PoLItIcs THE SOUL OF A NATION: “BLACK MEN” VOTE TOO
By The Reverend Keith Magee, Th.D
The battle to ‘Restore America’s Soul’ is Joe Biden’s presidential campaign slogan. After an overly congested democratic primary, Biden is now the 2020 presumptive nominee.
I
t appears that for Biden soul is neither homage to his Roman Catholic upbringing nor a nod to having enjoyed a Chicago Southside Sunday dinner prepared by Marian Robinson (Michelle Obama’s mother). Instead Biden asserts that his presidency will create policies that reflect our shared values. It is also a commitment to return integrity to the office of the President of the United States. While some, including a majority of people of color, feel President Donald Trump has sullied the office, there are others, most of whom are white, who feel former President Barack Obama created an environment in which they needed to try to take the country back. Over a decade ago, the leadership of the GOP erupted in fear over Obama ascending to the presidency. There
20 SPRING ISSUE / CODE M
seemed to be concern that a Soul Fest would break out at the White House. The South Lawn would host picnics with fried chicken and watermelon. The helicopter landing would transform to a dance floor with the electric slide and a Soul Train line. The Queen of Soul would have an impromptu concert from the Truman Balcony belting out R-E-S-P-E-C-T! Oh, and maybe even, over in the Rose Garden there’d be a scramble board revealing the week’s notable African American history—and, of course, over in the Jackie Kennedy Garden several card-tables for spades and dominos. For eight years the country, love it or hate it, got to experience the soul of Barack Obama and his family. June 2020 will make five years since Trump announced his candidacy for president and under that context the country and the world have gotten to know his soul.
