| Black African American. | | | | Proud to be American. |
| I am a black African American. Michael Baisden, | | | | I am so proud of the United States - my country. I am |
| syndicated host of a popular black radio talk show, | | | | patriotic and proud. I've traveled to and had temporary |
| asked a question about why people consider | | | | work assignments in other countries. I am a global |
| themselves black. He has a multiracial but | | | | being. Nevertheless, I am grateful that I have chosen to |
| predominately "black" listening audience. I only heard a | | | | incarnate in this nation at this time. Barack Hussein |
| portion of the discussion but during that time, no one | | | | Obama is now president of the United States. |
| came up with what I thought was the obvious answer. | | | | Regardless of politics, all Americans should take pride |
| That's how people of African descent were defined in | | | | in the growth and healing that has taken place in this |
| American society. Anyone with more than 1/40th black | | | | country to allow Barack Obama to be elected |
| blood was considered black and was subject to the | | | | president of the free world. Those of us over 50 |
| discrimination that was directed toward blacks. | | | | know what it was like. We've been through the |
| Back then the term was Negro and it's derogatory | | | | darkness. Now emerging into the light of unity. And into |
| counterpart n--ger. Then with the black power | | | | the light of the values of our forefathers - the values |
| movement "Black" became beautiful. I chanted "black is | | | | so elegantly articulated by Barack Obama in his |
| beautiful" with the rest of them but had trouble calling | | | | inaugural address to the nation and to the world. |
| myself black. Then me, like many others, looked at our | | | | A call to responsibility and greatness. |
| skin tones and decided that a more appropriate and | | | | There is a recession I the United States. Many of us |
| politically correct term might be African American. | | | | are suffering from lack of cash or cash flow. |
| We have overcome. | | | | Collectively we have caused this by turning away |
| Being from Philadelphia I started riding the bus by | | | | from traditional values. The problems with our |
| myself at age 5. I always sat in the front of the bus. | | | | economy had collective causes. So we need collective |
| But I also got to watch people who looked like me | | | | solutions. |
| being beaten and dragged and water hosed just | | | | Barack Obama is an imperfect man. God uses |
| because they wanted to have the same rights as | | | | imperfect people to do great things. Barack Obama is |
| white Americans. | | | | a great man. The United States of America is a great |
| But we have overcome. Not just the Negro, the black, | | | | country with great problems. President Obama has |
| the African American. But the entire nation of the | | | | great challenges ahead. There are solutions. We the |
| United States of America has overcome. Yes, there | | | | people must help. |
| are the bigots and racists. There will always be narrow | | | | President Barack Hussein Obama: |
| minded people. But bigotry and racism does not define | | | | We love you, we bless you, we support you. I know |
| us as a nation anymore. Bigotry, racism and prejudice | | | | the nation joins me in wishing you well. |
| do not drive our policies and actions and laws. | | | | |