Urban Thought Collective

The statement by author Toni Morrison that Bill Clinton was our first black president was one of the biggest myths told to Black America. In fact, Morrison, in acknowledgment of her error, endorsed Senator Obama earlier this year.

I believe that Barack Obama will be America’s first Black President. Obama was not able to close the deal in the Pennsylvania primary this week, but I’m not discouraged. For me, it’s not a matter of if, but when, Obama will secure the Democratic nomination for President.

Black America can’t survive another Clinton Presidency. Although it may have appeared to be “good times” for everyone, the last time the Clintons were in the White House, things were not good for Black people - anywhere.

Early on in Clinton’s presidency, he had the opportunity to intervene in the Rwandan genocide. As portrayed in the movie “Hotel Rwanda,” starring Don Cheadle, an estimated 800,000 people, mainly Tutsi and moderate Hutu, were killed by Hutu militias. Tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi people lead to a civil war in which the Tutsis are massacred because of their former rule over the nation. President Clinton chose not to send in troops on a peace keeping mission.

The Welfare Reform Bill, passed by Clinton, significantly reduced the number of people on welfare at the time, but when the economy started to decline, the bill severely crippled poor African Americans across the nation - primarily single mothers.

Incarceration rates for African-Americans during the Clinton years surpassed those of Ronald Reagan’s eight years, going from approximately 3,000 per 100,00 people, to 3,620 per 100,000. Under the “one strike and you’re out” policy that was passed, public housing residents (who are disproportionately black), had to surrender their right to privacy (Fourth Amendment). If convicted of a crime, that individual, along with anyone who lives with them was evicted without consideration of their due process rights.

The Clinton White House also passed drug laws with some of the strictest drug enforcement policies ever proposed. This included mandatory sentencing and increased penalties for crack cocaine users, but less time for powder cocaine users (which was perceived as the drug choice by whites). This paved the way for the infamous “Three Strikes Law,” which mandated the death penalty for crimes such as growing marijuana.

Then, there’s NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement), which the Clintons were big supporters of. Since its inception, NAFTA has caused 40% of the wealthy to become wealthier, while the income of the bottom wage earners has declined by 60%.

Lastly, for all the African-Americans Bill put into high profile positions, let’s not forget how he turned his back on Professor Lani Guinier (Assistant Attorney General nominee), and former Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders, when they came under attack by political opponents.

All of these things occurred during Bill’s reign. Yes, I realize that Hillary is running and not Bill. However, just as she tries to negatively link Obama and Rev. Wright, shouldn’t she be guilty by association?

Najee Ali is Executive Director of Los Angeles based activist organization Project Islamic H.O.P.E, a national civil rights organization that advocates for the human rights of oppressed people regardless of race, gender or religion. He was selected by Wave Newspapers and Our Weekly Newspaper as one of the 25 most influential black leaders in Los Angeles. More information is available at: www.islamichope.org.