On the first anniversary of President Barack Obama’s historic election, many African-Americans in Chicago are still feeling a sense of euphoria from that balmy night in Grant Park 11 months ago when Obama – a lanky lawyer from the Windy City - became the nation’s first black president.

Charles Whitaker, the Charles Deering McCormick Distinguished Clinical Professor in Journalism at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Chicago, said it’s been a year of ups and downs for Obama.

“I think there is still great promise for this president, but we’ve all been slapped in the face with a cold dose of reality,” Whitaker told BlackAmericaWeb.com Monday. “The problems he faces are enormous, and we all underestimated the intensity of the opposition.”

Still, Obama is Chicago’s hometown hero – the charismatic, Harvard-trained former professor whose lofty speeches have uplifted many who are looking to the president for steady and bold leadership, both in the states and outside its borders.

 

---

PHOTO GALLERY: Election Night at Grant Park in Chicago

 

---

 

But Obama faces an uphill battle on critical issues like health care reform, fixing the economy, creating jobs and seeking bi-partisan support for his initiatives.

“We all wanted to believe that it was possible to change the tone of Washington, but it appears the administration is not going to make allies out of people who are wholly committed to Obama’s failure and destruction,” Whitaker said.

Many black Americans in Chicago are still energized by Obama’s symbol of hope for black America. Even in some of Chicago’s most devastated black neighborhoods, there is still anticipation – and optimism – for better days ahead.

“The election of President Barack Obama was not an ending but a beginning,” Roland Martin, a political analyst for CNN and a resident of Chicago, told BlackAmericaWeb.com.

“A year ago, everyone was excited about his candidacy,” said Martin, who is also a senior analyst for "The Tom Joyner Morning Show” and author of the new book “The First: President Obama’s Road to the White House.” “Well, he's won and has been inaugurated."

But Martin said Obama cannot uplift black America alone. It takes action, he says, from many black Americans - block by block, city by city.

“It's time for the people who demanded and voted for change to stop sitting on the sidelines watching the change parade,” Martin said. “They need to be in the game. Remember, he used the word 'we' 47 times in his Election Night speech. It's time for the 'we' in this nation to stop waiting on him and for them to get to work!"

Last week, Obama, in his weekly radio address to the nation, told Americans that although many families are still struggling day to day, his administration has created or saved more than 640,000 jobs since September as the economy is showing some signs of progress.

But as of October, the unemployment rate for blacks skyrocketed to 15.4 percent, while the rate for whites held steady at 9 percent.

Lou Ransom, executive editor of The Chicago Defender, said Obama has a daunting task of leading the nation back to recovery during the worst economic crisis since The Great Depression.

“He moved into an untenable position, cleaning up after George Bush,” Ransom said. “But I think he’s holding up well and staying above the fray. There have been no bad mistakes and no amazing victories yet, but overall, people in Chicago are giving him good grades.”

Obama’s first 11 months in office has included a range of accomplishments, according to the administration.

In an address to a joint session of Congress this summer, Obama explained how health insurance reform will provide more security .....

Please Login or Register to post comments on this article

Close Comment  |   Read More Comments Hide More Comments

Comments * :

Please do not enter the HTML tags(Maximum 600 characters).

The sad thing is, we are still celebrating the first black pres, when, in the end, he will probably go down in history as one of the worst. Why, because we are too busy focusing on past accomplishments. Our own democratic party is turning against him, Truth is, white people, dems and repubs, still can't beleive they have to listen to a black man. We now have democrats who don't want to vote on the health care bill. It seems they want to wait until after the 2010 elections--why?

by   
Dkg316
November 3, 2009, 7:49 pm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You really need to take your stupid posts & put them on Limbaugh or Hannity’s sites. They won’t stick out so bad there, because all that crap is stupid!

Ann38, keep posting your mind dear Sister, if we had 10 of you & none of him, we’d be 10 times better off!

by   
Sevennotrump
November 3, 2009, 2:25 pm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Uncletom, From where did you get your psychology PhD, Clown College, or Barber College? How is a DUMB-AZZ like YOU going to say someone is schizo, because she made an accurate statement? “Believing means that there are no doubts”??? Who in HELL told your dumb azz that, the same person(s) who tells you all the other idiotic nonsense you post? Believing means=”Having confidence, evn though you don’t have absolute proof”. If You have “NO doubts” about a thing, then you “KNOW”, you’re way past believing. I KNOW my name & soc sec #. I BELIEVE my income is AT LEAST triple yours.

by   
Sevennotrump
November 3, 2009, 2:23 pm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'am over fifty and voted for Obama, not so much because of him being black, (althought I am), but because he represented himself as someone different and who would bring major changes to how we were being governed, however I'am disappointed in him because he seems to have fallen into the same patterns that the politician that was in before him. He need's to stop trying to compromise so much and go back to what we thought he was going to be about, (CHANGE)........

by   
Wreeves
November 3, 2009, 2:14 pm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pres. Obama is facing enormous problems such as the economy, two wars, etc that will take two terms to deal with. Blacks must uplift themselves and work together if progress is desired. No one can save but us!

by   
SPF
November 3, 2009, 1:36 pm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you

by   
Uncletom
November 3, 2009, 1:14 pm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

uncletom obviously your an idiot

by   
Ann38
November 3, 2009, 1:08 pm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ann38, obviously you are schizophrenic. In your own words: "Even though i'm for President Obama and believe that we can make it, i still have doubt in america." Believing means that there are no doubts. I have a solution about dealing with your belief that America is a racist country. http://www.travelocity.com

by   
Uncletom
November 3, 2009, 11:17 am
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

President Obama is doing an outstanding job, he has set a tone that the people are reacting to rather it's negative or positive. But the main thing is is that President Obama has an agenda that is going to help the american people. Even though i'm for President Obama and believe that we can make it, i still have doubt in america. I truly believe that america is a racist country who needs to change it's wicked ways.

by   
Ann38
November 3, 2009, 8:55 am
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------