As the campaign for the nomination of the candidates to contest the 2008 presidential elections advances, with Senator Barack Obama showing increasing signs of being a serious contender, the refrain is growing louder among Blacks that, although they greatly admire the senator, they think America is not ready for a black president. This opinion is not relegated to only black people who were born in the America, but also with those born in the Caribbean. Two separate polls, one focusing on American blacks and the other on Caribbean people, disclosed that registered Black Democrats would prefer to vote for other candidates, white candidates, to be the Democratic nominee, because they either feared for the life of Obama, should he be nominated or they think their vote would be wasted, as America would not elect a black president.

This is disconcerting, because the opinion, a very negative one, implies that we as Black people are not convinced that one of our own would ever be acceptable by mainstream America to such a high office as president of the United States of America. What is ironic is that surveys, carried out among Whites and Hispanic in various parts of the country, do show strong support for Obama.

Is it that the years of slavery and oppression that Blacks suffered has created an inherent inferiority complex? In America, in particular, Blacks were relegated for a long time to secondary positions and roles. They had to sit at the back of the bus, appear in movies as servants and butlers, could only mainly get support-type jobs, were blocked from living in the suburbs, and, generally, kept to themselves. Those, including many Caribbean nationals who came to America to seek a better standard of living, not willing to accept anything less than the best were criticized, and to some extent still are, as being “uppity Blacks.” It hardly matters to the majority of Blacks that many of the essential amenities like the elevator and the three-way traffic light, were invented by Blacks, and while most were willing to accept mediocrity, other Blacks had risen to the top at major companies like American Express, Meryll Lynch and, twice in American history, to one of the highest position in the U.S. Government, secretary of state.

Like Marcus Garvey wrote, and Bob Marley sang, we must “free ourselves from mental slavery.” The awful Black experience brought on by slavery, and later, segregation, proved to have established a serious psychological barrier that enslaved the minds of many Blacks, even though they were free from the chains of slavery. Why else some hesitate to pursue higher education, move uptown, seek top managerial positions, or believe they cannot be highly successful business people? Mostly it is because some Blacks believe feel that they will not be accepted, so with their minds still enslaved, metaphorically sitting at the back of the bus, they, perhaps unwittingly, lock themselves in environments that mostly generate hardships and frustration.

Frankly, there is nothing that a Black individual cannot achieve; no heights too great to be attained. Look around us, Blacks in America have been excellent astronauts, physicians, attorneys, economists and so on and it was just about 50 years ago that these opportunities were not opened to Blacks. We are not just outstanding actors, actresses and sportspersons, which seem to be the only areas where the establishment is prepared to give Blacks full access. But, there has been too few who excel other than in entertainment and sports. Part of the process of enslaving the mind has been to let black people believe that their place is to entertain the world, but not be leaders in politics, business, or other key areas of America’s life.

This way of thinking must stop; we must cast off the mental shackles. Blacks are born free and are not forever bound in chains. It must be noted that Black history did not begin with slavery, and Blacks have a history of greatness, if only our people would read about it.

There is absolutely no reason, why Barak Obama, or any other qualified Black man or woman, cannot and should not break the negative mold and succeed in being elected president of the United States. Barak Obama is one of the most articulate, charismatic, wise, and bold Americans daring to aspire for significant change. He just happens to be Black. Every Black American citizen who believes that Obama has the potential to serve as president, and refuses to vote for him because he or she believes that he is not electable is doing an injustice not to just Obama, but to America and himself. Those who believe that he could be in moral danger if nominated, have to be willing to accept this risk. We cannot as a people cower behind imaginary walls. It is a fact that danger could lurk if Obama is nominated, but it also lurked for past black leaders, and although some were victims, other prevailed and both victims and survivors made great achievements, despite the danger, to pave the way for the progress of Black people. Now, for the first time there is a black leader who is stepping forward not just for the progress of Black America, but all America, and if we truly believe in him and believe that he can do the job we should support him.

By believing that a Black man can realistically attain the highest position in the country, and supporting him, may be the best way for Blacks all over America to begin to free themselves from mental slavery, and excel to lofty positions and places in their own lives.

Being Black must not be perceived to be a deterrent for progress.