"DENVER - When this campaign ends, after future presidents have come and gone, and when today's young people are grown old, history will remember Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008, as the day a black man became the presidential nominee of a major party.
This is history with the ink still wet; transcendent, yet in your face now.
It's a history that belongs to the red states and the blue states and the United States... "
This is history with the ink still wet; transcendent, yet in your face now.
It's a history that belongs to the red states and the blue states and the United States... "
So says the Associated Press. And somewhere in Northern Virginia Robert E. Lee is turning in his grave.
We have come a long way haven't we? And to think, just a little over a hundred and forty five years ago, you could have bought someone that looked like Barack to till your land. Now he is just a few electoral college votes away from leading this bitch. It says a lot about these divided states that we live in. It says a lot about our potential as a people and a nation.
I know I am very cynical when it comes to the racial attitudes of the A-merry-can people, but the truth of the matter is that not all A-merry-cans deserve my cynicism. Some of you are really decent people who really want to see this country rise above its differences and meaningless prejudices. Some of you. I am guessing maybe 70% of my melanin challenged friends fall into this category. The other 30% of you...well, hopefully, you are all very old.
And then of course, as is always the case, things aren't always so black and white (no pun intended). Oh oh here comes field with some negativity. Nope, no negativity here. Just reality.
The reality is, that his "O" ness isn't stained by the legacy of slavery; his mama was white and his daddy was African. His ancestors weren't brought to A-merry-ca against their free will, and there are quite a few folks in A-merry-ca who feel that this works to Barack's advantage. He is not angry like the rest of you black A-merry-cans, because his ancestors weren't wronged. The people in the majority can accept him because there is no guilt. His rhetoric is that of reconciliation, and healing. Forget the forty acres and a mule, just give me the white house, and the symbolism of that act alone will make your conscience free, whitey.
At the end of the day Barack looks more like me than the average A-merry-can, so having him in the White House would have given the rest of the folks who look like me a sense of pride at knowing that one of us finally has a chance to run the ship. I honestly don't think that there is a thinking black person in A-merry-ca who believes that Barack will be the answer to their problems. If he were to be elected (and that's a big if), the bills would still be due, there would still be a great chance of getting shot walking to the corner store, and you would still have to get a fucking passport to go a grocery store where you can get fresh meat and fruits. The schools will more than likely still under perform, the criminal justice system will still be imbalanced, and special interests groups like the murderers at the NRA, will still control Washington.
But one of us will be on television everyday holding those White House press briefings and telling us that everything will be alright. The A-merry-ca we love and cherish will not succumb to the culture of corruption in Washington, and the checks and balances that are in place will protect all of us, and not just the wealthy and connected. Hearing that from him will have a different meaning to many of the folks who look like me, it will be more believable. And at the end of the day, that's all black folks want, a chance to believe in something. They have found there reason to believe, now they are just hoping that enough of you A-merry-cans feel the same way.
Yes we can. But can you?
65 comments:
Robert E. Lee was a Yankee, but I agree with everything else you wrote tonight. It's all about knowing you matter, when you're parents tell you that you can be anything you want that's fine, but it's nice to see someone actually do it.
szpork
I don't know, field. He may not share my history of ancestors in bondage, but that just means he doesn't have a propensity for high blood pressure.
If Barack had kept smoking weed and dropped out of Occidental College instead of transferring to Columbia, etc. etc. no one would be questioning his Negro credentials. He'd be another under employed Black man who enjoys pick up games and Kools.
Black is Black. Whether you're from the Continent, the Islands, or Alabama.
I agree with you 100%, should Barack become president it will be nice to see someone that looks more like me than the last 40 something presidents. Yet at the end of the day, I doubt it will have a major impact on my day to day life.
Though this is truly history in the making, my Grandfather was a sharecropper in rural Arkansas. My own father drank from the colored fountains.. was told that a young Black boy couldn't be a pilot, so this is progress.
"If Barack had kept smoking weed and dropped out of Occidental College instead of transferring to Columbia, etc. etc. no one would be questioning his Negro credentials. He'd be another under employed Black man who enjoys pick up games and Kools."
I like that! :)
And BTW, I agree with you about black being black. In my post I was merely echoing a common sentiment.
Last Saturday's WSJ had an article regarding some of the differences between Africans and African Americans. Have you read it and if so what are your thoughts?
Hope the link works. If not, it was in Saturday's Wall Street Journal and the title is Black in a new Light.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121945267454865513.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Thanks for that link, anonymous. I've long thought that black folks from Africa and other non-U.S. places are favored by white folks. They don't share the same history as American black folks, don't understand racism when they see it, and white folks can fancy themselves non-racist when they interact with them.
blackgirlinmaine,
I can take some pictures of the town he leaved in while in Arkansas if it still exists if you'll tell me the name. Eastern Arkansas is bad shape these days. Even the cemeteries are hard to find now. Maybe I'm just looking for a reason to go the the blues festival, hard to say.
szpork
Oh yeah, African americans are so lazy. that pisses me off so bad. John kerry's wife happens to be African american. Guess they didn't think about that, huh?
I agree with Kelleybelle 100%. I wept right along side many of the people at the convention when Obama was named the official Presidential nominee.
I don't expect him to wave a magic wand and make the disappointments and struggles disappear but I do expect him to be a firm leader for our nation. Something that I believe he can accomplish with ease. I can not wait to sing Hail to the Chief.
I did not think I would live to see this day. WOW! Just awesome!
A heart felt "It's about damn time" to every black person in A-merry-ca.
This is a victory for every person of every minority. A victory for one is a victory for all.
Celebrate! Celebrate! And then let us all get busy making certain the skinny black dude is the next President of the United States. That will be a victory for sanity.
Those fucking rethugs have stolen my country and I want it back.
Actually Field, Obama's ancestors in Africa were oppressed by the Europeans power structure in Kenya. They were burnt out of their homes and murdered by the hundreds of thousands. And when his father spoke out--he was jailed. Not American oppression by any means--just that special kind of African oppression that seems to be overlooked by us Americans.
Nice post though . . . .
I cosign with Old White Guy.
And I thank you for breaking it down AGAIN,Field!
I'm also with the old white guy and classysbf. I want my country back, even if I have to rip it out of some Refucklican's cold, dead fingers. :)
Agreeing with voices up above as a 47 Y/O white guy who's been teaching in urban schools for 20 yrs. I believe this will actually be something we can hold up to both white and non-white kids as a ray of hope in their lives many of which have so little of it. Neo-cons and Bush's 15 minutes of shame are over time to get off the stage and hire lawyers. Peace
A yankee is someone from Maine who eats pie for breakfast.
When I was in high school in the Sixties I thought this day could come sooner. Because I thought equal rights was finally up near the top of the agenda & it would stay there until we worked it through. I was soon dissuaded of that lovely but quaint notion as it was demonstrated how far white America would go to evade the issue. I am allowing myself to be happy & proud before the machinery to tear Barack down is fully in gear.
I'm happy with the nomination. Now we have to man/woman-up and put some effort into grassroots politics. And a few more bucks, Field. I'll do it. You will too. ;)
"The other 30% of you...well, hopefully, you are all very old.
Field, you cracked me up with post, but at the same time, your serious points are appreciated. I like the comments above, too. It's been a wonderful night for our country.
Hope a lot of still undecided folks don't get amnesia when the RNC rolls around.
John Kerry wife is not African-American. She is not a black american born in the United States.
Also believe me anon. foreign born blacks no racism when they see it. For most of them it's the first time they have actually had to deal with it.
Nice post Field. I'm really looking forward to GWB's administration being shown the door. It will take decades to recover from the mess they have created.
How could voters re-elect him back in '04? I didn't vote for him but I wonder how the people who did feel about it now. Are they going to vote for McCain?
You know that I tell you usually that I appreciate your skepticism, FN, but today and tomorrow, let me have my Kool-Aid in peace.
I just happened to be watching, not really getting it, and then, it hit
'oh #($*! He's really about to be nominated', and I hurried to hit the Tivo.
When Hillary did what she did, I cried. I didn't plan on it. It just happened.
TVOne's After Party had an interview with Dyson and Charles Barkley. Sir Charles was pretty humble talking about Obama. It was a very good interview.
When he spoke of The Elders ' being in shock', I knew what meant. I understood clearly what he meant.
I said a long time ago, no matter what disappointments I might have with Obama, The Candidate, he would get my vote because of two people: My mother, who grew up in Jim Crow Mississippi and my five-month old great-niece. For the two of them, I cast my ballot for him with no apprehensions.
"If Barack had kept smoking weed and dropped out of Occidental College instead of transferring to Columbia, etc. etc. no one would be questioning his Negro credentials. He'd be another under employed Black man who enjoys pick up games and Kools."
Real Talk. Probably would've started sellin.
Now that it's official, that Obama will be the one to lead the Democratic Party in its bid to recapture the White House, let me say this about his nomination:
This is not so much about our journey, but white folk's journey.
This is not so much about what Obama has achieved, but what whites have achieved. This is not so much about a black first, but a white first.
This day belongs more to whites than it does to us.
This day becomes a gauge of how far whites have come to heal the racial divide, and, in the days ahead, how much farther they're willing to go.
Oh and if Lee's turning in his grave, then Nathan Bedford Forrest is probably doing backflips........in Hell.
True, blackdiaspora, but what amazes me is: Field, you're sounding downright NONcynical ...!!! ;-)
Well, well, well, this day has brought tears to Granny's eyes. I drunk out of those colored only fountains in the past, rode in the back of the bus, went to an all colored school, I experienced the cruelty of Jim Crow and even had an ancestor who was lynched. I've fought against racism it seems like, all my life. One of my cousins was one of the Little Rock Arkansas Nine, and in the past I've worked for the Office of Civil Rights. But I never thought I'd live to see this day.
I remember Martin Luther King's speech and how people talked about it for days and days, but another thing that has always stayed in my heart was what Coretta King said, "If you gone stand for anything, stand for righteousness. I remember Malcolm X and many others when they were alive.
Today, it brought a tear to my eye, when I heard a white woman say, "For the first time a black man is nominated to run for President, and a black woman will be the first lady and it is awesome. We're ready for change." I never thought that I would hear those words spoken from a white woman, but today I did. That let me know that Dr. King's dream is coming to past. Hallelujah!
Oh, we still might have a few with hatred in their heart for their fellow-man and Americans, but they don't even count in the big picture anymore and are like grass that will fade and wither away.
Today, I watched the proceedings on CSPAN free of the BS the media is spouting out. I didn't have to listen to any of the negativity that MSM is trying to agitate and spread. MSM is becoming more like a gossip mongers and backbiters instead of news commentators. I got to hear common ordinary folks, that are not politicians, tell their stories.
I got to see all who participated speeches, the ones they neglected to show on MSM on purpose. Yes, I said on purpose, and the reason I said that is because I watched something interesting on CSPAN early this morning. A meeting of a few Journalist, Chris Matthews was one of them. He used veiled language like "The Obama's are different, their not like others who have been in the White House or like us, etc. Yup, it was an interesting meeting and it didn't set too well with me. Make no mistake Obama's campaign does not need to take the advice of MSM, because me thinks it's a setup. However, it will backfire this time in MSM and McCain's face.
I liked John Kerry, Dennis Kunich, Patrick Deval, the Governor of Montana, and many other's speeches. I even enjoyed Clinton's speech and hearing the stories that common ordinary people had to share. The entertainment was good and uplifting. Today was a lovely day! Tomorrow I plan to watch CSPAN again free of the garbage MSM tends to produce these days.
But a word of warning, we haven't crossed the finish line yet. When Obama becomes President, that is when we've crossed the finish line, and then we can truly say that this country is ready to heal the racial divide. We're almost there though.
@Granny: "But a word of warning, we haven't crossed the finish line yet. When Obama becomes President, that is when we've crossed the finish line, and then we can truly say that this country is ready to heal the racial divide. We're almost there though."
Granny, your experiences are my experiences.
We, and others from our era, know the full significance of this day.
We have lived to confirm: nothing stays the same.
Change is the only constant.
"He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap."
Obama heeded neither the wind, nor the clouds, but the dictates of his own heart.
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven...
"A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away...."
We're in that cast-away time. Let's pray that nothing is held back.
black diaspora:
Amen, prayer is a must in daily life.
John Kerry gave a speech tonight that nailed it all, and MSM cut it out and didn't show it, but CSPAN did. Kerry even introduced Obama's uncle, but MSM cut that part out too and didn't show it, but CSPAN did. Just like they didn't show Kerry's speech and it was one of the best. He said that "McCain wrote a bill and turned around and voted against it. He was for it before he was against it." Kerry said, maybe, McCain should have debated with himself first, before he voted. I fell out laughing on that one, but it let's you know that McCain's mind is going through a process of senility.
That's crazy for a person to vote against a bill he wrote himself. And the Republicans want him for President. I'm sorry but I think McCain needs to retire.
black diaspora:
Do you remember when they exhumed Medgar Evers body, and it was still intact? You know why I believe his body was still intact,
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." I believe Martin Luther King's body is still intact and others who fought against hate of mankind, because they stood for righteouness. Just a thought I've had from time to time.
BTW, West Coast Story:
They had a lot of latino speakers who spoke in Obama's behalf and supported him. No one was left out. In fact, they had speakers that represented Asians, Latinos, Native Americans, White, and Black. Granny wanted to make sure you knew this just in case they didn't show them on MSM. Because many of them spoke, and they showed all of the speakers on CSPAN. It wasn't a bunch of media heads yakking away, they showed all of the speakers without interruption from the time it started until the time it ended.
@Granny: "Do you remember when they exhumed Medgar Evers body, and it was still intact?
Yes. It's a condition often reserved for the saints among us.
Too bad Medgar Evers and Dr. King won't be considered for sainthood, except in our hearts.
But, then, you never can tell.
You're right. CSPAN is a better way to watch the convention. It sure beats listening to Pat Buchanan's efforts to spice it up with one contentious, controversial, inane remark after the other.
Damn granny, you damn near brought tears to my eyes, and that ain't easy. Thanks for that.
anon. 10:17PM, I am looking for that article.
Rentparty, I don't know what happened to me, Mrs. Field might have slipped some "O" aid into my food.
"Those fucking rethugs have stolen my country and I want it back."
That's the line of the day :)
the problem the dems have is simple....they (you) want more of MY pay check for Gov Assistance for the POOR.
these are the folks i see wondering the streets during the day while i'm working my ass off
GOOD LUCK
I just love this passage from Bill Clinton's speech last night endorsing Barack Obama:
"His life is a 21st Century incarnation of the American Dream. His achievements are proof of our continuing progress toward the “more perfect union” of our founders’ dreams. The values of freedom and equal opportunity which have given him his historic chance will drive him as president to give all Americans, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability, their chance to build a decent life, and to show our humanity, as well as our strength, to the world."
Bill Clinton hit a home run.
I'm a a melanin-challenged American and a political refugee from Texas. I haven't had cable teevee since before 9/11/01. I didn't get rid of it because of the frat-boy-in-chief, but the prospect of accidentally having to see and hear him speak sure wasn't an incentive to pay the outrageous prices the cable monopoly charges here in the northeast. I also had to stop listening to the news on NPR. But for the opportunity to see and hear a President I can be proud of "on television everyday holding those White House press briefings and telling us that everything will be alright," I just may spring for it again. At the very least I will be able to listen to the NPR news again.
@anon 7:16...... Are you one of the people McCain refered to as "middle class cause you earn up to 5 million dollars? Are you the one that benefits from tax cuts for the rich? Have you somehow been exempted from funding the war in Iraq to the tune of over a TRILLION dollars? Own an oil company? Are you a CEO that makes millions in perks? If you are, then let me take this opportunity to personally tell you that you are hoarding too much, you are a greedy FUCK and shame on you for walking around with your pockets stuffed to the gills while you step over that homeless veteran or mentally ill soul.
If you aren't, well, don't worry sunnny boy, the taxes that Obama plans to raise will not be out of your paycheck.
Damnit Field,
Don't you go gettin all soft on me too. We've got to "keep cynicism alive" or we're doomed whether black, white, yellow or whatever. The fact that a black and woman squared off this season was a sign of desparation, not progress. The job of the African American is to remind America to live up to its stated ideals, not get all weepy when one of us takes up the reigns of white supremacy. I've heard of house negroes and field negroes, now let's welcome the white-house negro.
BTW: didn't white folks kick those Africans in the ass too? Took over the whole continent, stole their gold, destroyed their religion, made them slaves on their father's land serving a white minority. Aren't they still getting their asses kicked by Western institutions like the World Bank and the IMF. They ain't mad? Must be more fucked up than African Americans.
I'm just hoping Barack goes all Mau Mau on their ass once he's elected. I won't hold my breath.
PS: When you gonna write about that assassination plot?
Thank Field. That was an honest post.
I can.
Field - one post for the record books my good man.
Co-signing with oldwhite dude et al. Can't wait to see a real leader in 09.
Field, 'they are out there' and come Nov. they will stand along with us.
Naj in VA.
SIR FIELD,
Are you going to post a mapquest link for the street in Philadelphia that you WILL run on and have you applied for a permit?
Peace and sit-ups.
@anon 7:16. That's one of the oldest Rethuglican talking points. That one is classic. LMAO!
Interesting post. I think until now (the primaries) most whites that he encountered assumed that he came from slaves as did most blacks. If he got almost to where he is without most knowing that his great great grandparents weren't slaves then how does this make his struggle any different. Is our own knowledge that we are born from slaves holding us back? If our children were unaware of the glass ceiling would they climb higher?
People, remind those fucking hillbillies that it's the Urban Centers that pay for their Roads, their Police, and their fucking Electricity. [taxes are progressive, and it's the blue states that pay for the rest]
If they don't remember why I include the last -- then they don't deserve the title hillbilly -- just call 'em a damn fool.
Nothing anonymous about me......
Look, people.......this election is nothing more than an attempt to raise the black man above the White man....nothing more......
This has been a dream for most blacks and some 'yielding' Whites.....
The problem is that when blacks get the power HANDED to them on a silver platter from the cowardice Whites.....the White patrons of America WILL see racism, discrimination and prejudices in full frontal assaulted view.......
UNTIL it is arrested.......and make no mistake..it will be...
blacks are the most hateful bunch of people that this world has ever seen.....
And I cannot wait until the day comes that you people think you can dominate America....and its people.....
you WILL be eradicated.....
who is anon? why are you posting as anon? have you been blind to the fall of the dollar the last eight years, the fall of the US economy in the last months, the affects of the Iraq War on our monetary strength? where can I buy some of those blinders you are wearing? silly fool, worried about dems taking your money to help homeless vets, have you not been paying attention? First clue: gas costs $1.49 when Bush came to the White House what does it cost now?
I'm getting more cynical the closer we are getting to the election, I just don't believe in amerikka--all greed, no humanity for our fellow man, it's a hard pill to swallow learning of the deaths of Medgar Evans, MLK, Malcolm, four little girls, Freedon Riders, JFK, RFK, Palestinians, people I know that aren't registered to vote and want to argue with me about why they aren't registered. Okay-I AM going to think positively!
aw frank....you're so funny, yet so pathetic... I can just picture you now.... little tin hat on your head...wide-eyed, crouched and cringin in the corner, holdin on to your gun.... jumpin every time someone say, BOO! Its ok Frank... when Barack is president, you can get some of that mental health care you so obviously, desperately need....
Well here's the thing. As much power as the President has - and it's plenty - they need a cooperative Congress and Senate and Judicial system in place. This is where we come in. It starts locally with your school board, to your county officials, state, judges and on up. A few well-placed strategic moves and the gov't could be our friend or our enemy. We have to take equal responsibility for what happens in this country. There's always gonna be racists and selfish people. When did we become sooooo complacent? It is vital to move out of our comfort zones. It's the only way any good has ever come.
I am in Denver at the Convention. I only decided to go 2 weeks ago, knew no one and had no credentials for anything. I found an Obama supporter who put me up for free, a delegate who gave me a ticket to Invesco, some other bloggers who shared Big Tent passes and a car service from a local law office employee who wanted to help me. And I lost my job earlier this year. I have requested to be a poll worker. And I'm not 100% for Obama either but if I could do all of this how much more could other people do?
To Frank/Georgia:
Please remove your head out of your ass. It's quite embarassing.
I'm thrilled for O's nomination just because he won't say the following:
"Too many good docs are getting out of business. Too many OB/GYN's aren't able to practice their, their love with women all across this country."
"One of the great things about books is sometimes there are some fantastic pictures."
"It's clearly a budget. It's got a lot of numbers in it."
"You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test."
"Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"
"They want the federal government controlling Social Security like it's some kind of federal program."
For crying out loud I want a president that doesn't sound like a complete idiot!!!!!!
Granny:
If more people like yourself who are still living should tell their personal stories about growing up in the 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s because the generation beyond those eras does not have a recollection and it is very easy to become very disconnected from the past. I tried to explain that to a friend of mine who was in tears and did not understand why some blacks didn't understand the past. You cannot understand what you do not know or experienced and of course she became very angry with me when I made the statement because she believes that it's more about apathy. I think there are some who want to let of the past and move on, and I believe that history is a great teacher that gives us a great insights about why the present the way it is. However, with that knowledge should be the ability to learn from the past and do things differently. Do not drown in the past, but let it be a reminder of what not to do in the present and future.
I think it's easy to be cynical because we do not have the expectation that anything will change. However, we never ask ourselves the question about what would happen if I change my cynical view. It would be a start, and I have been guilty of being cynical myself. Ghandi did say be the change you want to see in the world. I know that sounds sappy, but it is true. I realize that I cannot change the world and accept the notion, but I certainly change my preception. I realize that within my being that I have the patience and willingness to least conceive the idea that an black person can be president of this country. I had the feeling when I first met Barack Obama in personal when he was elected to the Senate that the man would be president. It was not just the idea of being impressed, but a strong feeling that just struck me. I allowed myself to be open to the idea that this will happen. Unlike my friend will sit in church every Sunday talking about having faith, but did not enough faith to the idea of Barack Obama being President. She did not believe he had a chance to get pass the primary and dismissed the idea early on. However, I am a believer in that everything must change and nothing stays the same (I know it's a lyric from a song, but it doesn't mean that it isn't true). I know that history also changes.
"I just don't believe in amerikka--all greed, no humanity for our fellow man."
If you truly believe America is Amerikka, then you should just give up now and save yourself some trouble.
Frank/Georgia,
Geez.. dude, chill!!
Blacks are not the most hateful people in the world. Humanity in general is given over to hate and tribalism, it is in our nature. How hateful could Obama be towards white people? They raised him for heaves sake! John Mcain will do far more to hurt our white brothers and sisters with failed economic policies and scare tactics. The Republican party may be a mostly white party but it does not represent the interests of most white people.
Pay close attention, I got a feeling MSM and McCain plan to overshadow Obama's acceptance speech with McCain's announcement for VP. MSM has not showed all of the speakers and the case made against McCain during the DNC on purpose. I even learned a few new things.
"little tin hat on your head...wide-eyed, crouched and cringin in the corner, holdin on to your gun.... jumpin every time someone say, BOO!"
Frank is a perfect example of Stockholm Syndrome. It's the inevitable result of seven years of being held hostage by the rethuglicans. He has known nothing but fear, and expects more of the same. He may be beyond help, but we'll see to it that he at least has a chance to get some help.
Granny,
McCain may try to upstage Barack's speech, but it looks like God him/her self is planning on upstaging the Rethugs next week....
I am white and have black friends who are from the history of slavery in the USA. I have black friends from the islands. I think it is an error to think first of all that I feel guilty and that this motivates any of those friendships. I think it is an error to see blacks from the island as free of the history of slavery (that is the biggest error I saw on this thread). And those from Africa had to deal with colonisation.
Hell I am Celtic and the Anglos oppressed my ancestors in England.
Enough already. It's about one human being connecting with another. Don't overthink it so much!
Field,
I am proud this day. I am proud to be a reader of this site. This current post, and the comments on it(well, the majority of them)area prime example of why I read you every day. It is a pleasure to read, and occasionally participate in such intelligent dialogue. While it is by no means monolithic, it is still stimulating, and educational. It is a pleasure to read the thoughts of obviously intelligent individuals who have insight and articulate it well--whether I agree or not. The fact that we can do this is at least one reason this imperfect country is great.
I am proud to call Senator Obama my candidate and the official Democratic nominee. I am proud that we have come this far.
I, too was moved as I drove in my car and heard Senator Clinton make the motion. I was moved by Sen. Kerry's speech and his highlighting the O man's great-uncle(CNN did show it). I was moved by the tears Michelle shed as she listened to Beau Biden. Oscar-worthy performance, though it may have been, I was also moved by Pres. Clinton doing his job in an awesome manner.
And I too was became misty reading Grannystandingforth. I belong to the last of the baby-boomer generation, and I am proud to see this day. And if Fredrick, and Harriet, Sojourner, Nat, Emmit, Fannie Lou, Martin, Malcolm and Medgar, and all the famous and anonymous forebears in the struggle for a chance could be here, I believe they too would be proud and moved.
We are certainly seeing Sen. Obama being judged by the content of his character. But, like you, Field, I still have enough cynicism/realism to see that we have not finished with the judgment based on the color of his skin.
Had he been "clear", with the same intelligence, judgment, oratory and charisma that he has displayed, no one would care about "really knowing" him. No one would care about his lack of experience. No one talked about that fact that he has been accountable to voters longer than Hillary has. Forgotten, or should I say ignored by the rethugs is the fact the frat boy had to shore up his "credentials" by tabbing Cheney. No one could have been less qualified than dubbya. Governor of Texas is a joke.And while Clinton was a three-term governor and Pres of the National Governor's association, he was younger than Barack is now when he was elected. And the fact that no less than 9% of Americans ADMIT they would not vote for him because of his color, suggests that there are still steep hurdles to leap.
But for now, I will suspend my cynicism. I will cover my realism and bask, enjoy and be proud of the historic reality we have right now. I will excitedly await tonight's speech, taking note of the significance that only FDR and JFK accepted outside; the the historic anniversary. They were all agents of change. And I believe we will hear Sam Cooke tonight---It has been a long time comin', but a change has come!
Er,
I'm half Jamaican and half Nigerian. Jamaicans are decendants of slaves (blacks are not native to what is now known as Jamaica). Go check out the slavery museum on the island of Curacao. Both Jamaicans and Nigerians and all Caribbean and African people were/are victims of colonialism. Bottom line - we are all in this together (any division is artificial and created to weaken us) This is a proud moment for all.
By the way, I am not ashamed to say that I am a decendant of slaves. Our ancestors were some strong people. I know that I would not have survived.
Obama/Biden 08
OMG. Who in America isn't from mixed racial stock? Who is a direct decedent from Slaves? Listen up! History is being made right now in real time!! Get a grip. Only in American could Obama be possible. Lets just chill, lean back, and enjoy the ride.
Super good posts, so incisive and a couple of real belly laughs.
But....@Granny: "But a word of warning, we haven't crossed the finish line yet. When Obama becomes President, that is when we've crossed the finish line,..."
Electing him isn't the finish line, only the official fair start; because he, his party, and his administration will be receiving a perfect storm of viscious problems. He will reap the an amazing amount of the blame, because it "was on his watch."
And then, he has to get out of it alive. Look at our assassinated presidents. Let us hope we can manage two terms for him. A Democratic House and Senate would be a nice touch too.
just wanted to say, i don't agree that every person, every country, every culture that includes people of african descent has been "stained" by slavery and colonialism. be it the american kind or otherwise.
"I'm half Jamaican and half Nigerian. Jamaicans are decendants of slaves (blacks are not native to what is now known as Jamaica)."
So does that make you a Jamgerian?
Seriously, I hope that wasn't meant for me. A history lesson to the FN about Jamaica and colonialism? Wow! That's like someone lecturing Vince Lombardi about football :)
Field said,.."Seriously, I hope that wasn't meant for me. A history lesson to the FN about Jamaica and colonialism? Wow! That's like someone lecturing Vince Lombardi about football :)"
You're so full of youselve.:)
To be fair Robert E. Lee only fought for the South because of Virginia; he would have been with the Union if VA hadn't seceded.
Very well written, and no grammar Jewry. I'm so proud of my Negro *tear*!
I don't understand what people get out of the cynicism. Do you not get enough of that opening your bills every month, buying food, filling the gas tank, etc.? Is LIFE in general not enough to discourage you without trying to FIND something to complain about? Yes, we as black people are in this together. Africa has been ravaged, stripped, and raped by Europeans--anyone of Kenyan decent should not be questioned on their connection to strife. But whatever! This post "tried" I guess.
The problem Anonymous 7:14AM is that you don't have the same level of outrage and disgust at Uncle Sam (doesn't matter the political party) taking a bigger chunk out of your check for the RICH (corporate welfare, bailouts, farm subsidies, etc., etc., etc.*).
Hypocrites and political chumps. I tell ya. They never seem to get it. SMMFH
* = in my Yul Brenner voice in The King And I
Jody:
Look like God showed up and showed out too didn't he. (wink)
YES WE CAN!
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