***an excerpt from an email my dad sent to numerous family members two weeks ago***
Soon after it was determined that Barack Obama would be our 44th president I had a telephone conversation with one of my dear sisters. During our lively conversation we were both trying to convey the emotional impact upon our senses when it was joyously announced that Mr. Obama, by all accounts, would be our next president. She could only describe her emotional reaction as a feeling she had never in her life experienced. Though fantastically surreal, her description was quite perceptive. I felt it too —that certain something. A ‘ something ‘ that I had never in my life experienced.
After much thought and reflection, I now know exactly what it was I experienced. For the first time in my life, as of the waning hours of November 4, 2008, I felt truly proud to be an American. Oh, how my soul embraced, admired and appreciated those moments of meaningful history in the process of being. I felt such joy for our nation and all the varieties of people ( even Joe the Plumber! ) who make up this nation.
I acknowledge the United States of America as my nation. It’ s good to be alive in the United States of America today. It’ s good to finally consider myself an American as I go about enjoying all the perks that come with being an American. With reserved pride I describe myself as an American —finally! How could I have had pride in America and be proud to be an American while perpetually questioning the democratic integrity, decency, virtue, purity and unity of our nation? But this is a new day. A day on which I can now place my right hand over my beating heart and say: ” I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all”–and mean it!!
from chris rock’s statement about “america being the uncle who paid your way through college…but molested you” and banging-ass suheir hammed’s “first writing since” where she remembers feeling “more brooklyn than american” in the weeks after 911, there are numerous examples of the very nuanced and very complicated relationship with the idea of patriotism that many of the millions of minorities that help to populate this country possess.
there are myriad reasons for this. for the sake of time, carpal tunnel, and some impending midnight gotdamn sanity, i won’t even begin to list them.
yet, last week, we all witnessed a historic and, to quote my dad, “fantastically surreal” event that had the power to substantially alter this sentiment.
i’m curious, people of vsb. tell me…(how) have the events of the past few months altered or affected your views about america and being an american? more specifically, are you proud of your country? if so, why? if not…why not?
—the champ
I, for one, know I’ve been changed by last week’s events. I mean, who KNEW a church hat could be SO FIERCE?? Re-Re Franklin’s Inauguration Hat is a national hero. That bow was larger than life (and Re-Re’s mammaries). It almost stole the show from the Beloved One. I had to write a doggone ODE to that hat. CASKET SHAAAAPP
Yes, I have indeed been changed.
@Luvvie,
dead.wrong. but true!
@Luvvie,
my mom said that she was hoping that one of the buttons didnt pop off of aretha’s coat, because the potential g-force of it could have hurt obama
@The Champ,
I officially love your mom for that. LMAO!!!
@The Champ, haha
@Luvvie,
I looked at her hat and then thought of what she could have worn…I thank God for that hat and applaud Aretha for such a demure (for her at least) ensemble.
@Luvvie,
That hat was the business… her singing, not so much! I was feeling that quartet soooo much more. But that hat was SHAAAARP!
@pgh muse,
i don’t know… i think mama ‘retha was hot. she brought some funk into the whole occasion. and as much as i loves me some yo yo ma (mainly because his name is yo yo ma… i might name one of my kids that), after 3 minutes i was looking at my watch thinking “can we get back to barack now?”
i don’t know if i’m quite ready to scream and shout that i’m proud to be an american yet, but some faith has definitely been instilled.
i feel like the state of our economy and government has sucked pretty much all of my adult life so i’m looking forward to a change. although i’m looking forward to this change, i’m trying to keep the amount of change that will happen realistic.
what i am excited about is that the person who is now the president won based on a platform of stellar integrity and character and that’s something that our country is in dire need of. i think all children, not just black, now have an excellent role model to show what it means to be bold and follow your dreams and to show us what the saying “reach for the moon and you’ll fall among the stars” really means.
can’t wait to see what the next 8 years will produce.
@ladebelle, what i am excited about is that the person who is now the president won based on a platform of stellar integrity and character and that’s something that our country is in dire need of.
Obama also stuck to his morals, even when people wanted him to get ugly and I really respect him for that. He’s a man of true integrity and after the last administration, it’s exactly what this country needs.
Obama truly brought a change to this country and united all of us. My experience is slightly different because I immigrated to this country and have a dual citizenship, but I’m still proud to live in this country and witness the change that took place.For the first time, I feel that everyone is proud to be American. It was a truly historic moment and since Obama became president, there’s a change in the air. I’m prouder of our country, feel more included, and excited about our future even with all of the problems that we’re facing. The Obamas show us that we can achieve more and that nothing is off-limits.
let’s not get carried away. ALL americans are NOT united. PrezBO is not the sole reason ppl are proud to be americans and i’m sure there are still americans who aren’t necessarily proud to say so. there are plenty of ppl who are extremely unhappy about this 44th president, think he’s a joke, and are waiting for him to fail.
@Outrageous G.E.M.,
You’ll see them on Fox News everyday
@Deviant,
…and at my barbershop
@The Champ,
Wow. That is some supreme hateration. What barbershop do u go to??
tho i don’t frequent Champ’s barbershop or any others for that matter, i know of plenty black folk who are not on the Obama bandwagon and just hope he doesn’t eff it up for the rest of the coloreds with high aspirations.
@pgh muse,
east liberty kutz (right next to sneaker villa). you’d be surprised at how many black people want obama to fail, for no other reason than to continue to legitimize their own failures.
@The Champ, that is deep-and sad.
@The Champ, smh crabs in a barrel
STOP CUTTIN EACH OTHER’S THROATS!
@The Champ and Gem,
I understand and have heard some of it. People walking around saying Barack is a “ni99a” like any other “ni99a”. I’ve heard it said that he “HAS to be grimey” like there’s no way he accomplished what he accomplished on his own merit. Or that he has to be a “puppet”. It is sad.
@The Champ,
Oh and The Champ, i want to rap to you about some funding for a project… Where can i email u?
“that is deep-and sad”
***insert perfunctory nonchalant nasty snark***
@The Champ,
east liberty kutz (right next to sneaker villa) – i used to take my son to Batz down the street a couple times. We have made the Natural Choice switch.
@The Champ,
CRABS IN A BARREL
@Outrageous G.E.M.,
You are absolutely right. Here is one of those “Americans” now
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,481484,00.html
As an 18-year old first time voter, who registered in VA where I am a freshmen in school I will never feel like my vote didn’t count. My vote helped turn a swing state blue! As a matter of fact, not even min. after VA was called for OBAMA was the election itself called for him as well. I was there to see hoards of student break curfew and run to the Student Center to watch his victory speech and then to Ogden circle where they danced (and smoked and drank) in the streets.
This election has made me apart of history, given me experiences that no one else can duplicate. That will be engraved in my children’s and their children’s mind until I am no longer able to tell this story anymore.
Yes, we are far from perfect. But, i honestly believe that things are better (if only in name) because of the 44th President of these United States of America.
@Jay_Delicious,
This election has made me apart of history
this is an interesting point. last week, one of my co-workers remarked that this election “validated” him.
to expound, we’ve always read about the civil rights movements and protests and sit-ins and how our parents were a part of an age-group that made things happen. now, we can say the same thing, that we have a place in changing american history as well.
i can’t say i don’t agree with him
i’m not an american, but i can state with no hesitation that all african people – sh*t, all non-americans full stop – are incredibly happy about barack obama becoming president. not because we believe that racism has come to an end, nor because we believe that the power balance in the world is now going to tilt in a way that empowers us completely. but rather, we – well, i am proud that a black man, a man whose skin is the same colour as mine and who is just as proud to wear and own his blackness now represents the face of the country that i now live in, a country that has shaped and will continue to shape the way that i live and the way that i see the world. and knowing that he, like me, the child of an african man, can go so far when all odds seemed stacked against him and everyone said that he wasn’t experienced enough and he wouldn’t succeed…. yes he did. and yes we will. it’s not one massive victory from where i’m standing, but it’s the small ones i see in the faces of other africans, other black people that lets me know that change, no matter how small, has come, and things will only get better from now on.
@puff, as we say in S.A. EXECLE!!! You encapsulated exactly what obama’s victory means to many africans – as south africans, we had our miracle moment with mandela’s inauguration – i remember the year before he was released, being in complete despair about south africa, and wondering if we’d ever be free, because those effing boere were coming down so hard on us, and there seemed no end in sight…
then all the hard work that all the liberation movements had put in ‘suddenly’ bore fruit… and our leaders were released, movements unbanned and everyone spilled back into the country from exile – it was like living a dream, the feeling was so inexplicable… that feeling of elation, of freedom – the sweetness of it cannot be replicated.
i remember about a year or two later archbishop tutu was being interviewed by some snotty bbc guy, who was dismissive of the meaning of a free south africa in light of the fact that there were still so many socioeconomic challenges – so Tutu was like ‘yes, we’ve always known suffering, and had no illusions about the fact that it wouldn’t change overnight – but we are FREE, and that is no small thing’ and the BBC guy was like ‘freedom, yeah yeah, whateva – you can’t eat freedom.’
yhoo – talk about foot in mouth disease – tutu exploded at the guy (you DON’T wanna get the arch mad) – shouting ‘ SHUT UP! QUIET! don’t talk about things you don’t know, coz you have NEVER been un-free!!’
it was impressive to watch, the bbc guys tail went right between his legs and he played nicely for the rest of the interview…
so yes, america – enjoy the feeling – god knows you earned it. and no one’s saying barack is going to manna from heaven, but his being president of the U.S.A. is surely the fulfillment of an impossible dream, made possible by God, his ancestors and the prayers and goodwill of people from the U.S. and all around the world…
@superwoman,
yhoo – talk about foot in mouth disease – tutu exploded at the guy (you DON’T wanna get the arch mad) – shouting ‘ SHUT UP! QUIET! don’t talk about things you don’t know, coz you have NEVER been un-free!!’
archbishop tutu did this??? wow, lol. i need to find a clip of this immediately
@The Champ, happy hunting, it was
quite a while back… ’96 or ’97ish…tutu is the flippin’ man, he doesn’t care, he’ll just speak the truth.
he’s a thorn in the ruling parties side these days, and when some reporter mentioned this to him, he replied with a cheerful grin ‘what’s new?’ – i love the oldies and how they tell everyone where to get off with such impunity
What I’ve come to love about this country in the past few months, is how it can empower and enable the individual. We are a nation that’s far from perfect, but if there is someone that believes in something strong enough, and is focused enough, this is the country that rewards that. About four years ago Barack was an unknown Senator who gave a bomb ass speech at the DNC convention, he is now the President of the United States. The people in his inner circle run from ages 24-68. When you look about it, everything about him just defies conventional wisdom about how things are done. That just tells me that anything is possible, as long as you know what you want. How can you not be proud of that?
@apres moi,
That just tells me that anything is possible, as long as you know what you want. How can you not be proud of that?
good point
@apres moi,
We are a nation that’s far from perfect, but if there is someone that believes in something strong enough, and is focused enough, this is the country that rewards that.
Great point! Everybody and anybody can say anything about America as a whole, but noone can negate the sentence above.
For a while before Obama I believed that America had come as far as it could in terms of racial equality. I thought that we had made a lot of progress since the civil rights movement but no more progress was coming. It felt stagnant. Now with the events of the last 4 years nationally as well as things that have gone on in my personal life I believe we can still continue to move forward until one day it really won’t even matter that a person is black, white or whatever they will just be judged on their own merits with no bias. That’s how I felt about it.
@A-Town Genius,
For a while before Obama I believed that America had come as far as it could in terms of racial equality
really? you didnt think that we’d ever progress any further?
@The Champ,
Nah for a while I really didn’t. It may have been shortsighted in hindsight but I just didn’t see it. I thought change would have to happen in the higher class levels of America not just myself and my friends at school and work. The wealthy people that live in neighborhoods where they only see minorities on TV would have to change too and from my interactions with them it just didn’t look like it would happen.
I feel the same way about being American as I always did. It was funny to me seeing people getting crazy about Obama as if he was the first black man on the moon or something. We have had generations of doctors and lawyers and dentists…etc… Nothing has changed for our community.
Yes he is a shining example but I at times wish the thousands of other black professionals would have been shining examples. I love the fact he got elected but until our drop out rate goes down, we stop killing each other, and single mothers become a novelty I am not getting too excited.
I really hope seeing him sinks in though. Hit me up in ten years, if nothing got better from young people seeing what black love is like, fathers raising their kids, black women not being paraded around as bust it babies then I’ll rejoice and feel truly like America is that Ish!
In short I could care less if white people came out and voted for a black man. Hey it’s nice to see racism isn’t that huge of a deal but I always felt self hatred and self sabotage is what was destroying us. When those lighten up I’ll write some cool email and pass it around.
@James Nantucket,
“I really hope seeing him sinks in though. Hit me up in ten years, if nothing got better from young people seeing what black love is like, fathers raising their kids, black women not being paraded around as bust it babies then I’ll rejoice and feel truly like America is that Ish!
In short I could care less if white people came out and voted for a black man. Hey it’s nice to see racism isn’t that huge of a deal but I always felt self hatred and self sabotage is what was destroying us. When those lighten up I’ll write some cool email and pass it around.”
Cosign. Barack Obama is predisdency is SYMBOLIC. I wish I could see more than that but I can’t. In my opinion this proves that we as a people seriously need to look a ourselves. It is easier to move through the social ranks as individuals than it is to move upward as a whole. Right now black people have more opportunity to make money and have positions of influence than ever before. But as a whole not much has changed as far as are issues outside of money. I am proud and excited to see Obama as president. I hope we as a people help him to make the changes that we feel are necessary.
@Humble_One,
Barack Obama is predisdency is SYMBOLIC. I wish I could see more than that but I can’t
thing is, you can’t underestimate the power of a resonate symbol. symbols inspire, and inspiration leads to actions
I am with your father…. right now, I can say I’m an American. I’ve lived here all my life but never felt it was mine…. I felt like I was just renting the place out for a while. LOL. Now, someone who identifies with me is in power…. IMHO, he identifies with all minorities, which makes me feel a little more united.
@Nicki Sunshine,
This is good. I completely co-sign this.
@miss t-lee, Thanks lady!
Cautious optimism…………………
I am a pessimist by heart, so I am not totally on this bandwagon. Plus I have worked for the Feds for years, and see some pretty entrenched stuff, some not even Obama will have time to dig out in his 8 years.
However, the fact that no one was arrested during the inauguration, and the true mood that was over the crowd, one I had not felt or heard about, means that maybe, just maybe, things will change.
But the bottom line is, what are WE, and those we contact and can influence, going to do to make things better?
And why did it take Obama to make folks want to get off their butts to make change, if only within their sphere of influence.
But on a true positive note, just the fact that he has accomplished so much in such short of time is really inspiring and a message I am sharing with my children
@swamii,
“I am a pessimist by heart”
i’m surprised by this statement, because most pessimists will never admit that theyre actually pessimists. “i’m just a realist” is what they typically claim.
good sh*t
Anyone who reads my blog knows that I had no faith in our country’s intelligence or “unracistness” to elect a black president, even in an election where he was clearly the more qualified candidate. This belief did not change until I walked into my polling site at 6:45 in the AM and saw a room full of young black folk ready to cast that vote. So for me, it was eye-opening. Not only did it (partially) restore my faith in our country to do the right thing, but it also showed me that we (black folk) have no more excuses. If he can do what he did coming from where he came from, there are no excuses for ANY of us.
Period.
@Jarrod Halsey,
This belief did not change until I walked into my polling site at 6:45 in the AM and saw a room full of young black folk ready to cast that vote.
how did this effect your feelings about america’s “unracistness”?
To be honest, I don’t feel any different about the US now than I did before the election of President Obama. I am definitely proud that Prez and Sister Obama are occupying the WH, however, this country still has the same issues it has always had, and the black community still has the same issues. There are still disparities in education, health care, housing, and employment, and 2520s still have the same “privilege” they’ve always had and enjoyed. So, in spite of there being a change in the white house, there is still a struggle in the streets….
@N.I.A. fabuloussince1982….,
well, after reading your comment, i have to ask: are you more confident now that we’ll take better steps to resolve those issues?
@The Champ, One of the reasons I voted for Prez Obama is b/c I believe he cares about these issues, and would work to change them as much as he could from the executive branch. My hope is that his administration will slowly work to eradicate these disparities as much as they can, but it still comes down to the individual teacher in the classroom, supervisor on the job, real estate agent, health insurance company, and local doctor.
So, I guess the answer to your question is…YES!! lol! I do believe people will begin to take the steps to resolve these issues….however, my feelings toward America has yet to evolve into me singing along with Re-Re of “My Country ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty.”
@N.I.A. fabuloussince1982….,
However, I definitely understand how your father feels…I too am proud that this country was able to come together, and get over whatever prejudices, and elect the best man for the job, and he is a black man!!! However, the honeymoon is over, and it’s time to get down to business. I think I will truly be proud to be an American at President Obama’s inaguration on January 20, 2013.
Good Post. I don’t think the events of the last few months have made me feel any more American. I’ve been happy about all of this, but I have many close family members who weren’t alive to see it. That kinda takes away from the excitement for me. Do I feel like an American? Sure. Am I going to do anything differently going forward? Prolly not. I just hope our president can make it through his first term in office without someone OD’n with an assassination attempt. There’s still a lot of ugly ish here in the U.S.
@Slim Jackson,
I just hope our president can make it through his first term in office without someone OD’n with an assassination attempt
this is really all i care about right now too
@The Champ, really? do you guys truly fear this? a lot of my close friends say this too and it just never crossed my mind.
@overit,
It should. that is a very real possibility. There are plently of people that are not happy about this. There are plently of those that are not as evolved as most of us appear to be.
@overit,
do you guys truly fear this? a lot of my close friends say this too and it just never crossed my mind.
this was always at the back of my mind during inauguration and during his speech on nov 4th.
@The Champ,
I said a special prayer when they got out of the car, and started walking in the parade.
@The Champ,
“do you guys truly fear this? a lot of my close friends say this too and it just never crossed my mind.”
I don’t. I know my Dad really does, since he lived throught MLK, Bobby Kennedy, Medgar Evers…and all the others that got assassinated.
The only time I really got concerned is when I saw how close that journalist got to Bush in the shoe throwing incident. I then starting thinking “dayum, if that guy got that close to Bush, they better have extra serious security for President Obama.”
That’s the only time I really thought about his safety.
@miss t-lee,
The only time I really got concerned is when I saw how close that journalist got to Bush in the shoe throwing incident. I then starting thinking “dayum, if that guy got that close to Bush, they better have extra serious security for President Obama.”
my mom said the exact same thing.
@The Champ, a little late gettin’ back to this, but I thought the same thing about the shoe throwing. Some think we’re being paranoid. But if we’re bein’ paranoid, then they’re bein’ naive.
I”m still not exactly “proud” to be American but I’m not ashamed either. It is what it is. America is our dysfunctional family… Full of domestic violence, incest, murder, family secrets, etc, etc, etc… But it’s still a very large part of who and what we are and will become. We won’t always be proud of all the goin’s on.
I think that President Obama is a step in the right direction. Not because he’s a man of color but because he’s a good American and he seems to be genuinely concerned with making America better.
But the flip side is that it also brought out an ugly side of America… A stupid side… A greedy side, in the form or merchandising… A idolatrous side, some people are in fact worshipping him…
So it’s not all mashed potatoes and gravy… I still relate to Chris Rock. We won’t feel “clean” again until that rich, old, white uncle of our’s (good ol’ boy mentality) is dead, we’re in therapy, and we can finally write a book about all the nasty dirty things he did to us and air the familys’s dirty laundry.
I think I’ll be truly proud to be an American when we’re doing more good in the world than bad. I have yet to see America step up and reach out to help Nations in dire need without any financial interest in the outcome. I have yet to see America focus on taking care of her own sons and daughters before going into someone else’s house and stirring things up and telling them how they should be living. Our house is falling apart and we’re next door pointing out cracks in the ceiling? We don’t even honor those who go out and put their lives on the line for us as we should.
I love my country but I’m not always proud of it.
@Deviant, I love my country but I’m not always proud of it.
I agree completely with your entire post….there is still too much work to be done domestically and internationally by all before we can all start holding hands singing Kumbayah.
this entire comment was very well stated.
@Deviant,
I think I’ll be truly proud to be an American when we’re doing more good in the world than bad
do you really believe that america brings more negatives to the world table than positives?
@The Champ, I absolutely do. The idea of America is very different than the implementation of these ideals.
There is a long, ugly legacy of interference in developing and other nations, where it is so clear that their coming up was a threat to the US. I think immigrants and people overseas are far more aware of this legacy than Americans.
This is not to say that America brings nothing, it brings a lot, though if one were to read the history of many nations, you would learn some things that would not make you proud.
@overit,
“There is a long, ugly legacy of interference in developing and other nations, where it is so clear that their coming up was a threat to the US. I think immigrants and people overseas are far more aware of this legacy than Americans. ”
This is a true statement.
It is a sad truth that America has done a lot of damage overseas… and that the good it does sometimes comes with some beneficial kick-backs.
My family and I were discussing over dinner how the U.S. media has said that African governments LOVED W, because of all the money he gave for HIV and AIDS on the Continent. What the media failed to report (or perhaps more correctly, realize) is that much of that money never went to help victims of HIV/AIDS. It was cleverly moved, disguised, and reappopriated straight into the pockets of corrupt politicians.
There is also the feeling that America expects more of its enemies than it does of its friends. They will walk into one country and tell them how to run their sh*t, while simultaneously turning a blind eye to the same issue in a country that is providing them with some kind of resource… or that has Uncle Sam by his gonads (China).
@overit,
This is not to say that America brings nothing, it brings a lot, though if one were to read the history of many nations, you would learn some things that would not make you proud.
thats the thing…i’m not on my knees fellating the county while rocking cream colored goggles. i realize that america has its flaws…and they are many.
at the same time though, i’m convinced that the world would be a worse place without us, america and the american people. remember, saying that america produces more bad than good is also an indictment of the american people (read: “each of us”), and i can’t co-sign on a statement saying that the world would be a better place without me in it.
@The Champ, I didn’t mean to paint all of America as evil, and trust me, I have gotten into countless heated debates with people who try to paint America as such. What i was trying to say was that i am not sure America can be the moral compass it proclaims to be and still remain a super power.
either way, America is the land of my birth and its flaws, shining points, and legacy all shape how i think and who i am becoming.
@The Champ,
I understand what ur saying here and I happen to agree. I think the ideals that this nation are founded on have influence the world over.
@The Champ,
“do you really believe that america brings more negatives to the world table than positives?”
Definitely. We tend to equate not doing anything with not doing harm. But sometimes not doing anything causes harm indirectly and/or gives other the opportunity to do harm without any opposition. And we’re extremely guilty of that as a nation.
America tends to portray itself as a moral compass and there’s some truth to that. That’s not to say that America is always in the right but what we do does effect how the rest of the world perceives/receives us as a nation.
Right now, a great deal of that perception is negative.
@Deviant,
Wow! I love this comment!!! I’m e-stanning for Deviant too today!
I’m closer to trusting that, as a nation, people will do what they say they’re going to do. People didn’t just say they were going to vote for Obama, they actually showed up.
@Hostess,
“people will do what they say they’re going to do”
I agree. And to me this is the bottom line. either you are AFFECTING change or your BYTCHING about it.
re: patrotisim..i;ve never really seen myself as patrotic. This country has been rather duplicitous for a very long time. The statue of liberty also reads: “Send my your tired and your poor, your humbled masses yearning to be free..”
Many loathed Irish and Italian settlers in the early part of 1900s learned that one unifying American tenet was to hate the most hated humble mass: black folks.
And so now, after President Obama, I’m seeing something different. Im seeing commonalities again. Im seeing a different kind of racial tone; one that almost looks like it could be repairing itself. I see some 2520′s actually paying attention in meetings to what im saying.
@Princess Duvet,
I see some 2520’s actually paying attention in meetings to what im saying.
you sure cleavage has nothing to do with that?
@The Champ,
“you sure cleavage has nothing to do with that?”
you sure do know how to ruin a moment..
@Princess Duvet,
thanks
i try.
@Princess Duvet, His presidency kind of signals the changing of the guard. I think a lot of kids, particularly white kids under 25, see it as them taking control, growing up, and thumbing their noses at their parents and their old ways. they are saying to the world, “Look! We’re not like our parents and grandparents. We’re taking over and we’re going to do better.”
@Hostess,
I agree with this too…the millenium generation is the first to not really have so much racial tension in every single industry and backdrop.
I think Forbes did an article about how these “kids” are changing the way the world thinks and does business. Now only if the whitehouse can get all their phones to work and update to a current version of Office. I’m thinking XP 2002 isnt quite the latest and the greatest..and further makes me think what the hel!l “W” was in there doing…writing handwritten memos and shyt.
@Princess Duvet,
I agree with this too…the millenium generation is the first to not really have so much racial tension in every single industry and backdrop.
question: do you consider yourself a part of this generation, or do you think is it comprised of people younger than yourself?
@The Champ,
“question: do you consider yourself a part of this generation, or do you think is it comprised of people younger than yourself?”
in my head im ageless and evergreen (sort of like barbra streisand)…
but on paper im an X’er (born from boomers)..i think there are tons of behaviorial characteristics that seperate both. I think X’ers are much more like boomers than they would care to admit. Many of the X’s I know, even being of parents who came of age during the sexu!al revolution, are extremely risk adverse, slow to change etc. etc.
millenium kids turn all that completely on its head..they were born during fast innovation. They don’t know nothing about a walkman, they don’t remember TRS-80s and Commodores where before you played your fun games you had to write your code.
these kids were born believing they didn;t necessarily have to play by the rules, things could happen fast. Obama’s campaign was shaped and WON by the ways these kids think. People aren’t really talking much about that. But without the millenium movement, comprised of SOME kids (white and black) who couldn’t even vote; im not sure he would have been such a “sure victory”.
@Princess Duvet,
these kids were born believing they didn;t necessarily have to play by the rules, things could happen fast. Obama’s campaign was shaped and WON by the ways these kids think. People aren’t really talking much about that. But without the millenium movement, comprised of SOME kids (white and black) who couldn’t even vote; im not sure he would have been such a “sure victory”.
good point. personally do you see yourself as more of an x’er or a millenium’er?
@ Champ..
“do you see yourself as more of an x’er or a millenium’er?”
i’d like to think of myself as a millen..but im not. when we have interns and stuff, they naturally gravitate to me (toot) because of my uber coolness..and even though 5 years seperates me from the Y/Millens, I feel very much an X. I dont see myself as much of a risk taker. Im not clued all the way into every social network app-and i have no real desire to be. In some aspects I feel like technology has killed social skills that Y/Millens claim to have but don’t. but as hostess points out, they are breaking down all sorts of racial barriers that have been in long existence.
its also a grass is greener arguement too.
@The Champ,
They’re usually considered to be those born in 1980-2000 (or 1982-2000) …
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_Y
@Princess Duvet, The kids are global now. And they are confident enough to do things differently than the generations before us.
As far as racial tension, I see this being different for them too. They aren’t afraid to turn to a racist mother, father, grandparent, and say, “Dude! Racism is dumb!” Are the kids still using DUDE? When they get into power, I wonder how institutional racism will be affected.
My brother will be telling a story about his friends. Not until I look at his Facebook would I know which friends are Black, white, Hispanic. He makes no distinction. Yet, I remember being young and telling stories where I made note that I was with my white friends. Hell, I still do it–jokingly, but naturally.
@Hostess,
” They aren’t afraid to turn to a racist mother, father, grandparent, and say, “Dude! Racism is dumb!” Are the kids still using DUDE? When they get into power, I wonder how institutional racism will be affected.”
i totally agree here too…
re: institutional racisim..the old guard is about to go through a bit of shame and embarrassment..more so than ever before. particularly as it relates to the car industry, other brick and mortars and ceo pay. There had never EVER been much correlation between pay/bonus and the bottom line for ceo’s. Nobody deserves 30 million dollars on minimum growth and lack luster earnings…
Steve Jobs and nem…(4Q 1billion dollars net)..a whole nother story. He and others should get to write their own paycheck…
interesting though how the “kids” are keeping alot of these sectors up and running. i work in an industry right now where im beginning to think if it wasn’t for those dam#n ring tones and text messages, i may not have a dayum job LOL…
speaking of my job..let me get back to it.
I don’t know if I am prouder to be an American. I definitely would not wanna live in any other country. I think I am more proud of Obama and what he’s been able to accomplish IN SPITE of this country. But racism and prejudice is as American as baseball and apple pie. It’s ingrained in this country, and I’m not so sure it will ever change. His hundreds of death threats prove it.
I hate to sound pessimistic, but I just pray that the sentiment and feeling that I’ve heard was displayed at the inauguration and “pledges” that people are taking to do better is not just emotional. Will people really do better? Must we be reminded of the Million Man March?? We all know how that movement turned out.
@nia,
But racism and prejudice is as American as baseball and apple pie.
thing is, are these things exclusive to america…or is it just human nature to pre-judge and form opinions off of those pre-judgements?
@The Champ,
The feeling is different in America because it is mixed with shame (from the oppressor’s part) and anger (from the oppressees).
Pre-judgment of an individual is one thing, having a whole chunk of a population pre-judging makes it downright institutionalized.
@The Champ,
“are these things exclusive to america…?”
It’s not exclusive to America but it is very embedded in our national culture.
In spite of our overwhelmingly obvious diversity we have done more to embrace it than evolve from it.
The past few months events…haven’t made me feel any more American than I already feel. I am happy to see that my vote turned a red state blue. I am in awe that a family that I can relate to is living in the most famous house in America. I am stoked that I can relate to Michelle Obama…I mean, I see my First Lady and she knows the perils of getting a good perm, finding jeans that fit, having to hold ya mule, being educated and successful.
I think its great that when I see Sasha and Malia, I’m reminded of summers with my cousins. I’m proud of seeing Barack and Michelle on tv and it reminds me of the love I’ve grown up seeing in my parents.
But not so much proud to be an american…more like overall pride.
And lest we forget the outstandingly overwhelming joy that the Queen’s Hat was the absolute star of the entire show and how in all of it’s bobby-pinned in glory that it stayed in it’s position the ENTIRE TIME! Yes, Queenie’s HAT you definitely DID THAT!
@Ro,
But not so much proud to be an american…more like overall pride.
i understand your sentiment, but each of the things you cited (red and blue states, first lady, white house) as sources of pride are things that happened in a specifically american context. basically, (to me) it reads like a contradiction
@The Champ,
Not for me though, I guess b/c ever since I registered to vote, I always have a sense of pride when I cast my ballot. Simply b/c of what it took for me to have the opportunity to do so. My state (read: where I was registered and living…not NC) went red when Bush ran (both times) and I was proud of that then…. did I feel more American, nope.
The First Lady… I’m proud whenever I see an african american woman representing… I mean I didn’t agree with any of Condoleeza Rice’s politics or her look but I was proud to see a woman of color in such a position… didn’t make me feel more or less of an American. Although her permanent “need a fresh perm” look gave me pause.
Having the Obama’s living in the white house doesn’t really change anything for me. My level of “awe” hasn’t changed the level of pride I have in the country I live in. I feel the same about America today that I did in September of last year.
Those things, yea, I’m proud of those things, but none of it has affected my total level of pride as an American. I didn’t wave flags before Obama was sworn in and I doubt I raise a flag and wave it now that he is… don’t get me wrong, I do love my country, but Obama being President…had more affect of the pride I have in my people, not necessarily my country.
Make sense? If not…chalk it up to 3 hours of sleep in 72 hours, lots of coffee and the rare incident of chick logic mixed with starvation.
As ignorant as this might seem to others, now I’m not afraid to travel to foreign countries and fear what repercussions may follow because of what my elected government has done (or hasn’t done). I traveled to 3 foreign countries in western Europe and believe it or not, many of the people I met there were far more educated about our government than myself. Most if not all, did not trust him and I’m sure on some level they did not trust me. When I walked through the city and spoke broken French with an American accent, I was met with pauses. I resorted to speaking in Spanish to get my point across. Oddly enough I was met with smiles and boisterous gestures pointing me in the right direction. I felt a bit ashamed that I could not truly be proud of my citizenship, I would tell foreign friends that “No, I’m actually Panamanian” and that would actually ease their reservations.
President Obama has brought a sense of calm over me. I don’t fear that I won’t succeed. How could I not? A black man is the President of the United States. He is more than leader; he is a symbol which has no language barriers. I have to say it’s like finally being diagnosed with whatever was ailing you. Not knowing the actual disease but living through the symptoms breathes insanity. I feel like Obama is the diagnosis and now I can start the treatment. I’m trying to find the best way to describe the feeling but just know that it’s refreshing and freeing to feel whatever this is. Pride.
@Sonri,
I have to say it’s like finally being diagnosed with whatever was ailing you. Not knowing the actual disease but living through the symptoms breathes insanity. I feel like Obama is the diagnosis and now I can start the treatment. I’m trying to find the best way to describe the feeling but just know that it’s refreshing and freeing to feel whatever this is. Pride.
the resident vsb analogy guru improves of these sentences
As someone who has been overseas for this war on “terror,” I finally have a commander-in-chief that I believe in.
@Landis91,
lol…damn. everyone who has b*tched about a bad boss has nothing on the armed forces. there’s no comparison between having a terrible supervisor force you to stay at work until 5:30 and a bad boss putting you in a foreign country and putting you in line for potential disembowelment for no apparent reason.
President Obama did not make that much of an impact on how I feel as an American. I commend the brotha. I’m glad I got to see it in my lifetime and wish that my father could (he deserved it). I’m still sort of taken back by it and it will take getting used to but he’s in there.
Alas, I was a soldier for the US military and served honorably. I first took an oath back in 1996. Years before that time I was a mini-Black radical who probably identified with the Panthers more than the Democratic Party. However, situations and things change and I had to make a decision. Now that I’m a veteran having served in OIF (which I am morally conflicted with) I know that part of America is mine. I know that I carried on tradition with other black men in my family on actually contributing to this country’s greatness. Obama is cool, but I didn’t need him to validate my pride.
Even with all this said and done…the struggle continues…
@CPT Callamity,
I know that I carried on tradition with other black men in my family on actually contributing to this country’s greatness.
this basically mirrors how ive always felt. considering the thousands of ancestors who sacrificed and gave their lives to better this country, it feels disrespectful not to have any pride in that. although many of us were brought over here, we’re just as american as any other citizen in this country
@The Champ,
Not only that…people like my father were raising his kids, writing books, nurturing, etc. Positive black men didn’t begin with Obama. My flying the American flag (even with it’s symbolism and legacy) didn’t start after 9/11 like so many pseudo-patriots.
@CPT Callamity,
good points and sh*t
@CPT Callamity,
agreed
I still feel more Brooklyn than American and I think I always will. However, I think a part has always been proud to be an American. I agree with Deviant that America is my family, a screwed up family but mine nonetheless. The life that I lead is almost impossible to lead anywhere else. With that being said, this does not take away from the immense pride and joy that I felt throughout the Obama campaign. It was just good to see a person that looks more like a majority of the ppl in this country (black, latino and all the mix chullen). I wont say that he is representative of all minorities but he is a step in that direction.
However, his campaign, his election and inauguration do not make me feel that this world has changed much. Do we see under what circumstances he was elected? We have to come to a cultural, social and economic low before a black man has a chance at being re-elected? As America did during its earliest years with blacks picking cotton, during the industrial era with the chinese building trains and during WWI and WWII with Native Americans speaking in codes, the burden of building or reconstructing this great land falls on the backs of those who probably stand the least to gain anything from this country. Also, Obama (and his CIA goon squad) will not be with us in Oakland and NYC train stations where black and latino men are gunned down and sodomized. They will not be with us in the HR departments where a ready, willing and able Chanequa will not get an interview even though her resume is hands down better than her peers. They will not be with us when a woman is made to feel uncomfortable in the back room of her office.
I can understand why people look at him as an idol, especially black people. What famous figure do we have that we can look up to; who will also embrace us back. People argue that there are black CEOs and presidents that we can look up to (Kenneth I. Chenault of AMEX and Dick Parsons of Citigroup to name a few) . But many of those people dont embrace their own people. Obama embraced black folk w/o shunning white folk. He walked the line that many of us have been trying to walk our whole lives. Thus he will be idolized as every other black leader has been including Martin, Malcolm and Medgar. This idolization is part of the reason that I didnt go to DC and take part in the “Uppity Freaknik”. Besides not wanting to take a day off of work, I dont think there should have been a weekend of parties. I think it should have been a weekend of work. Love should have been rented out for seminars to teach ppl to improve their communities. Layla Lounge should have hosted a forum on how to get underpriviliged children into school. Lucky Strikes should have hosted a lecture on how to break the cycle of poverty. Instead of free shots, there should have been packets and materials to show ppl the resources that they have available to them to become agents of change in their communities. I understand that ppl were happy because I was too but how many people even listened to the man when he asked everyone to go do community service that Monday? Or were we still too hungover? My biggest fear is that we’ll be too hungover for the next few years and miss this opportunity to be a part of change; just like most of did on MLK Jr. Day.
Sorry about the long post, but the bottom line is what can you do to help Obama change America?
(PS I got moderated for no reason, boo to moderation. delete my other post please)
@From Da Hip Peyso,
My biggest fear is that we’ll be too hungover for the next few years and miss this opportunity to be a part of change
me too.
wow. your comment (in addition to Deviant’s) resonates loudly with me.
but this…
Do we see under what circumstances he was elected? We have to come to a cultural, social and economic low before a black man has a chance at being re-elected?
is something i had been thinking too. sh*t had to hit the fan for ppl to make a radical change from the last 8yrs. even after 4yrs of Bush, ppl still said, yeah it’s a good idea to keep this man in office even after all the drama he’s caused. but had Obama been a “black” Biden, Edwards, Kerry or Gore (“regular” politicians) would he have been elected?? i think many ppl (black, white, and other) looked at him and said “where did they find this special/magic negro??” as if to say, he isn’t like the rest of the darkies, he’s different.
idk. i think this country has come along way since the civil rights era, but it’s still got much further to go. and the election of Barack Obama hasn’t PROVEN to me racism isn’t a serious issue in this country. it just proves (maybe) that the majority of voting citizens were willing to put their country 1st (in hopes of rebuilding and re-securing), before their personal biases and prejudices.
@Outrageous G.E.M.,
“i think this country has come along way since the civil rights era, but it’s still got much further to go. and the election of Barack Obama hasn’t PROVEN to me racism isn’t a serious issue in this country.”
i agree with this. the day he got sworn in i had words with an old college (2520) friend. he was very irate at the end of rev. lowery’s benediction. i tried to put some context into why he said what he did, even if it wasn’t the most appropriate thing to say the time but it really didn’t make any difference.
to shorten the story, he thought that comment had no place in the “new” america or the “we’re all united now” idea. but what i was trying to get him to understand is, that though BO promotes unity and though, yes, many white folks came out and really voted for BO, the fight for minorities is not over. there are still so many inequalities between our communities and yes, we as black people do need to do better but in many cases doing better when your job, schools and communities do not have the resources to allow you to is still an uphill battle.
though i am so proud of the step forward our country has taken, i am also afraid that many people are going to look at this and say, see? ya’ll don’t have anything to complain about anymore. and that’s simply so not true.
i was truly done when he said that comment offended him as a white man living in 2009. i really had to take a step back and remove myself from the situation and told him as such because i was like, you have NO IDEA what it is like to be on this side of the fence. do you really want to go there about the blatant/subtle racism i have to deal with as a black woman also living in 2009? i don’t think so.
@SouthernGirl,
i was truly done when he said that comment offended him as a white man living in 2009. i really had to take a step back and remove myself from the situation and told him as such because i was like, you have NO IDEA what it is like to be on this side of the fence. do you really want to go there about the blatant/subtle racism i have to deal with as a black woman also living in 2009? i don’t think s
you know what though, although i loved the end of lowry’s speech, i can see how a person could take offense to it, especially without the proper context. if i were a white man who campaigned and donated and voted for obama, i might have been upset also about “white finally recognizing whats right”. mind you, that discomfort pales in comparison to the centuries of oppression, but two wrongs dont make a right.
@SouthernGirl, At least he came out and told u how he felt in a respectful way. I can respect that
@From Da Hip Peyso, Champ
i wasn’t upset at the fact that he was offended or the way he expressed his inital disbelief at the comment. and for the record, he was not all that happy about obama during the campaign and made many remarks during that time but that’s another story. and i agreed with him that the comment was not appropriate for the time.
but my issue with him was his refusal to not at least try to see another point of view. and it did get ugly later between him and another one of his black friends but i didn’t even involve myself in that one.
it was like pulling teeth to get him to see how much this moment means to black people (esp. those from rev. lowery’s generation–even though that doesn’t excuse what he said) and that just because the president is now black doesn’t mean that racism is over.
what saddened me the most was the discussion that followed because it’s one that i fear a lot of people are having. it was a long conversation that played out over a couple of days and this is only a part of it but even though he did later acknowledge the moment and how it must feel for people of that generation, it was like he didn’t want to hear that racism at the hands of white people, still exists. it was the ‘get over it’ mentallity that bothered me.
a short break down of some of his comments were pretty much that racism only exists because black people won’t let it go, that most racism occurs in our own communities and we cause most of it nowadays and chose to see all situations as racial when they aren’t. though i admit we do have problems in our community, he didn’t want to acknowledge that racism is still quite real even if isn’t as blatant (in some cases) as it was in the past. forget the fact that he’s from the south like me and still lives there and we went to the same undergrad in the same small lousisana town where that attitude was still alive and well.
you can be offended at rev. lowery’s comments. that’s fine. i’m not denying him that. but don’t use that as an excuse to try to rewrite history or act as if the stuggles that minorities still face do not exist.
yes, we’ve come a mightly long way but there’s still road left to travel.
@SouthernGirl,
you can be offended at rev. lowery’s comments. that’s fine. i’m not denying him that. but don’t use that as an excuse to try to rewrite history or act as if the stuggles that minorities still face do not exist.
ok. i see your point, and i agree and sh*t.
btw, i seem to be in an agreeable mood today. it must be the salad i had last night
@The Champ,
funny… thought it was the gotd@mn
@bbmo,
i was gonna say…
@From Da Hip Peyso,
OMG. I am e-stanning for Peyso, once again.
**batting eyes** I love this comment!!!
@From Da Hip Peyso,
My name is BBMo and I approve this message.
**Diva Dust v. 2.0 ™**
I too got moderated for no reason. BOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
@From Da Hip Peyso,
this is a great comment, and it resonates loudly with me. Personally, I don’t believe having a black President should make anyone any more proud to be an American or anyone feel more like an American. At the end of the day, America can only change when we the people change, and begin to affect change around us. Until then, this is still the same country it was b4 Prez Obama, it’s just now, we have a leader who wants to be and do better. Let’s hope he inspires others to really be about it instead of talking about it….
@From Da Hip Peyso, this whole post made me smile. You asked on a previous post, “who is ready to work?” I think this is a great time to really organize and feed off the momentum and support Obama promises will be available with his administration.
I’ve been brainstorming, has anyone been thinking along the same lines?
@From Da Hip Peyso, I’m just happy someone agrees with me
@From Da Hip Peyso, its more than someone. I know many who share your sentiment.
@From Da Hip Peyso
Just had to chime in and say GREAT POST!!!
I definitely feel a sense of national pride that I have never felt before in my life.
And it is not a blind pride. I am well aware that racial discrimination still exists. That some opponents of President Obama want his administration to fail (which is unpatriotic because if he fails then this country is in the s*#@hole.) And that some Americans will never embrace President Obama’s spirit of inclusion.
But I am proud all the same because in electing President Obama (can I just write President Obama one more time) Americans have proven that, in its purest form, our democracy is indeed one of, for and by the people and that the people effect change. We have proven that even the little guy has a voice, and it counts – I almost fainted when VA went blue. We have proven to the world that our national identity consists of more that cowboys, ketchup and Coke. It is an identity characterized by optimism and a belief that you (we) can change your circumstances, for the better.
This election proved to me that despite the divisiveness of some, most Americans share this identity. WE share this identity.
I often likened being black in America, to say, being born and raised in Greece but only being able to speak English. You know the culture and fit in pretty well, but you always have a difficult time communicating, leaving you feeling marginalized. But now I sincerely feel things have/are changing. This quote from theroot.com says it best: “At long last we can embrace our Americanness without betraying our blackness.”
I feel like, most of us (Americans), are finally speaking the same language.
@Ms. Hall,
But I am proud all the same because in electing President Obama (can I just write President Obama one more time) Americans have proven that, in its purest form, our democracy is indeed one of, for and by the people and that the people effect change. We have proven that even the little guy has a voice, and it counts – I almost fainted when VA went blue. We have proven to the world that our national identity consists of more that cowboys, ketchup and Coke. It is an identity characterized by optimism and a belief that you (we) can change your circumstances, for the better.
This election proved to me that despite the divisiveness of some, most Americans share this identity. WE share this identity.
I often likened being black in America, to say, being born and raised in Greece but only being able to speak English. You know the culture and fit in pretty well, but you always have a difficult time communicating, leaving you feeling marginalized. But now I sincerely feel things have/are changing. This quote from theroot.com says it best: “At long last we can embrace our Americanness without betraying our blackness.”
wow. this mirrors my feelings exactly
Hmmmmm…
Even though I had lived in this country a long time, I was never a citizen, and truly had no interest in becoming one. I am British by birth and Canadian by natrualization and I was quite content with that. The only reason I actually went for my citizenship is so that I could land a post grad fellowship I REALLY wanted.
But then there was this guy… this tall lanky dude whose name I had heard by virtue of the fact that I lived in St. Louis when he was running for the Illinois senate. The child of an African immigrant… like me. And I heard he threw his hat in the ring for President. And I kinda laughed and thought “Yeah, nice idea, but this is America dude. I’ve lived here long enough to know how this thing works. Keep dreaming. ”
…fast forward to November 4, 2008.
I had always felt rather disingenuous with choosing to pledge allegiance to a country that had a well documented history of and was in fact BUILT UPON treating people who look like me like chattel, sub-human and at best, second class citizens. Now, those feelings are starting to become less pronounced. But, notably, they are still there.
Did Barack’s election to the highest office in the land change anything? Yes. My children will be born into a world KNOWING that they too, can actually become President.
Does that mean that the old hurts and brokenness, damaged families and communities and entrenched issues are now just a bad memory? I wish that were true.
America still has a lot of work to do, but at least now, there is a captain on the ship that I believe is capable of steering this ship in the right direction and inspiring all hands to get on deck.
@blackberry molasses,
insightful and sh*t.
@The Champ,
thanks n sh*t. good post o ye of egg shaped head…. how was that gotdamn? or should I ask my e-twin?
(sorry… couldn’t resist)
I haven’t read any responses so if this is a repeat, then forgive me.
One thing folks need to keep in mind is that Obama’s election could be seen as somewhat parallel to Mandela’s in South Africa. He was their first Black president, and although he did make some changes, the system of racism, classism and oppression is still strong there. Obama being president does not erase the tangled web of oppression we have here. We are still VERY far from the utopia that some people imagine that we were thrust in on Jan 20th. That whole “Post-Race America” ish is null and void, irrelevant and unrealized.
@Luvvie,
I agree! Mandela was placed in power just as I believe Obama was placed in power. Government is smart enough to know that when the people are worn out and tired of the same ol’, same ol’, it’s time to switch it up. Americans are happy again, happy citizens is good for morale and good for the economy. Capitalism is king here in America, not democracy.
I think as far as how I feel about Obama being president. I am happiest for my grandparents, because this is truly a day they thought that they would never see. My grandparents don’t know anything about politics, they fall in with many black Americans, they voted for Obama because he looked like them.
@L,
Cosign 100%.
@Luvvie, luv luv, you’re forgiven, i did mention the parallels,waaaay upstream…
I definitely feel the twinge of patriotism and inclusion that I’ve never felt. I feel that way because so many white people and people of other races were as energized about getting him elected as black folks were. That really opened my eyes to how far people have come to unite as Americans. I’m definitely more proud to be an American than I ever was. I think it’ll be a shame for people to hold on to past greivances, and anger and not move forward with the rest of the country. I think that the agenda for change and healing before all of us is a heavy load. But I think we can do it. Barack Obama can’t change this country alone.
@pgh muse,
And I really think that for Black folks more than anyone the example of Barack and Michelle Obama serves to show US that we can be and do anything. We can’t do anything about the racism of others. But we can manange our own lives and communities without waiting for someone else or something else outside of ourselves to save us. Or turn a blind eye to the errosion and feel like it’s not your problem bcuz you had two parents and a comfy home. Barack and Michelle are going to make community service cool (hopefully).
@pgh muse, Barack and Michelle are going to make community service cool (hopefully).
I hope so, too. I wonder how many people actually participated in the MLK, Jr. day National Day of Service. I have friends who seemed to not know anything about it, and thus were content in continuing to do nothing…smh
Great post Champ. Personally, my feelings lie somewhere between the jaded and the Obamabots:) As a student of Global Affairs I cannot see America divorcing itself from its “money,power, greed- over life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” status quo. I just cannot see it.
Long before Nov. 4, I vowed I would not factor in foreign policy, or any other international consideration on who I voted for. I would vote strictly on who would lead America, my home, forward. Many might wonder why I didn’t do that before. My first election was the Bush/Gore election, next was Bush/Kerry, by then we were mired in the disastrous post September 11 wars and I always felt my vote got stuck at the intersection of my identities. Being born in America does not immediately sever you from the land your parents immigrated from, or from your religion which just happened to be the one demonized left and right. What is best for America is often the death knell for other countries. It was hard to vote for a candidate I knew would cut funding for AIDS research, or send billions of dollars in aid to countries like Israel and Egypt, when many in Africa are dying of the most treatable diseases.
On the flip side, as an American, I could not help but see a timeline of the African American struggle in my minds eye lead from ships and chains, to a Black president and our elderly who can remember segregation and Jim Crow, overcome with emotion. To see little Black boys say they want to become President shows me they are aiming for the stars. They don’t know what the President does, and they might decide one day they would rather not be President, but they are aspiring to be something more and what they see to be the highest achievement. If nothing else, I am happy for this.
People ask me all the time “did you ever think you would see this day?” and I tell them that to think I would never see this day would mean I gave it a thought. A black president never, ever crossed my mind in any way, shape, or form. What makes me most proud that I cast my vote for Obama, is his inclusive message. He did not leave anyone out for fear of losing votes, and his message is one of unity. He included all my identities, and did not make me feel that to be American, would mean to lose any of them. This is why I voted for Obama, and this is why I am as inspired as I have ever been to support my president in achieving these goals.
@overit,
thanks overitey. great comment as well.
@The Champ,
“We hear all about how the pendulum has swung to far, and that whiteness is under attack, yet within the first wee hours of 2009 three black men were violently shot by white police officers and two succumbed to their wounds.” copied from http://www.womanist-musings.com/2009/01/go-ahead-say-nigger.html
As a mother of three sons and having grown up in Brooklyn, I wonder if as president if he will address police brutality. I remember living in community where people felt helpless against the brutal NYPD police presence. Has a black president changed that? After watching on YouTube police officers just recently shooting an unarmed black man in handcuffs in the back of the head while he was lying on the floor and posed no obvious threat, I wonder what has changed, other than people being more optimistic about change?
I will say that I am a different breed of American, I was raised with African pride, my mother woke us up early in the morning to see Mandela released from prison live in South Africa, I was always told that I was African, and it was made very clear how we got here. My mother made a point to have African art in the house, African friends, we were in African dance for as long as I can remember. When I was being taught in school that Lincoln freed the slaves, my mother was teaching me that he needed to win the war and it was just a strategy.
@L, you sound like me, that was pretty much my story, except I wasn’t in ny, but va:)
@L,
Obama doesn’t need to say anything, his AG Eric Holder should investigate the officers and departments for possible US Code 1983 violations.
Obama is actually best when he works “non-racially”. But if he’s sharp and conscious, he’ll put people in positions to actively pursue “urban” agendas.
Most stuff that *black* political groups wnat are good for EVERYBODY, but you have to strip the blackness from it, so that people (certain 2520′s) don’t think you’re getting over.
Students can’t talk about President-Elect Obama
http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=9315082&nav=2CSf
@L,
Funny…this is the same town that had a school shooting a couple of years back…
A black man who was the editor of the law review @ the top law school in the country (essentally the smartest of the smartest people in our nation) who first defeated a political dynasty only to be met by former weather reporter and a guy who graduated at the bottom of his naval academy?
Barack’s election doesn’t make me feel proud to be an American.
He’s essentially the Michael Jordan/Tiger Woods of politicians – Jesus prolly gave him some dap, “that brother’s cold”
If Al Sharpton would have won, or Jesse back in the day, that’d be one thing. They elected the loud angry black guy.. At that point I’d know that racism was dead, and all of us could be ourselves in full glory, without having to pull punches and sound like Cosby in admonishing folks.
You know who makes me feel proud of America?
Stanley O’Neal
Here’s a brother that made 160 Million Dollars from the destruction of a great 2520 institution Merrill Lynch.
When America elects the black equivalent of Dubya….that’s when you know it’s on.
Shout to Chris Rock.
@WestIndianArchie,
GREAT POINT!!!!
The better man won….
@WestIndianArchie,
“If Al Sharpton would have won, or Jesse back in the day, that’d be one thing”
i disagree here…Al and Jesse have been alienating within our own race. Alot of more conservative minded older black folks still use the phrase: “talkin loud and aint saying nothin” to specifically describe these two.
Our ability to elect “the blackest of the black” which isn’t always the “cleanest of the clean” is not an indicator for me that racisim is over.
And I say that with a bit of tongue and cheek. I have alot of respect for both Sharpton and Jackson, and I do know of the human failings of men. But I can’t co-sign your sentiment regarding them.
@Princess Duvet,
If we’re talking about being post-racial, if 2520′s can see pass the perms and pastor speaking – and focus on the merit of the message – then we’re post racial, then our most “soulful” brethren have legitimate shots @ the highest positions in our society.
In order to recreate what Obama did, you have to be @ the top of the very top. Not just a good engineer, but the best engineer @ MIT. Not just a decent race car driver, but routinely lap Jeff Gordon.
And not only do you have to play their game their way, and beat them at it.
Could you make a nice bland piece of chicken? So bland it out blands them on all levels. So bland, it’s praised for its blandness?
Now if an average Jamal/Tyrone/Keisha can be as “hood”"ghetto”"confrontational”"anti-social” and whatever the codewords they use are – that’s when you know things have changed.
When you don’t have to code switch…
When it’s okay for the black person to suggest Popeye’s for catering this weeks sales meeting!
The end of double consciousness, the end of black skins and white masks.
@WestIndianArchie,
“In order to recreate what Obama did, you have to be @ the top of the very top. Not just a good engineer, but the best engineer @ MIT. Not just a decent race car driver, but routinely lap Jeff Gordon”
This is interesting. I don’t know if I fully agree. Since there was no real baseline, I would tend to agree that now the bar is set relatively high, but its the same excellence we should be pursuing compartively in our everyday lives. True while, we all aren’t going (or applying and being accepted to Harvard)..we all can take a stab at being great.
The optimist in me believes there are several paths to greatness. I happen to believe (maybe because i need to) that it doesnt have to be a Harvard/Yale/Princeton track.
all else in parts of your above argument are no more than excuses. if he had an active father. took a more tradtional post law school track..im sure you could add those “feathers” to his hat as well.
@WestIndianArchie,
Excellent point.
@WestIndianArchie,
When America elects the black equivalent of Dubya….that’s when you know it’s on.
I completely understand what you are saying. But I hope to never see this day for a number of reasons. I hope in moving this country forward that we’ll never see another white Dubya, let alone a black one. I hope to see Baracks in every shade and gender… because we can.
@L,
I grew up similar but in Detroit. I didn’t realize how different my household was from others. I remember on saturday or friday nights if my dad wasn’t playing Jazz, R&B, reggae, etc. on the stereo he was playing Malcolm X and Farrakhan speeches. And we weren’t in the Nation.
I don’t know that I have a huge swelling sense of national pride because of President Obama, but I sure do like the effect it has had on my children.
2 of my children voted for the first time and felt as if their vote really counted, that did it for me. Until this election, I never felt that way. EVER.
My 18 year old son is paying more attention to what is going on in the world around him. He will sit and watch CNN or BET news with me now instead of walking out of the room and going to watch videos.
My 19 year old daughter, well, she’s just as opinionated as before, but wants to be more involved.
And my 16 year old son was PISSED he couldn’t vote. Upset that he couldn’t be apart of the decision to put a black man in office. I let him stand next to me in the voting booth. Bless his heart..
For these things and many more, I do have a growing sense of pride as an American. Not totally there yet. Definately on the way.
@bballmom,
lol, yeah. if i wasn’t allowed to vote i would have been pissed too. good thing i got those felonies expunged from my record
I guess my non-nationalistic view of America has fueled my desire to raise my children abroad. This time next year, I want to be an expat.
@L,
where would you go..(i haven’t read all the comments sorry if you said before)??
I think back in the day once renouncing citizenship to the US and moving abroad..you couldn’t freely change your mind once back on US soil.
as much smack as i talk about the US..its still a great place to live (even being abroad and only traveling to “fancy” little counties) im always glad to be back home.
maybe if i was james baldwin or josephine baker living in their time, i would have felt differently..and been gone just like they did. but i dunno.
@Princess Duvet,
I guess for me it’s really not a competition as in America being the best or better. There are certain amenities we are used to and many expats having learned to do without certain conveniences. As for where would you go? There are so many places to go, there’s a whole world out there. I have friends living in Ghana, South Africa, Benin, even Israel. None of them miss America outside of some hard to find snack foods.
It’s more about where your heart is and mine isn’t here anymore. I think what was telling for me is the last time I went overseas, I really had no desire to come back and live the American lifestyle anymore.
I have accomplished everything I have wanted to accomplish here, it’s just time to move on.
Okay, off topic, but somewhat relevant to the many music posts on here.
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/11/18/116-black-music-that-black-people-dont-listen-to-anymore/
I would have to agree with your father, I am now proud to be an American. The funny thing is that was my facebook status for the past week, “Johnny McFly is proud to American and Black.” I grew up around plenty of Haitians, Jamaicans, and Puerto Ricans. So as a young child, I wished I had something extra to be too. Not anymore, I am happy to be simply American.
@J. McFly,
that made me tear up. That was simple and beautiful
Not having been born here but having lived here for 34 years I feel more American than anything else. However I truly didnt understand what it meant to be American until I was 8 years old. While visiting my birth country I witnessed a student protest which included hand grenades being thrown into a movie theater and various restaurants. I also witnessed several student protesters being violently attacked, and killed even, but the one thing that is imbedded in my mind is the image of a student protester that was doused in gasoline, tied to the back of a truck and set on fire. Yes I witnessed all of this first hand. I did not realize or really know and understand until I was much older that this was the beginning of a coup d’état, within hours my younger brothers (because they were the only American Citizens) and my mom were at the American Embassy about to leave the country, because my mom would not leave without her older children, people my parents knew in the local government were able to ensure the rest of us would exit the country safely. Within the next few days we were back home, with just the memory of an election day uprising.
Yes we were there and witnessed election day in a third world country. The transition of power as most of the world knows and experiences it. Fear, terror, violence.
This experience did not scar me, if anything it made me appreciate the rights and entitlements of being an American, though I am still not an American Citizen, as a LEGAL resident I take liberty in many things many of my relatives do not even have as an option. Freedom of Speech being one of them.
So like many of y’all on election day I too was beaming and felt a great sense of pride, but not because Barack Obama, the first Black President was elected, but moreso because people in this country had decided to do something about their situation, yeah granted it was to vote for a Black president, but really WE (people of color) complain if we have to be on line at the movie, I never saw more people, of all creeds and walks of life reunite over something never mind stand in line for hours to vote . It was wonderful to be witness to it, and have so many of us be a part of it. And now we own it, and can say that we do.
I forgot what my point was, oh well
My parting comments: a visitor in this country I have been witness to people that complain about their situation and never do anything about it, and not because of fear of reprisal but more because its too hard. Having been witness to real terror, fear and intimidation (I have other stories). I have always appreciated my limited rights and entitlements that “being an American” has allowed me and have been aware of them and exercised them, but more importantly I own the hypocrisy and all the negative that comes with that too. Yes we as a country are not perfect but we have come a long way and yes our President is Black, however our rights have not changed any more than what they were on November 6, 2008.
Do I see that there is a hypocrisy in how this country has and continues to treat its immigrants and people of color? Yes I do, however I also respect that at least here you can complain, protest, even take people to court for calling you out your name without having to live in fear that some official is going to come to your house in the middle of the night and remove you never to be seen again.
@Intellectual Hedonist,
I agree to a point. I was born and raised here. Terrorism and reprisal does happen here too, America just has a different way of terrorizing those that are considered a threat. One tactic is creating a case against you, planting evidence, framing, planting bugs, threatening family members. Leaking false stories to the media so that your peers believe you are guilty before you even get to court. We too have political prisoners: Assata Shakur (she escaped to Cuba), Mumia Abu Jamal and many others who are not as famous. I am not going to go into detail my personal experience with the system that is in place to terrorize innocent people under the guise of justice, but it is certainly real. I thought that the government interfering in your life, coming into your house with guns, terrorizing you and legally being able to do so was something that I compartmentalized into books written by 60′s activists and freedom fighters overseas, until it happened to me.
@L,
I do not disagree with anything you have said here. I have also been witness to some of the things you speak of.
I am proud. I am certainly proud about the history made and excited that I was there to witness it. And for the 1st time since I’ve known well, I am hopeful!
Our community lacks fathers and father figures which puts us at an extreme disadvantage considering that where our majority resides, in inner cities, the men who look like us aren’t modelling the roles that we want our children (especially our sons) to model themselves. From childhood most of our teachers, bosses, doctors, people who we may grow to admire are either white or women. My belief is that because of this, the family dynamic in the black community is eff’d up and has been for the past 30 years or so even more so.
We’ve got women heading households and attempting to raise “good men” alone. No father. The men who look like these son’s are not the best role models (of course I’m generalizing) and the “good” role models, he can’t relate to. Unless he meets a good black man who changes his life, he’s probably gonna be more like the black men in his community who could be better…a lot better. And the cycle will continue.
But now the generation of young black men growing up have a leader who looks like them. One who has integrity and character and is worthy of the high honor elected of him. And more importantly, Obama is relatable. He wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth. And the odds were stacked against him until he worked against them and came out on top. Obama has a story that is truly inspirational and I am a dreamer who believes that story will inspire a generation of men in a way that will change our community for better, forever