If you told me five years ago that a black man could make it to the final presidential ballot, I would have said you were crazy. I suppose I would be wrong, seeing how Barack Obama has earned the Democratic nomination for President.
Wow.
Now, I’m the wet blanket on this Obama thing. I’ve paid attention to the way that Obama got slaughtered on white voters vs. Hillary Clinton, even in states he won. It’s not encouraging at all. And that was with Hillary’s simpleminded, halfassed attempt to grasp at straws as the nomination she felt was ordained to her.
The GOP is now in the building. Get ready for Willie Horton ’08.
So I was pee-peeing on my buddy’s parade about that when I got an e-mail from an esteemed member of the media. I’ll just hit you with a paragraph.
Regardless of whether or not you supported, or support, Senator Obama, I think we can all agree that this is a momentous evening. One that so many of our ancestors died for. One that my 80-year-old father is seeing, and one that has him weeping.
Then it hit me — if Obama wins this thing, he’ll be the first black person that this country has to listen to. Sure, America has listened to plenty of black folks, but only if they wanted to. Never before has there been a black man this country was obligated to listen to, one whose opinion could not be dismissed no matter what.
We, as black folks, are a marginalized people. We have been disregarded and patronized since our arrival on this continent, and we’ve had to hope someone hears what he have to say. Whispering hasn’t done it. Hinting hasn’t done it. Screaming was only effective for a time.
Now, there’s a black man that can speak to the world with flash cards if he wants to, and folks will have to read every word. Even a pessimist like me can see the beauty of that.
I’m not weeping. I’m not even smiling. But I’m not going to pretend for a second — well, another second — that this isn’t a big deal.
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