Veteran Malaysian journalist, Wong Chin Wai, Group Chief Editor of The Star; Malaysia's leading English daily recently shared his opinion of Barack Obama in his Sunday column: "African-Americans would no longer be seen as just foul-mouthed hip-hop singers, gangsters, boxers and athletes in the eyes of the world."
As a young African-American reading this article half a continent away, the reality of Wai's statement strikes a special chord in my mind. The international image of the African-American is something that our generation inherited from the stereotypical images designed in the mid-20th century and exported around the World to justify and explain the position of the African-American in America. Four scores later, amidst the Hollywood and Madison Avenue produced muck, Obama stands as what Wai described as an "icon of hope for people all over the world, especially in countries with a plural society."
"Even in Malaysia, politicians talk about history which the young can no longer relate to, or simply refuses to accept. Certainly, these history lessons won’t help these politicians get the votes. When they lose these votes, they sometimes wonder why." Next week, American citizens, will play one of the most important roles of our country's history of progressiveness and leadership. By our actions, the young and old, must relate to the present and export a new American image, the image we all hold in hearts of a reinvigorated, respected, tolerant, trailblazing America.
Read Wai's columns online.
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