What Thurgood Marshall would think of Obama

A crowd of more than 1,000 of African America's most successful packed inside the Big Apple's Sheraton Tower Hotel ballroom this week. They buzzed with excitement at the annual Thurgood Marshall College Fund's 21st Anniversary Awards Dinner. Despite a tough economy, the College Fund achieved a financial milestone with attracting over $10-million dollars in donations helping students attend public Historically Black Colleges and Universities on scholarship.

Thurgood Marshall, the man who bears the name of the scholarship fund, was the first African American to be named to the U.S. Supreme Court Bench in 1967. If Justice Marshall were alive today what would he think? 

Sitting at the head table between the gala's emcee actor Mekhi Phifer and college fund CEO and President Dwayne Ashley, Marshall delights to see the lovely autumn colored actress Nia Long present.  He nods his head acknowledging Jim Clifton, chairman and CEO of Gallup who said when his organization polled white Americans 40 years ago and asked if they would vote for an African American for President over 60 percent said no, and now today only 4 percent would not. Justice Marshall is pleased to hear Clifton announce his family is donating $500,000. With total appreciation, a big grin spreads across his face when Bill Gates' Microsoft pitches in an additional $6 million.

At the dinner table and at every event where black folks reign these days, Justice Marshall's table talk turns to the 2008 election. Listening to the chatter, Marshall recalls his time as a young lawyer who argued and won the landmark civil rights Brown v. Board of Education case in 1954. Suddenly he is overwhelmed with emotion. His eyes fill to the brim with tears that gently stream down his aged and worn face. A cathartic moment for him, Marshall recognizes perhaps for the first time, the toil for justice and fight for equality was not in vain.

Proud as a papa, Justice Marshall knows he paved the way for another young lawyer to follow him to become not just a U.S. Senator, but be on the brink of world history as the first African American President of the United States of America. With great sentiment and barely able to speak, he opens his mouth. For a moment, it seems the room is hushed waiting for him to say something about Barack Obama. He sighs, pauses and barely whispers something he has said before, "Sometimes history takes things into its own hands." With tears flowing by everyone they agree. R&B singer Tony Rich says, "Justice Marshall now is the time."

With days away to the election, this is perhaps the most important moment for the entire African Diaspora. Black folks in America are on the greatest emotional roller coaster ride of their entire lives. They won't be able to do what Terry McMillan wrote "Exhale," until the day after the election. A moment Dr. King dreamed of, the adrenalin builds.

Emotions are high and tolerance is very low in the black community for any ignorance over a few who say they are not voting. Some give excuses such as, "I ain't voting because something might happen to Barack." According to the New York Times, there is a little fear that some black voters feel Obama would be blamed by whites for the financial mess which might get worse under his watch.

Acceptance is even lower for African American Republicans, not because they support John McCain, but because those who support McCain have not decried the overt racist tactics by the Republican National Committee and state party organizations around the country. African Americans in Republican leadership sit quietly making excuses and self-righteous proclamations about Obama's "relationships."

Black leaders in the Republican Party, such as Michael Steele and former Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl Champ Lynn Swan both putting their political clout on the line will hopefully be appreciated with more than a pat on the back. After the election, will they be tapped along with Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana to be a part of rebuilding a new Republican leadership that is inclusive, respectful and civil? The truth is, the party has rolled back more than a quarter of a century. There will be a free-for-all fight for who should take charge. No black man or woman will be throwin' any punches.

Despite this sidebar, the focus now for black people in America is to show the power they truly have at the polls making this the greatest voter turnout in black history.  Thurgood Marshall once asked, "What is the quality of your intent?" The answer is by voting on November 4.