well? I’d like to believe that more Americans vote based on policy than those who cast their ballot on appearance. I’d also like to be able to say that we as the voting population could focus on policy rather than on whether he’s black or white. However, whether the pundits are talking about it bluntly, or saying that we’ve progressed past the issue, the conversation still revolves around this election’s key word: race. Why don’t we just elect Michael Jackson? Then we’d have all our bases covered.