That’s an acutal quote from Cornel West dropped in an AP story on last Saturday. I mean, the first major motion picture to have a black man as a president was “Deep Impact” with Morgan Freeman–as we all know, a friggin meteor hit the planet and he was left to pick up the friggin pieces.
The article goes on to quote another Pope of Blackness Tavis Smiley who said:
If people think Obama being elected is the crescendo, they’ll be disappointed,” said talk show host Tavis Smiley. “That’s when the real work begins.”
“I’m not sure people have considered, in the euphoria and jubilation and excitement, the fishbowl Obama will be in,” Smiley said. “How everything he does for black people, he runs the risk of being accused of being tribal.”
Well, today, as the polls are still opening and as lines at precincts across the country snake about gymnasiums and churches and rec centers, the question on most black folks minds is really about what to feel later on this evening or tomorrow if we choose to go to sleep. It’s really that pivotal Martin Luther King question–“Where do we go from here?”
Frankly, I’m a bit concerned because I personally know some black people who are willing to cry foul if Obama doesn’t win. I’m not going to make that call unless it’s necessary. I didn’t feel that was the case in 2004 when Kerry lost, even with some disputed Ohio votes. I’m quite sure if the Democratic National Party and Obama’s campaign feel the need to contest the election results they will–they don’t need the help of the nameless Negroville’s throughout this country’s major urban centers rioting on his behalf.
It’s going to be a close race regardless and we’ll be up late into tonight, hopefully, watching the results, but alas, I have a study group at 6pm on Koine Greek–pray for me church.
What do you think Black America’s response is going to be tonight–win or lose? What do think Black America’s response should be–win or lose.
Keep it uppity and keep it truthfully radical, JLL
Joshua Lawrence Lazard 
I think win or lose there is going to be a race war. We have already witnessed so much racism so far throughout the race; I am afraid to see what happens next. Also I think if Obama does not win I think that Black people might do some ignorant things, like riot in their own neighborhoods. History shows that we like to burn up our own things to make a statment. Not sure if that makes sense. I just hope that both sides realize that because their candidate does not win, doesnt mean it is time to cause harm to other people. Now personally I am going to be really upset if Obama does not win, because I am afraid of the direction that our country will go in with McCain. I also think that other countries could possibly see this is as a sign that our country is going to get worse, and who knows that they have in mind to do.
After the elections, I just hope that Obama has sparked fire in everyone. I hope that everyone gets up off of their butts and realizes that it is going to take all of us to do some real change around here. (Dont not rely on Obama to be God…if people are waiting for that…well they will be waiting for a long time)