It's been a long time... its not that I haven't wanted to blog about random things since this hiatus began. But after being gone for such a long time, I couldn't come back and blog about burning boiled eggs (true story) or the really smelly sandwich roll dude at Pathmark that wore my nerves out. It needed to be something worthwhile...
After a long hard-fought battle with Hillary Clinton, Barrack Obama FINALLY solidified his nomination for the Democratic party to become the first black nominee for a major party in history. Its a beautiful thing. I am so excited to be alive during this moment in Black History, and American History. We are only months away from what could be the first Black President of the United States.
Martin Luther King had a dream that we as African Americans would be viewed as equals. And in my eyes, there is no better symbol of our equality than for one of us to be elected as the president of the United States in a country where we are STILL a minority, which would mean that many of the votes to elect Barrack will come from non-African American citizens. For White Americans to vote for a Black man believing that he could do just as good a job if not better than a White man, would illustrate that not only do WE believe that we are equal, but that others believe it too. I am not saying that Martin Luther King's dream would be realized completely by Barrack's presidency, but exactly 40 years after his death, a monumental step toward this dream could be taken.
I just hope that all the division created within the party by Hillary's long fight does not create bigger issues for us all. Many are saying that they will vote for Mccain if they can't vote for Hillary. And that to me is ludicrous. The majority of Barrack and Hillary's ideals and policies are the same. They just go about solving the problems differently. I can't imagine these issues disappearing based on who is on our Democratic ballot.
Ultimately, the difference between Hillary and Barrack is personality, and her being a white woman, and his being a black man. Now, don't get me wrong... I do love Hillary. Long before I knew who Barrack was, I knew that Hillary was a champion for causes that affected me. So I do love and support Hillary, BUT... I just love Barrack more. I hate to say that its just cause he is a Black man... because there are other reasons that I won't get into because I don't want this to turn into a Hillary bashing post. But, the biggest reason and difference to me between Hillary and Barrack is that the profound significance of a Black man being elected president is far greater in my eyes to that of a white woman. How we are viewed by the world, how monumental this is in our blood-stained history, and finally and most importantly to me, the potential effect this could have on the Black community. Children growing up seeing a Black man as a president has to open their eyes to their own potential.
Some might argue that the impact for a woman can be great for little girls too. And while that could be great, its not the same. Young White girls grow up with white privilege their entire lives. I don't think that they grow up thinking that they can't be president. I think they grow up thinking that it just hasn't happened yet. And even if there was a White woman president, that would not translate to Black girls. In my opinion, it would be another example of White privilege that they are not privy to. Where as a Black man as president is so far reaching in it's unlikelihood just a few short years ago, that if a Black man could become president, I believe that everyone would believe that they have a chance...
I have dream. I have a dream that Barrack Obama becomes this nations next, and first ever Black president. I have a dream that little Black boys and girls will be able to take pride in this and believe in the possibilities of their greatest and most profound dreams. I have a dream that the dreams of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were only a precursor to the dreams that we will realize in our own lifetimes. And unlike Dr. King's dream which probably seemed so distant to him and more idealistic than real, my dreams are only a few months away, and so close that I can taste them.
Who knows what the next few months may bring, but I am excited at the possibilities. And I am optimistic about the outcome. Ya'll just make sure that you are registered and get out there and Barrack the vote when the time comes.
We will barack the vote...and you know, Toyce - it's good to see you're back. Boy you've been gone forever...dayum.
We wanna know what's up with you personally too? How's working for yourself? Have you had successes/failures? We could learn from that. Ol' girl that was your roommate that removed your PIN from her BBery Messenger? What happened. you still in the same walk up apt in NYC? We wanna know? Have you heard from Antar? What's going on with moJam? Oh - how about the celebrities? Who have you hobbed knobbed with recently? We want to know...we're waiting.
Posted by: Darius T. Williams | June 18, 2008 at 05:08 PM
Your right, it is a great time to be alive to see a black man in the running for presidency. It was said best on another blog about people who will vote for McCain if they can't vote for Hills...."that's a special kind of stupid."
I have every confidence he will win...it's his time, it's our time... and the impact will be GREAT for our community. I think we will see the lingering "defeatist" attitude dissapate. Black people will in the USA will, I hope, will fully embrace the idea that we can do anything.
Missed you, so go ahead and blog about the silly things. The usually the funniest bits.
Posted by: Coy | June 20, 2008 at 12:41 PM
It's really good to see you are posting again. I just decided to check your site today and see if you had finally gotten back on with it.
You make valid points, but I find it a shame that the reason someone wins the Presidency is only because that person is the most qualified. Nothing to do with race, sex, religion (or sexual orientation).
Posted by: jgazelle | July 30, 2008 at 05:26 PM
Solving the country's problem isn't an easy task. Time is always needed and patience.
Posted by: nursing covers | July 05, 2011 at 03:08 AM