Monday, January 19, 2009

THANK THE LORD



Sometimes people may not understand why there are so many Obama songs, memorabilia, etc, ie the FRENZY that is going on right now...ESPECIALLY among black people. Ihave heard people say, "why do black people act like he's only your President? He's everyones President?" Well I'm sorry, for the next lets sayyy....WEEK...... DAMMIT, MY PRESIDENT IS BLACK, MY DODGE IS CHAMPAGNE, AND IM POPPIN BOTTLES FOR BARACK’S CAMPAIGN.


I can’t tell you why every black person is so excited, but let me tell you why I’m SUPER SYCED....and why there is NOTHING you can say to take my joy, and if you try you are a hater who will be shut down, no matter what your color, race, or creed.


In a country where I am the descendant of people who were enslaved, the enslavers, and a people who’s land was stolen away from them by the founders of said country, this is only the second time I am Proud of my country. the first was on November 4, 2008 at 11pm, when California was awarded to Barack, making him the President-Elect. Being proud to be an American and being proud of your country are NOT the same thing. I am proud and thankful to live here, proud of all my heritage, but so often, I am not proud of my country’s actions and some of its people. As a student of history, when I thnk about how far this country has come in terms of its founding principles “Life liberty and the the pursiuit of happiness”, “Liberty & Justice for all”, and “ all men are created equal”...when I see Barack on tv with a Presidential seal behind him, it truly brings tears to my eyes every single time...

In a country where Presidents and the government and the majority of its citizens SANCTIONED, several times, the genocide of the indigenous people. Sanctioned forcing them from their lands and making them walk many miles to reservations in the Trail of Tears, in the hopes they wouldn’t live to make the full trip. Made false treaties and lied to tribes, came under false pretenses as missionaries, when they really saw native Americans as part of the problem and would not blink at the thought of eradicating their existence if they did not convert and comply with the wishes of the “superior race”. A country where someone who looked like Barack Obama was considered, chattel, property and 3/5 of a person by the US Government. Considered sub-human for many years according to widely upheld “scientific research”. A country where the government, state and federal stood by so many times and did NOTHING as men, women and children, tax paying citzens were treated like second class citizens for over 100 years, simply because of the color of thir skin. A country where the federal government sanctioned COINTELPRO to promote lies, and falsehoods in order to discredit the righteous causes of the Civil Rights Movement. A country where citizens killed leaders who wantded nothing but equal rights for all, AMERICAN CITIZENS killed Lincoln, Kennedy, Evers, King, X (Little), and another Kennendy. A country where the President elect would have no choice but to be considered either a bastard child or a product of an illegal marriage because his parents were not the same color....And now I’m in a country where AMERICAN CITIZENS, the majority of them, voted for a man who wouldve been 3/5 of a person 150 years ago, and I am finally proud.

I’m honest enough to say that I did not think he could do it, because America would not let it happen. You have someone smart, capable and qualified, and especially in comparison to the dunce of the last 8 years, the BEST man for the job. But he did not look like all the other men who sat in that Oval office. I honestly thought he would not have lived to win the Presidency, or lived to take the oath. And most certainly he probably would not have made it, if this was 40 years ago. But in Barack’s own lifetime, things have changed so much that he has reached a goal at age 48 that would have put a DEFINITE bounty on his head as late as age 10.

This is not just about written history, its about personal history too. As a person who has been called a nigger by someone white, and have experienced malice from another person simply because of my race in my short lifetime; it means something to me to have a President who looks like me, a First Lady who has relaxer in her hair like me, and looks like me, who attended predominantly white universities like me and I feel comfortable with her representing women like me in America..... 2 little girls running around the White House who look like me and my little sister as children. I can only imagine what it means to my parents, my Grandma, aunts & uncles who have unique experiences in life, but who share a common joy in the coming days. I cannot imagine what this means to those who are still alive and marched with Dr. king and were a part of SNCC, SCLC, the Panthers and all the other groups that fought, lived and died so that this day could maybe happen in their lifetimes.

On this day, (which Ronald Reagan and John McCain were one of those many who opposed celebrating the achievements of Dr. King as a federal holiday); it is the last day we live in a period of history. The last day when anyone can say there never was, never can be, never will be a black President.

This is something like the Civil Rights Movement; the day of Brown vs. Board of Education. Things changed in one day, facts changed, but not everything changed, I’m not that naive to believe that. I know that racism and prejudice is not dead in this country. In the days after Brown v. Board of Ed, there was still segregation in schools and in society, leaders were still assassinated, riots still ensued; the world did not change.....but many things did change that day and in the days and years to come. On January 21 at noon, the President will be black. On January 22, the Senate will still be 99% white (thanks to Blagejovic and Burris for keepin hope alive lol), a person that was racist or ignorant on January 19 will remain unchanged on January 22. Our country will still be in a recession......but in the days and years ahead things will change and I believe the President will have success in changing things for the better. and I make no apologies for being happy simply for the fact that he looks like me, after 233 years of not feeling like the President was one of “us”.


So for all of these reasons, and more, I am extra happy for the next couple of weeks, and A LOT of it has to do with the fact that my President is black; so for that, I MAKE NO APOLOGIES. And I really don’t care if anyone, black, white, green, or yellow is NOT happy about it, cuz I am. And for ANYONE who wants to comment on this in a negative way, I really dont care what you have to say and if you can’t understand my joy, that’s okay, because its not meant for you to understand, cuz its MY joy.


OBAMA, BITCHES!

2 comments:

Don said...

i know this post is very old. but i was still able to appreciate it nevertheless. you truly captured the sentiment perfectly concerning how most felt when barack obama became the 44th.

Meg O Licious said...

Thanks!