Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States of America. Alongside the many thousands of spectators and with tears flowing down my cheeks, I asked God, ¿What does this all mean?¿ The Bible instructs us that ¿with all thy getting, get an understanding¿. I needed to know. I have always felt that when something historical takes place --as in this election-- then something must also occur in the spiritual. My brother Hugh, while the Holy Spirit was speaking through him began to share with me that ¿the reproach has been lifted from the African American people¿. I knew at that moment that my way of contributing to the healing that President-elect Obama mentioned in his victory speech in Chicago was to write the inspiring book ¿The Reproach is Lifted¿. Obama stated, ¿This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice. So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other.¿ I told my mother when I phoned her from the plane that on this day ¿I¿ve been born again¿.

The Reproach is Lifted

BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENCYBy Tino W. Smith

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2009 Dr. Tino W Smith
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4389-4439-5

Contents

Dedication....................................................vAcknowledgements..............................................viiIntroduction..................................................1Change We Can Believe In......................................5Indiana Goes Blue.............................................11For the Sake of the Call......................................15Barack Obama and the "Moral" Issues...........................21The Curse that Never Was......................................27The Entertainment Hoax........................................35Reconciliation of the Races - The New Man.....................41Rolled Away - The Reason for Barack...........................49

Chapter One

Change We Can Believe In

One of the most remarkable things to come out Barack Obama's election is the restoration of hope among black men everywhere. There was what I would like to call a sweet vindication that took place on November 4, 2008.

Black men have been known for either their talents or their crimes, but on November 4, 2008, a black man was finally known for something else. Senator Barack Obama won 52% of the national vote. There were no hanging chad controversies and there were no recounts until the midnight hour. The United States of America had overwhelmingly sent a message to the rest of the world that it was indeed ready for a change.

Many people took offense when during the campaign; Michelle Obama made the comment that for the first time in her adult life she was proud of her country. Republicans jumped on the comment to try and show that she was "unpatriotic". Even Cindy McCain added her two cents by stating that she has always been proud of her country.

These individuals, especially an heiress to a 100 million dollar fortune, can never know what it is like to come out of your mother's womb already in second place or to be in a race with one hand tied behind your back-in other words-with the odds already stacked against you.

One can go to any part of this country and run into a black man who 1) was kicked out of school because educators didn't know how to reach him 2) unable to get a job because of the lack of proper training or 3) denied a job because of past convictions. When faced with these types of circumstances, some black men become bitter and stop seeking the "American" dream, while others become enraged and become a menace to society. All the counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists in the world had no answers for "growing up black".

Reproach verb (1) To express disapproval of, criticism or, or a disappointment in (someone). 2) To bring shame upon; disgrace. Noun (3) blame; rebuke. (4) One that causes rebuke or blame (5) disgrace; shame.

In this book, I will not mention names because the purpose of this book is to uplift and not attack. I am referring to all the conservative talk hosts, conservative black authors and organizational leaders. I believe that all of our beliefs, opinions or worldviews are based upon our personal experiences and realities.

When there is a reproach on a group of people, the ability to remove that reproach is not an easy task despite the best efforts of self-empowerment, building strong family units and spiritual black churches that help individuals to reach their full potential. Conversely, it is easy for one who has been under reproach to accept the teaching of hatred and animosity between the races.

Now I am not saying that the election of Barack Obama will erase the stench of the past hundreds of years. What I am saying is that it marks the beginning of a new way to look at us. This man from day one brought a message of HOPE and wherever he spoke the message was still the same - CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN. Obama was speaking about a change in Washington D.C., and a different direction from the failed Bush years, but I saw the greater message of a change in perception. It is my objective in writing this book to not to repeat the same information that we have been taught for the past four hundred years regarding American history and race relations. I am even going to attempt to stay away from mentioning dates and other historical events that would only bore you. What this book will address however, is the new freedom that should be embraced by not just African Americans, but by the white Americans and all the other ethnic groups that helped to put the Honorable President-elect Barack Obama into the White House. This man is an authentic African American with a white Kansas-born mother and an African father who now sits as the Commander-in-Chief over the free world.

I, like Obama, have higher education degrees. I take care of my wife and my family. I am a good son, good brother and a good uncle. I own my own business and care for the flock that God has entrusted me with, and yet I can still tell you that I carried the rage inside of me. As I have mentioned before, I like many before me, have felt the wrath of racism and have the battle scars to prove it. There was a popular refrain several years ago that stated, "There is no JUSTICE, it is JUST US".

Because of this silent rage within me, I stopped reciting the Pledge of Allegiance years ago. As my children got older and became more involved in school activities and sports, my refusal to stand or acknowledge the flag was often times uncomfortable. I, however, never wavered in my conviction that until America changed her evil ways, I would not and could not recite the pledge.

On that beautiful November 4th evening, as I watched with millions of other fellow Americans the nation elect its first black president, my rage slowly began to dissipate and was replaced with pride and yes, for the first time, HONOR. I was finally proud to be an American. I believe that we are witnessing a true healing for our nation. Now I know that there are still some racist idiots out there that are absolutely fuming at the fact that Obama will be the 44th president of the United States. Just as Jesus said that the poor would be with us always, I firmly believe that the ignorant will be with us always as well. The majority of Americans however saw that during these perilous times, Obama is the man for such times.

Think about this - we (black men) have always thought to be of lower intelligence. Even in the arenas that we have had our greatest success - sports- we were never thought to be the "smart quarterback" or the "smart point guard". Those were terms that were generally assigned to the physically-inferior white players. During these dire times, however, Americans are putting the hopes, dreams, aspirations of themselves and their children into the hands of a black man. This is true vindication indeed!!!

As I mentioned in my introduction, when a shift occurs in the natural, I believe that wholeheartedly a shift is occurring in the spiritual as well. When I speak of healing, I am talking about Americans of all races now being able to be better neighbors to each other. Hispanics, African Americans, Asians and whites now being able to truly fellowship is within our grasp if we allow it to be. It has often been said that when trials come, families should grow stronger and more resolute.

The collapse of our economy (the trial), caused the nation to shift what had been a trademark of the past eight years - cultural division....