by Tony Jones
Special to the Tri-State Defender

As the Republican Party nomination process rolls forward, one of the questions many political observers are asking is whether the African-American community will support President Barack Obama’s bid for re-election as enthusiastically as his historic first run for the office.

In a recent Pew Research Center poll, African-American voters preferred President Obama 95 percent to 3 percent over GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney, “which is at least the margin he got in 2008,” said Michael Dimock, associate director for research at Pew. “There’s no erosion at all.”

President Obama delivers his State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol. (White House Photos by Pete Souza)

In a phone call from the U.S. Capitol immediately after the State of the Union Address, and with First Lady Michelle Obama at his side, President Barack Obama informs John Buchanan that his daughter, Jessica, was rescued by U.S. Special Operations Forces in Somalia.

The experts should have called Virgie Banks.

A retired teacher, and an organizer and activist with People Empowering People (PEP), Banks served as hostess for a viewing party to watch the president’s State of the Union Address this past Tuesday (Jan. 24). Held at Blockers Soul Food Restaurant (7209 Winchester Rd.), Banks said nearly two dozen people showed for a different type of political party – one that she describes as enthusiastic, with volunteers and ready to work to push President Obama to a second term.

“I’m part of the Hickory Hill branch, which works with Organizing For America to help to build and strengthen the grassroots support for the president’s agenda,” said Banks. “Our commitment is to help people organize in their own community on the president’s behalf. I got on board from the very beginning and we have teams throughout the county. It’s very important for people to know that we have to get organized now to help him get reelected.”

Banks rates President Obama’s first term as a bang-up job.

“He laid out a plan that tells the truth about the real issue of today, getting the economy growing again for the middle class. We have to become vocal and support him. The Republicans in the Congress have already shown that they are so intent on fighting him that we have to let them know that the people are behind the president,” she said.

“You could see the look on their faces last night. They are just intent on fighting him regardless of what he is trying to do for the country.”

If she had the chance, Banks would tell Republican Party leader and Speaker of the House John Boehner, “Get your heads out of the sand and start showing some concern for the average American. They have just about eliminated the middle class in this country and they don’t seem to understand that. I call our Republican senators very often and express how people are feeling out here. If we do more of that throughout the nation, we can stop some of this mess.”

Mamadou Pame, who came to the United States from Africa, describes himself as a strong PEP supporter. He recounted attending President Obama’s inauguration.

“Just to be there to feel the history was wonderful. We do not have the opportunity for such democratic action back home. An election is underway now in my homeland, but it is not as open and free as here.”

Bobbie Whaley, a 73-year-old retiree and breast cancer survivor, said she would remain with PEP for the upcoming election.

 “It’s his policies that I really like,” she said.  “Like the cutting out discrimination against gays in the military. That’s not something you are going to worry about if the person next to you is fighting to save your life.”

A career employee at Primerica, Whaley said she keeps busy as a notary public, which has given her opportunities to discuss the president with others.

“I had one white lady who told me how much she appreciated Obama’s pushing through the programs to help save people’s homes because it helped to lower her (house) note. I didn’t realize people were having so much trouble with their mortgages. That’s when I really realized what was going on with the sub-prime mortgage mess, so I’m really proud that he seems to be dedicated to trying to do something with home loans and credit cards. People that are criticizing him should go online and see what he has done.”

PEP member Linda Stallion said the viewing party she held in her home was a big success.

“People told me that they really appreciated viewing the message in this manner because everybody was focused on what he was saying.  You could tell that he was really focused and sincere when he talked about how we need to rebuild the middle class,” she said.

“The line that really struck me was when he spoke of the togetherness of the soldiers and that is how we need to approach being citizens. And I know that the congressman people might not have appreciated how he told them that he thinks people in Congress need to be better regulated in their financial dealings, but it’s the truth,” said Stallion.

“I’m proud of him. He stood and spoke like a black man that knows he needs to do right.”

PEP will be on the front lines daily, she said..

(To contact PEP’s Hickory Hill unit, email vapbanks@comcast.net)