Black America can't rely on Obama alone - CNN.com

Black America can't rely on Obama alone

By Eddie S. Glaude Jr., Special to CNN

February 16, 2010 12:36 p.m. EST

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Eddie S. Glaude Jr.: Blacks must remember President Obama has no special obligation to them
• Glaude: Obama is president of all; African-Americans can't sit back and expect changes
• Blacks hit hard by housing and health care crises, poverty, joblessness, Glaude writes
• He says blacks must demand Obama is working for "all" and will address those disparities

RELATED TOPICS

• Barack Obama
• African-American Issues
• Economic Crisis
• Poverty

Editor's note: Eddie S. Glaude Jr. is an author and the William S. Tod professor of religion and chairman of the Center for African American Studies at Princeton University. His latest book is "In a Shade of Blue: Pragmatism and the Politics of Black America."

(CNN) -- If we are to address seriously the economic devastation in black communities across the nation, we have to put aside, once and for all, the idea that President Obama has a special obligation to African-Americans.

Obama has said repeatedly that he can't be the president of black America; he is the president of all Americans. We should take him at his word.