Barack Obama: Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance. (Crown 2007)

Barack Obama: The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream. Random House/ Hardcover, 608 pages $27.95

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Barack Obama Is African-American Enough for Me if—

By Larry Ukali Johnson-Redd, Author of Loving Black Women

States his  position on African-American Reparations

Some African-Americans feel we should be compensated for slavery through scholarships and some think we should and many feel there should be monetary reparations.

Some African-Americans feel the sum should be $500,000.00 for each African-American Man and woman and some feel it should be $100,000.00 per every African-American Man Woman and child.

I feel that Every African-American Man, Woman and child should immediately be compensated and receive a cash payment of $100,000.00 for slavery as well as a letter of apology signed by the USA president, legislature and judiciary.

If Barack Obama can announce a progressive position and support for this type of proposal then Barack Obama is African American enough for me. Barack Obama, my brother, what is your position on African-American Reparations?

I know I am asking a question that Obama may find difficult to answer however since Obama has experience as a civil rights lawyer and grew up as an African-American man in America while also traveling around Chicago, the USA and the African country of Kenya seeing much of the international and domestic condition of African Americans and Africans. I know that Obama has to appeal to all potential constituents including African Americans. However Clinton and the Church of England's apology for slavery is not enough until made whole with reparations.

Barack must know how important it is to uplift the conditions and status of African Americans and Africans in the other parts of the world as well as be a potentially great USA President. We also note we African Americans and Africans must uplift our state of mind embracing a greater love of ourselves and our people to justify in our minds to prepare ourselves to make the most of our potential and reparations owed to us on behalf of our ancestors who suffered horrors to our people of today continuing to face racism and discrimination.

If Obama can have a pro reparations view point and actions, uplifting the condition and status of African Americans all over the world by also addressing police excessive force issues including the murder of Sean Bell, more jobs and job training for our youth and young people, the bogus prosecution of political prisoners Mumia Abdul Jamaal and the San Francisco 8, ending the war of aggression against Iraq quickly, bringing the US soldiers back to the USA.

If Barack can address these life-or-death issues of African Americans all over the USA and still be a great USA President then Barack Obama is African-American enough for me.

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posted 25 March 2007 / updated 19 February 2008

Larry Ukali Johnson-Redd, born 1952 in San Francisco, graduated from Balboa High School in 1970 and entered University of San Francisco and received a B.A. in 1974 in Political Science and Ethnic Studies (African American).  His quest for education continued at Golden Gate University in San Francisco where he received a Masters in Public Administration (MPA).

During his early University days he met Chinwe, a Nigerian woman who was also a student, whom he eventually married.

After being disillusioned by the racism encountered while seeking a career in corporate America, he decided to seek alternatives.  In 1977 he and his Chinwe moved to Nigeria where he took four-year appointment as a lecturer of Government at a Boy’s High School in Benin City.

While in Nigeria he appeared on Nigeria Television on many occasions, wrote poetry and in his leisure time worked on his 1982 novel, The Black Expatriate in Africa.

In 1981 Larry and his wife Chinwe, returned to the U.S.  His wife subsequently developed health problems in 1984 and passed away in May 1985.  Since then, he has mourned his wife, worked as a Community Services Executive in the OMI Community of San Francisco (twelve years and an Elementary and Secondary Teacher.  Larry is a Professional Educator in the Bay Area.  Ukali completed Journey To The Motherland, from San Francisco To Benin City and it was published in 2002.  Between 2002 and 2004 Larry completed History To Destiny Through Afrocentric Poetry and a Master’s of Arts in Educational Administration at San Francisco State University.

Ukali has completed a DVD/CD Black Love Spoken Word and Loving Black Women a book of praise poetry for Black Women released June-06 and available for purchase at www.lovingblackwomen.com  . In 2007 Ukali produced The Second Annual African-American Spoken Word festival in the Main Branch of the San Francisco Pubic Library in San Francisco, California (2/3/07).

For more info about Larry Ukali Johnson-Redd or his books, go to his websites journeytothemother.net.415-425-6711.