New America

pic by Patrick Moberg

On my way to work this morning, I listened to people discuss ignorant comments that have been made to them and their children. It's only been 2 days! My goodness. After discussing the results of the election with her class, one teacher stood up and politely informed her class that, "Barack is more white than black." Huh?? Another woman called into the show and recounted about how a co-worker came up to her and asked, "Are you happy now?"

Are you serious? People are hilarious. If you encounter any ignorance, simply ignore it. Don't snap back. Don't add fuel to the fire. Just smile and walk away. Let them say whatever. It's not going to change a thing. He's in baby! For the next 4 years!

And this brings me to my next mind spill:

How can anyone NOT see the hand of God in all of this?

Look at his background. He was a little black boy who came from a single family home. They weren't rich at all. His grandparents raised him. Statistically, well, you know what statistics say. He shouldn't be where he is. Yet, he managed to come out on top. This guy attended and completed Occidental College, Columbia University, and Harvard Law School. It's like his entire life has been covered up until and for this time.

This man had the WORLD rallying behind him. Who does that? Who has that kind of power? That kind of swagger? That kind of ability to ignite hope in nations near and far? France, Italy, Japan, Africa, Israel.... You'd think that Mr. Barack Obama was running for President of the world! That is nothing but God.

And I say its nothing but God because we don't have the power or ability to accomplish anything on our own. It is in Him that we have our being. Whether you realize it or not. Whether you believe it or not. And if you didn't know, now you know.

I'm excited to see what's in store. I'm excited about change. I'm excited about my generation becoming involved in this America. It's ours also. We should care. We should know what's going on. We need to be a part of every aspect because this is our Nation. This is our America.

As a black woman, I'm excited that we have such a positive, influential black man leading our country. He loves his wife. He takes care of his family. He is educated. He is articulate. He wears a belt! He defied the odds and did something with his life. This makes me so happy because my siblings have the example right there in their faces. There are no excuses. You can succeed. You are someone. You do matter.

Ok. I think I'm done with my Mr. President posts.... for now.

(pics courtesy of The Huffington Post, Nov 4, 2008)

America

Yes, we did.

The significance of what occurred last night is so great that I still can't quite put my psyche around it. We, America, voted a black man into office. We did it. We actually came together and made a change. Obama represents change. He has inspired so many people. He has given hope to those who never thought that their vote counted. They didn't think that they mattered. But last night, all of that changed.


I had a get together at my house. When the announcement was made, we were happy. We were half asleep though, so the joy didn't quite come out. But we understood the significance. I didn't cry. I didn't leap for joy. I sat there in utter awe.


This morning I picked up the phone and called my grandparents. My grandmother's words will always stick with me. She told me that she literally fell to her knees. Can you imagine how big this is for her? My grandmother was born in 1939 in Montgomery, AL. You do the math. She grew up in one of the most raw, racist, and rural states during that time. She lived through it all. She watched Dr. King march through Alabama. She stood by and watched as her brothers and sisters were abused, oppressed and murdered. She knows what it feels like to go to the back of the bus. She knows how it feels to have to use filthy bathrooms that aren't fit for any human being- simply because of the color of her skin. She cleaned up after people, took care of their children. My grandmother lived through it all and I'm so happy that she is alive today to see Barack Obama become our next President.


But you know something? This isn't about black or white. It's not about rich or poor. It's not about Republican or Democrat. And it's not about Obama or McCain. This is about God. And all glory must go to Him. He is the one who appointed Barack for such a time as this. He is the one that opened those doors. He is the one who is going to deliver us from not only the past 8 years, but from years of oppression and captivity of even our minds. We must remain humble and realize who really did this. We don't want to stay in this wilderness.


Aiight. That's my two cents. =)

A change has come.

November 4, 2008

The day is finally here!!

Today marks the end of 8 years. This is the year of new beginnings. And America's new beginning has come. I really feel that God is doing something huge. I'm not worried. We are a chosen people. And God is going to take care of His chosen people, no matter who is elected.

Be anxious for nothing.

Black Enough?

What makes one person "blacker" than the next? What does it mean to be black? Who started this nonsense about being black enough?

I read an article by Vanessa Grigoriadis entitled, "Black & Blacker". Hmmmm.... Which immediately made me think about Dumb & Dumber. One was dumb. The other one was more dumb. Michelle and Barack. One is black. The other one is more black than the other?

First of all, why is it an issue? The truth of the matter is that Barack is the Democratic nominee for the President of the United States of America. Barack happens to be a black man. But one would argue that, no, he isn't black because his mother is white. It's funny how people's ideologies will completely change to pacify themselves. If he hadn't have actually won the nomination, he would be just another black man- no matter if his mother was white or not- because his father was a black man. An African.

But back to the topic at hand......

Why would you even think to compare the "blackness" of Michelle and Barack. Michelle grew up in the south side of Chicago. Her father struggled to provide for them. And even through his disability, he went to work so that his children could have better lives. She struggled. Barack on the other hand was raised by his mom and grandparents. They lived in Hawaii. Smooth sailing. So, does this makes Michelle more black because she struggled? Is Michelle more black because she grew up in a strong black neighborhood?

Why can't black represent achievement, intelligence, wealth, goals, accomplishments. I'll use myself. I grew up in Alabama. My mom married when I was in elementary school. My step father is in the military, so we moved around a bit. I was exposed to different cultures. I don't really remember struggling. I articulate my words. I say "totally" and "OMG!" Does this make me less "black"? Had I remained in Montgomery, AL, with my mom working three jobs to support us, adapting the slang of the streets, conceiving a child before the age of 17, and not gone to college, would this weigh more on my "black" card? And I use all of that because statistically, those things should have happened to me.

It pains me to see the ignorance of this country. Everyday it is something new. And it's not limited to one racial group. We're all guilty of it in some shape, form, or fashion.

Some of the comments made in that article made me wriggle my noise and scrunch my forehead in utter disbelief and awe. For example:

“The fact that, as a successful black male, Barack did not choose a lighter-skinned woman, as most of them do, sends a message to me,” says a black female supporter at the Pontiac rally.

What kind of message does that send????? So, because Michelle is darker skinned, she is more black? This makes Barack a better man? What does skin tone have to do with anything?? Ignorance.

"See, Barack is the son of an African immigrant, which I like since I adopted me
a country years back, but he’s a Harvard grad, with a white mom and white
grandma.” The lady reaches onto the dash for her purse, and forks over the cash.
“Black as this guy is,” he tells her, “he’s whiter than you!’

Do all white people go to Harvard? What does that mean? Ignorance. Why is it so astounding that this man went to Harvard? Why is it so astounding that someone NOT WHITE can articulate words and form a complete sentence? Ignorance.

Call it what you want. But this nonsense about who is blacker is just that: nonsense. We have to stop it within our own conversations, communities, and culture.

Black doesn't equal poor. Black doesn't equal struggle. Black doesn't equal uneducated. Black doesn't equal unqualified. And until we get that, own that, and live it out, there will continue to be pointless articles written, ignorant comments made, and useless arguments over issues that should be a non-issue.

America the Racist

CNN has an article entitled: Behind the Scenes: Is Obama black or biracial?

Are they serious? First of all:

Why does it matter? It amazes me how people will find any way to justify to their own ignorant minds that a BLACK man may be the 44th president. The article is debating whether Barack is "mixed" or indeed "black". Clearly, Barack refers to himself as a black man. So, he is a black man. How are you going to have a debate over a grown man's identity? Who is the author of this madness???

If this were 40 years ago, Barack would be labeled as a nigger. Back then, if your great great great grandfather was black, and everyone else was white, you were black. No question about it. One drop of black equaled black. And now that a black man has a strong chance of becoming our next President of the wonderful USA, all of that is thrown out the window.

The article even went on to say that, "He may be the nation's first black president, but he would also be the nation's 44th white president." In what world??????? I just find it laughable that we actually thought there was progress in America.

To me, it has all been a cover up. We are still a bunch of niggers, just better educated now with better laws to help us out. And there are still a bunch of racist, ignorant people out there who can't accept the fact that anyone not "white" can accomplish great things.

(Please click on the underlined link above and read it.)

I'm Not A Racist, However

I'm sick. And I'm mad. I'm disgusted. I'm naive.

I'm sick of ignorant people. I'm mad that people even think like this. I'm disgusted at their thought process. I'm naive because I really thought that we've made progress.

Yesterday I was playing the "Not Working" game. I was on the internet reading blogs and came across this video. The little white woman was on South Beach on Memorial Day weekend. And because of the black kids who were out partying, living it up, drinking, wearing bikini's, and using foul language, she stated that Barack had lost her vote. Watch it for your self....




And then there is the fist bump. Dap. Why is everything that Obama does scrutinized? They are freaking out over a dap!!! WTH?!? They, and yes THEY as in ignorant people, find ANY reason not to vote for the black man. I can't believe I'm even writing this. But it is true. I'm not going to spend a lot of time on this. I just had to get my 1 1/2 cents out.

First Fam

First Family of the United States of America
=)