Franklin Delano Williams, 10th CD Delegate Featured Content

Obama Wouldn't Be First Black President

Franklin Williams fdwrural@msn.com — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:50:21 PST

Obama Wouldn't Be First Black President

By Aysha Hussain

February 16, 2007

You've seen the headlines: "Are Americans Ready for a Black President?" "Is Obama Black Enough?" "Obama: America's First Black President?"

Ever since the nation first met Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in 2004, his race has been called into question more times than Michael Jackson's. Obama is clearly a black man, but is this really a breakthrough? Some blacks say Obama isn't "black enough," which seems ironic because for many blacks, former President Bill Clinton was "black enough." In 2001, Clinton was honored as the nation's "first black president" at the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Annual Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C.

Were there other "black" presidents? Some historians have reason to believe people don't really understand the genealogy of past U.S. Presidents. Research shows at least five U.S. presidents had black ancestors and Thomas Jefferson, the nation's third president, was considered the first black president, according to historian Leroy Vaughn, author of Black People and Their Place in World History.

Vaughn's research shows Jefferson was not the only former black U.S. president. Who were the others? Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge. But why was this unknown? How were they elected president? All five of these presidents never acknowledged their black ancestry.

Jefferson, who served two terms between 1801 and 1809, was described as the "son of a half-breed Indian squaw and a Virginia mulatto father," as stated in Vaughn's findings. Jefferson also was said to have destroyed all documentation attached to his mother, even going to extremes to seize letters written by his mother to other people.

President Andrew Jackson, the nation's seventh president, was in office between 1829 and 1837. Vaughn cites an article written in The Virginia Magazine of History that Jackson was the son of an Irish woman who married a black man. The magazine also stated that Jackson's oldest brother had been sold as a slave.

Lincoln, the nation's 16th president, served between 1861 and 1865. Lincoln was said to have been the illegitimate son of an African man, according to Leroy's findings. Lincoln had very dark skin and coarse hair and his mother allegedly came from an Ethiopian tribe. His heritage fueled so much controversy that Lincoln was nicknamed "Abraham Africanus the First" by his opponents.

President Warren Harding, the 29th president, in office between 1921 and 1923, apparently never denied his ancestry. According to Vaughn, William Chancellor, a professor of economics and politics at Wooster College in Ohio, wrote a book on the Harding family genealogy. Evidently, Harding had black ancestors between both sets of parents. Chancellor also said that Harding attended Iberia College, a school founded to educate fugitive slaves.

Coolidge, the nation's 30th president, served between 1923 and 1929 and supposedly was proud of his heritage. He claimed his mother was dark because of mixed Indian ancestry. Coolidge's mother's maiden name was "Moor" and in Europe the name "Moor" was given to all blacks just as "Negro" was used in America. It later was concluded that Coolidge was part black.

The only difference between Obama and these former presidents is that none of their family histories were fully acknowledged by others. Even though Obama is half-white, he strongly resembles his Kenyan father. And not only is Obama open about his ancestry, most people acknowledge him as a black man, which is why people will identify Obama, if elected, as the first black president of the United States.

See Official Photos, Videos and Transcripts of All Speeches from the Democratic National Convention

Franklin Williams fdwrural@msn.com — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:57:57 PST

My One True Friend : Stephanie Tubbs Jones (1949 - 2008)

Franklin Williams fdwrural@msn.com — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 06:50:09 PST

Tribute to Stephanie Tubbs Jones who was the first black Congresswoman representing Ohio and the first black woman to serve on the House Ways and Means committee. She was one of Hillary Clinton's true friends and a real Democrat.......(Link to Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iA9H-PiLmE&feature=email)

Atlanta Artist Endorsed by Barack Obama

Franklin Williams fdwrural@msn.com — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 06:17:40 PST

Atlanta Artist Endorsed by Barack Obama

Historic Portrait By Gilbert Young To Benefit Campaign

Senator Barack Obama signs original art by renowned artist Gilbert Young

Senator Barack Obama with the artist Gilbert Young

Atlanta, GA (BlackNews.com) - A portrait of Senator Barack Obama, created by renowned artist Gilbert Young, was recently awarded an unprecedented honor when Senator Obama endorsed the dual portrait by autographing the original work along with the artist.

"Obama said I made him look good," the Atlanta-based artist smiled. "I told him, that's my job!"

The portrait, entitled "History + Hope = Change" will be used to create a series of commemorative posters, limited edition prints, and a very special limited edition full-sized serigraph. Proceeds from sales of the items will benefit the Obama for America campaign. Posters will sell for $20, signed and numbered prints will start at $1500 and will be packaged with an autographed photo of Young and Barack signing the original work of art.

Young created the portrait after receiving an invitation to attend a reception for the Senator during the NAACP Annual Convention recently held in Cincinnati.

"I handed my card to Obama and he said he knew my work," Young said. "Then Obama called me a legend. It was one of the highlights of my career. I've never been so proud of my own work."

The card Obama received featured a work of art that has become Young's trademark. It depicts a man reaching down over a wall for another man's hand. Young considers the image, entitled "He Ain't Heavy," to be a personal statement on social responsibility. "He Ain't Heavy" has sold in galleries and gift shops across the U.S. and in select cities around the world for nearly 30 years.

Young will be in Denver August 25-29 to sign his historic "History + Hope = Change" posters and prints during the 2008 Democratic National Convention as a featured artist at the 9th annual After 5 Jazz & Blues Festival held in the historic Five Points Community. He will also appear at a reception hosted by Akente Express Gallery.

For more information, please visit www.historyhopechange.com, which will go live on August 24, 2008.

CONTACT:
Lea Winfrey-Young
678-933-2691
youngartone@aol.com

Statement from the Obama and Clinton Press Offices

Franklin Williams fdwrural@msn.com — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:49:29 PST

8/14/2008

Statement from the Obama and Clinton Press Offices

Since June, Senators Obama and Clinton have been working together to ensure a Democratic victory this November. They are both committed to winning back the White House and to to ensuring that the voices of all 35 million people who participated in this historic primary election are respected and heard in Denver. To honor and celebrate these voices and votes, both Senator Obama's and Senator Clinton's names will be placed in nomination.

"I am convinced that honoring Senator Clinton's historic campaign in this way will help us celebrate this defining moment in our history and bring the party together in a strong united fashion," said Senator Barack Obama.

Senator Obama's campaign encouraged Senator Clinton's name to be placed in nomination as a show of unity and in recognition of the historic race she ran and the fact that she was the first woman to compete in all of our nation's primary contests.

"With every voice heard and the Party strongly united, we will elect Senator Obama President of the United States and put our nation on the path to peace and prosperity once again," said Senator Hillary Clinton.

Senator Obama and Senator Clinton are looking forward to a convention unified behind Barack Obama as the Party's nominee and to victory this fall for America.