An Historic Moment

Something ain’t right. I’m not sure what the problem is, but I’m not feeling the magnitude of the occasion. An African American man is the Democratic nominee for the office of President of this United States. One hundred forty-four years after the Emancipation Proclamation declared freedom for all slaves, forty-three years after the National Voting Rights Act outlawed discriminatory voting practices that had been responsible for the widespread disenfranchisement of African-Americans, we bear witness to what many thought would never happen.

Hope springs eternal and I should be glad, but I paid too much attention in Mr. Kurtz’s history class. In 1870, African Americans were given the right to vote through the 15th Amendment. Despite this right, many southern states added clauses to their state constitutions and enacted policies that countered the new right. By 1877, Blacks had once again been relegated to second class citizenship, not only though racial terrorism, but through the enactment of laws and policies that made terroristic acts acceptable. It took nearly another hundred years for Blacks to enjoy the full rights of citizenship.

Something ain’t right. Maybe it’s the timeline. I figured it would be at least another hundred years before someone who looked like me would be considered electable to the presidency. Perhaps the 18th Century clock has finally stopped or maybe it’s just being repaired. I’m not sure, but I’m waiting with trepidation for the next shoe to fall. I’ve seen the most audacious hopes dashed too often. One thing is for sure, a change is gonna come. It’s inevitable.

Even though he left my church, Barack Obama is still my candidate. I know I said I’m voting for him because his wife is Black, but that’s only partially true. I believe she is his greatest asset because I know the fortitude, ingenuity, compassion, benevolence and power of Black women. This knowledge is not lost on the rest of the world. It partially explains the appeal of Oprah and Nikki Giovanni is quick to point out that a Black woman served as Communications Officer aboard the Starship Enterprise. Michelle Obama provides her husband a view of the Black American experience, unknown to him. She is the hope and the dream of the slave. She strengthens my emotional link to him.

Emotions aside, I continue to believe him best suited to lead the country into a better day because he sees people beyond color and believes in us. He understands that, beneath all the sociobabble, we all desire the same thing; to exist and thrive comfortably in a safe and peaceful world. He speaks a language of inclusivity when he says, “Yes, we can.”

With it’s many peaks and valleys, the first leg of this journey is done. It was a rough road that now becomes treacherous and not because of potential assassination plots. Killing a leader has never stopped a movement, but he will be forced to make some decisions and say some things that will cause more than a few to waiver in their support. It’s already happened to me, but I realized we must look beyond the campaign trail to the finish line and the big picture. Like Paul, I reckon the suffering of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed.

Something ain’t right, but it’s my problem to fix. I must allow myself this moment of celebration without thinking about the past or the future. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come. We only have now and at this time an African American is the Democratic nominee for the office of President of this United States.

Ain’t that something!