Content provided in partnership with

Does Black America owe a debt to the Clintons? Or is it Obama's time? Permanent friends vs. permanent interests

Ebony, April, 2008 by Joe Madison

As schools around the nation celebrated Black history, students were opening their books to read about Booker T. Washington and Frederick Douglass. Teachers were playing segments from Dr. King's "I Have A Dream" speech. And for a brief 29 days in February, the nation looked back at what AfricanAmericans have done. But for the rest of the nation--those 18 or older--February also marked a unique opportunity to stop preaching about Black history and start making it as Barack Obama's amazing campaign for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination fired up hopes that this nation might truly see its first Black president.

Most Popular Articles in News: The Ten Best Laptop bags; Tata plans cheapest-ever car for Indian market; GLOBALIZATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF UNDERDEVELOPMENT OF THE THIRD WORLD; Corn is good for you; Corn is not only a tasty treat, but also a cereal that ...; THE 50 BEST STYLISH HANDBAGS TO CARRY; More »

This year's primary season also poses a new dilemma for Black voters: Pay back your debt to the Clintons by voting for Hillary or help Obama rise into his moment in history?

But what do we really owe the Clintons, and is this truly Obama's time?

The real battle isn't Clinton vs. Obama. It's permanent friends vs. permanent interests, as William L. Clay, the senior member of the Missouri congressional delegation and a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, explains. In his book, Just Permanent Interests, a candid history of Black elected officials in the U.S. Congress, Clay says, in the game of politics, Black people have no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, just permanent interests.

Take Rep. Charles Rangel. The Democratic congressman from New York has some very permanent interests, and even if Clinton loses the nomination at the Democratic Convention in August or the presidency in November, she will remain his state's senator. I respect and understand that as a politician he has to follow those permanent interests and use his vote to help his constituents. At this time, that means putting his support behind the candidate who will have an effect on his district, nomination or not.

Then take a look at former President Bill Clinton. The possible first "first man" in the White House has spent a lifetime championing issues of Black America, his permanent friends. As Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison put it, he was the "single-parent household, born poor, working-class, saxophone-playing, McDonald's-and-junk-food-loving boy from Arkansas." Yet, during his eight-year presidency, more African-Americans were incarcerated than any other period in history. Due to the mandatory-minimums policy he spearheaded and his war on drugs, the rates of Blacks behind bars tripled. His permanent interests, cracking down on drugs in the U.S., directly conflicted with his permanent friends, Blacks who were disproportionately affected by extended prison terms. And again, permanent interests won the battle.

So Obama is the clear winner, right? All Blacks should rally together to put one of our own in the Oval Office this November? Not so fast. The idea of Obama is an exciting one. A young Black man--intelligent and driven--with what seems to be a strong shot at winning the race for the White House. There's a lot of talk about how green he is. Some arc joining his campaign for that exact reason, he's new and has the fresh ideas our nation needs. Others chastise him and think his candidacy is doomed because of it. As former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young recently suggested, perhaps 2008 isn't Obama's year, but 2016 is.

For me, I am brought back to 1968 when there was another young politician capturing the passion and attention of young Black Americans like myself. His name was Julian Bond. That year history was made when he received a nomination for vice president of the United States at the Democratic National Convention. It was the first time an African-American was tapped by a major party for the position. He declined because of his age. In fact, he was not old enough to run. (By law a candidate for the presidency must be at last 35 years old).

So is this really Obama's moment in history? Perhaps the question isn't whether the nation is ready for Obama in '08, but is Obama ready for the nation? Is the freshman senator capable of taking the reins and steering us out of Iraq, out of recession and out of the conservative stronghold that began after the Clintons left the White House?

Perhaps Blacks shouldn't use their vote to pay back an old debt and they shouldn't cast it for the person who looks the closest to what they see in the mirror. Instead, Blacks should use the great power that so many leaders before us fought so hard to get to put into office the person, man or woman, who will best serve our permanent interests.

Does Black America owe a debt to the Clintons? Or is it Obama's time? Permanent friends vs. permanent interests

Ebony, April, 2008 by Joe Madison

Find Research Guides for:

Find Featured Titles for: Reference

Most Popular Articles in News

Most Popular Publications in News