Posted by Sudbury Northern Life 
My forty-fourth birthday present this year was the victory
of Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States. I
have this warm and fuzzy feeling about him. Could be that we
will share the number 44 this year, or maybe that he is born in
the 60s like me. Aside from these similarities, it also comes
from knowing I am witness to one of those significant
historical events that will be referenced decades later, the
first African American president in the United States.
It seems like the words hope and acceptance would best describe
his election. It is repeated by many people, including our
Chief of Police, Ian Davidson, who in his address to the Race
Relations Committee recently talked about the significance of
Obama, his "politics of hope."
Obama, as a black man, has fought through racism to be elected
as president. Other black men before him, notably Martin Luther
King Jr. and Nelson Mandela, did the same. Davidson reminded us
that Mandela, who had been imprisoned for 27 years because of
his anti-apartheid activities, after his release became
president of South Africa. Today, we have inched forward in a
land where not so long ago white Americans once blocked African
Americans from school, politics, and the economy.
I am aware that my lens of the world is through white-skinned
glasses, and it must look very different for African Americans,
African Canadians, Africans and First Nation people. Watching
the expression of overwhelming joy on the faces of African
Americans who were watching Obama being named president elect
on election night was powerful. Trying to imagine what that
must feel like for them to witness what they thought would be
impossible. His inauguration was just as emotional.
Politics is about policies, but we still want our politicians
to fit the politician mold. Our leaders often have charisma,
are capable and convincing. Not to mention "fatherly." We take
great issue with their race, marital status, family background
and education. But our perception of these attributes can be
connected to stereotypes we learned about other identity
groups, including our own. What difference does it make what
colour their skin is or what their first language was? In
Canada, Stéphane Dion didn't make it to prime minister,
although he was a brilliant man and capable of leading this
country. However, the matter of his proficiency with English
became a deal breaker.
"Watching the expression of overwhelming joy on the faces of African Americans . . . was powerful."
It appears that Americans have actually figured a few things
out in a country that continues to struggle with racism. It
certainly is not gone, but they have moved forward instead of
back. Obama has Mount Everest to climb with the struggling
economy. It will take the integrity and strength of character
that he used to fight against racism on his path to president
to get his country back on track.
Although Obama is not our country's leader, what happens south
of the border greatly influences all of us in Canada, including
Sudbury. This president is having an impact everywhere around
the world. For us, we can believe that it's possible for our
own diversity to be evident in our leadership positions.
Heather Campbell is a freelance writer and communications specialist who writes about diversity issues for Northern Life.
