The Voice - Student Newspaper

Obamas family values inspire struggling households

I am addressing this to men of every race. Women, you are more than welcome to read this although I am not suggesting anything in here I'm just simply making an observation.

The American Penal System, dead beat daddies, loser men, fatherless boys forced to act like men without any understanding of manhood: these are some of the difficulties that black men face when we attempt to get women to date us and think about having a relationship with us. Some of the other hurdles that ordinary black men face when it comes to the man-woman relationship are actors, professional athletes, musical artists, men with graduate degrees, and let us not forget the man with many hats that has been the male standard for many years Denzel Washington.

Well now there is another threat more menacing than John F. Kennedy Sr. and John F. Kennedy Jr. combined. This threat is one that will change the way we are all looked at and expected to act. To this menacing threat I would like to say…. thank you, Mr. President.

It has been a challenge to have to deal with high expectations from black women and their mothers. I'd rather have my credit report looked at (and by the way I look as white on there as the paper it is printed on). How are ordinary black men expected to handle this? Can I have a compass and a map, anyone? I'd ask for a GPS (Global Positioning System), but the territory has not been mapped out with new grids and new symbols.

President Barack Obama is a wonderful man, a loving, caring and supportive partner and father of two lovely girls. Every time he talks to the American public or to our foreign relatives, you can understand every word that comes out of his mouth. He talks with the desire for us to fully understand him after listening one time. If we should have some trouble he answers our questions and doesn't make us feel dumb for asking them.

After the experimental eras of the 60s and 70s women bonded together and set a bar for every race. With this bar raising the men tightened their bonds even more and threw down the goblet. Since then men have been striving to get over this bar any way that we can. This has not been an easy task, yet it has always been one that was within our reach. Even with the rising of Washington's star, hope stayed our companion.

And with the world worrying about Y2K sending mankind back into the dark ages the ordinary black man leapt over the bar with no interference. We celebrated harder than if we had jumped the broom. Only to land in the arms of President Obama.

Honestly how can we compete with what this man has brought to the table? It's like we finally get a seat at the adult table only to find out grandma made it and we have to wait longer. I'm tired of my legs blocking my ears when I eat.

Please send comments to ecarroll@gccvoice.com