Black community must remain critical of Obama – poet

“When did black people lose their right to dissent?” asks El Jones

Noted African-Nova Scotian poet and University of King’s College professor El Jones stands before a packed house at Ginger’s Tavern on Barrington Street in front of an audience that has already begun clapping before she has spoken a word. Her hands are shaking as she holds the paper.

Black and white faces lean forward, their features outlined by the light of small wax candles and dimmed houselights.  The captain of the Halifax slam team that won back-to-back Canadian Festival of Spoken Word championships blinks beneath the intense stage lights and tries to find her words.

“I am really nervous about this poem,” Jones says. “I think you’re going to hate me.”

Her poem expresses the view that Obama will be used as a logo of change while the status quo will remain the same for working blacks in the United States and elsewhere.

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University Professor El Jones speaks on Obama and difficulties he faces

“If Obama is our president, then why do they own the office, when black people buy into it who gets the profits?” she asks in her poem. “What is the system? Do you understand it? What does it mean that Obama is being branded?”

Reaction was mostly positive, with fellow spoken word poet Charles Summers shouting “Revolution, revolution!”  Others thought it was a little early to become cynical about Obama.  Overall the reaction was very positive. 

Still Jones believes actions need to follow her words.

“This election proves that minorities can swing elections,” she says, describing sentiments that inspired her poem.

“Blacks and Hispanics voted for Obama in overwhelming numbers. Black people represented 10 per cent of America’s voting population and 96 per cent voted for Obama. The Republicans got the white vote and the Democrats got the White House. Now that we have elected him we are expected to shut up if we disagree with him because he is our guy. We gave him that power. I have heard black people say they will support anything he does and that really scares me.”

'One black man made it to the White House, while a million are still in jail'

She certainly believes Obama’s election is a step in the right direction. However, she notes that Obama had more funding than Hillary Clinton and winning a presidential election requires powerful backers.

“It is historically important that a black man became president. For those of us that want to join the establishment, it’s good they can. I was incredibly happy when he won,” Jones says.

“However, one black man made it to the White House, while a million are still in jail. It’s not exactly a fair trade.”

Jones says blacks need a diverse voice.

“I don’t agree with Jesse Jackson and his comments on Obama, but I support his right to do so. When did black people lose their right to dissent?  The whole cabinet is in place, what if I don’t like Hillary for secretary of state? What if I have a problem with Rick Warren giving his address at inauguration? Isn’t it valid for me as a black radical woman to protest that?”

Millions of people are moving toward Washington, D.C., riding a wave of change, raising their voices to say, “Yes we can.” El Jones says while people can change the world, it has not happened yet.

“Black people shouldn’t trade our voices for vintage Obama dinner plates and collectable Obama action figures. It’s change we care about. You can keep the t-shirt and collectable Obama wear. University students wear Che (Guevara) t-shirts without knowing who he is. I worry people will buy the t-shirt and give Obama a free pass. I did everything I could to get him elected. Now it’s time to do everything we can to keep him honest.”

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