"Have a plan, have faith, and work hard"

Those were the sentiments of Byron Pitts of CBS news on a video clip we watched during Mass Med & Soc. class on Thursday. Pitts was convinced that Obama's election to office would not significantly improve black opportunites in journalism. I would like to extend that idea to every aspect of black life in the United States. We should not use President Obama's win as a "get out of jail free" card so to speak. He is a human being with influence, but we overestimate his influence. The pressure on our new president to perform well in every arena, simultaneously rescuing black Americans from discrimination and inequality, is unrealistic and overwhelming. His responsibility is to the nation as a whole. He has the power now to provide more opportunities for success, but it is up to us to take advantage of these opportunities. As President Obama believes, we need to become the change we want to see.

Another clip watched in class was a 1994 news panel of black entrepeneurs and corporate leaders, such as Ben Ruffin, the VP of corporate affairs at RJR/Nabisco, and Maceo K. Sloan, CEO of Sloan Financial Group. The third member of the group was Melanie Wilson, the planning director of the town of Garner. This well-rounded bunch offered several admonitions to the black community about taking charge of their futures. One point that felt strongly about was the idea that most black people have lost a sense of community and that the youth of our community have forgotten our historic struggles and triumphs. So what should we blame: according to the panel, with which I heartily agree, it is the theory of "meism." This idea is prevalent throughout America, regardless of color, but is is particularly destructive to us. Meism encourages ruthlessnes, greed, narcissism, and in its most primal form, division. Quite honestly, I believe that meism, seeking after your own pleasure or satisfaction whatever the cost, should be abolished altogether. It has set a bad precedent for corruption and a calloused business world. You can be competitive in life without oppressing others.