Issue date: 2/11/09 Section: News

Kevin Anderson, an assistant professor of political science, speaks at the "Black Man in the White House" panel discussion in the Effingham room of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union on Tuesday night. Anderson said for him, watching President Barack Obama accept the Democratic nomination for president during the Democratic National Convention was more emotional for him because it was the first time he felt the impact of a black man possibly becoming president of the United States of America. (Erin Matheny / The Daily Eastern News)

If Barack Obama were a Republican, would he still have won the presidency?

This was one of several points discussed at the panel, "Barack Obama: A Black Man in the White House," on Tuesday night in the Effingham Room of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

"I don't think (he would have) simply because the country was ready to go in a different direction," said Kevin Anderson, a panelist and political science professor. "The war in Iraq has been going on for six years along with the financial collapse. I think it would have been very difficult to separate from that."

Anderson said he thinks that John McCain lost because of the 'R' by his name. "It attaches him to (George Bush)," Anderson said.

Josh Boykin, a panelist and junior English major, said he thinks Obama being black and a Democrat was an added bonus.

"Obama's election gives us personal responsibility," he said.

Other points raised during the panel included past racism and the United States' current state with Obama as president.

Anderson was stunned by the election results and said that this event is not a culmination, but the beginning of something great.

Martin Hardeman, a panelist and history professor, said this is "not the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning."

"When I went home for Christmas break, it seemed everyone was really happy," said panelist Jantelle Horton, a sophomore sociology and African-American studies major. "There was this newfound attitude."

Anderson said people seem to be more comfortable approaching interests of race.

Kadeshah Nolan, a senior psychology major, expressed her concern on how some African-Americans acted on the night Obama won the presidency.

"I feel that African-American people are taking more pride, but I feel some people are overusing it with the text messages, throwing tissue paper and Facebook statuses, and I thought they were unnecessary," she said. "Some people express themselves in different ways, but they should be happy for what (Obama) stands for."

Anderson disagreed and said this behavior should not be assumed to be reflective of all African-Americans.

He also said the election does not make inequalities disappear. "When we tear apart equalities, we can say we accomplished something, but we haven't yet," Anderson said.

Horton said African-Americans need to take a look at their past. "We don't look at our past as a strength," Horton said. "How can you appreciate the future if you never look back at the past?"

DeMarlon Brown, a panelist and junior political science major, said African-Americans should strive for more.

"You do more, so someone in the future has something to live up to," Brown said.


Heather Holm can be reached at 581-7942 or haholm@eiu.edu.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools

The Daily Eastern News encourages on-topic, civil discussion on its articles posted online. It is our policy not to screen comments before they are posted or edit them after they are posted. However, we reserve the right to remove comments that are off-topic, malicious, libelous or include excessive foul language. The DEN also reserves the right to turn off all comments on any story it deems necessary.

Comments violating copyright law will also be removed.

Users who repeatedly violate this policy will be banned from commenting.

If you have any questions on our comment policy or wish to report a comment that you feel violates these standards, please e-mail a link to the article to our Online Editor at DENNews.com@gmail.com.