Here's How We Did It

Just in case you're not on the Barak Obama for President mailing list, here's what he emailed out last night before his historic speech in Grant Park...


Penni --

I'm about to head to Grant Park to talk to everyone gathered there, but I wanted to write to you first.

We just made history.

And I don't want you to forget how we did it.

You made history every single day during this campaign -- every day you knocked on doors, made a donation, or talked to your family, friends, and neighbors about why you believe it's time for change.

I want to thank all of you who gave your time, talent, and passion to this campaign.

We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on track, and I'll be in touch soon about what comes next.

But I want to be very clear about one thing...

All of this happened because of you.

Thank you,

Barack


******

Holla

I Knew We'd Get Here

This has been the longest, most stressful election campaign I can remember. I'm soo glad it's finally over. I have been consumed by all of the faux rhetoric surrounding my candidate and bowled over by the bright people I know that have fallen for it at some point during the last year and a half.

I'll admit, I do have an advantage. I have been exposed to the concealed, sometimes unaware racism that the Obama campaign has brought out in mainstream America.

I have been labeled 'inexperienced' for jobs that I could do, and have done, in my sleep.

I have been called for 3 in person interviews for one job to 'prove myself' to the hiring manager.

I have been questioned and challenged on jobs, in a way that my white friends have never experienced.

I have been 'friends' with white people and then get the side eye when something untoward goes down at work. After having lunch together every day, when something is stolen, why are they looking at me like, 'I thought she was different, but how well do I really know her?'

So, when Obama was hit with all of these same tactics. I saw that it was a diversion. I knew that the issue was his blackness or self identified blackness that was unsettling to the mainstream. He didn't fit into the easily identifable categories of black success. He wasn't a star athlete, he couldn't sing or dance and he was actually kind of nerdy. "What kind of black man is this?" they thought. So, they set out to test him. Some of you fell for the okie doke in the beginning and decided to back Hillary early on.

I remember getting into debates with people that thought she was more 'experienced' by virtue of sleeping with a two-term president. Some people actually reasoned that if she were in office, it would be like Bill having a third term. They didn't believe me when I said that she is nothing like her husband. I liked Bill, but never subscribed to that 'First Black President' bullshit. Straight insult.

Then Iowa happened, and folks were jumping on the Obama Express. I wasn't mad at them. It just takes some people longer to see what's been staring them in the face all along. LOL

Now, after almost two years of campaigning, I'm seeing articles about how biased the press is, favoring Obama at every turn. Mainstream America has an acute case of victim-itis. I don't remember a time in my life when I've seen so many prominent, affluent white people considering themselves victims. I mean really. I'm amazed. I've read more articles and seen more television personalities *cough* Hasselbeck *cough* that are crying about fairness than I ever have in my life.

I'm just glad that today is the grand finale. I just spent a total of 10 minutes casting my vote for Obama. I knew he'd get to this point and I hope he wins.

But, even if he doesn't, the way he's run his campaign has changed the landscape forever. And I'm proud of that.

Holla

GOP She-Veep

So, all of those rumblings early last week about McCain picking the governor of Alaska as his Veep were on the money. Most people figured that he would have to do something considered 'unusual' to have a good chance at stealing some of Barack's thunder. Picking Sarah Paulin is supposed to attract the disgruntled HRCites. So, how funny was it, just a few days later to find out that the GOP VP nominee's daughter is about to become a baby mama.

Of course Obama took the high road (a road he's well familiar with) and denounced any effort to pull him into some negative BS surrounding the situation. Now, the GOP pundits are crying about how Paulin could not possibly be responsible for the choices that her daughter has made. Paulin is backing up her daughter, saying that she looks forward to becoming a grandmother and that the young woman will be getting married to the sperm donor soon.

Ok, let's get this straight.

They want me to believe that a 17 year old getting pregnant is NOT a reflection of parental influence.

That they couldn't be happier about this development?

I blame Juno, Knocked Up, Gossip Girl and Jamie Lynn Spears for the double standard that is becoming so popular amongst mainstream America. These little white girls are out there being extra fast and the conservative mainstream is eating it up with sprinkles and chocolate sauce.

It burns me up that just a few months ago, there was a hailstorm surrounding Jeremiah Wright's (JW) comments with regard to Barack, America and white people. MSA (mainstream america) argued that Barack was somehow responsible for JW's comments since he had chosen him as a spiritual advisor/leader. I don't know about you, but my mom has a whole lot more influence on my behavior and decision making process than my preacher...especially when I was 17 years old.

Have you ever had an argument with someone that had no evidentiary support for their position so, they threw out one illogical conclusion after the other...then you get so bogged down with trying to follow the faulty logic that you get frustrated, so you basically throw your hands up and say, 'Ok, you're right!'?? Well, that's what the republicans are trying to get us to do, throw up our hands and just let them win. That is soo not happening.

Barack is smart because he knows that the best way to win an unfair fight is to not engage in the first place.

I swear, these people get on my nerves with this kind of BS.

Yes we can!

Holla

Obama Watch

He's on the cover of VIBE magazine. I might actually buy it this month just to read the article. They say this is the first time VIBE has had a politician on its cover. What do you guys think? Where are the print media outlets that cater to our political needs? I'm sure there has to be some mag out there with this purpose. Unfortunately they don't carry it at my Borders or CVS. Let me know if you know of other print sources for this kind of info. The scans from the mag are in the link below...

http://perezhilton.com/?paged=2

Sometimes We're Our Own Worst Enemy

I was reading an article in Newsweek about Barak Obama's presidential campaign and how easily he traverses the racial divide. He's been criticized by many black leaders for not being 'black enough'. They say, 'How could a man with a Kenyan father and raised by a white middle american mother be really black?' As a people we are quick to call out someone that we think is not holding it down for 'the people'. But, do we even know what it means to be black?

If a white person were to attribute certain stereotypes to our ethnicity, we'd be up in arms and ready to get the NAACP on their asses. For example, 'they' can't say anything about our hair, nappy, conked, fried dyed and laid to the side and destined to always be short without us getting up in arms. But, we've got 'leaders' like Al Sharpton walking around with a press and curl because James Brown told him to do so and we embrace him without question. (If you've never heard the story, James Brown was a mentor/father figure of Sharptons. Early on in their acquaintance James suggested that Al keep the hairstyle until the event of James' death.) THEY can't attribute promiscuity or adultery to us but, when President Clinton was caught with his hands in the cookie jar and LIED about it, WE were quick to assign him the title, 'First Black President'. What does that say about us? When Clinton was campaigning he was known to hit jazz spots and pull out his saxaphone for 'jam sessions' whenever, wherever. Not once do I remember anyone in our community saying this man wasn't 'Black enough'. He is white and he got more of a black pass than Obama is getting by some of our Black 'Leaders'.

I know that Obama's mixed heritage is part of his appeal to white america. But, we are quick to claim mixed people in our community. In fact, we are OFFENDED when a person who even seems like they could be part black doesn't acknowledge us. Unlike the Colin Powells, and the Condoleezas this man has never diminished or denied his heritage. Condi would have us believe that her childhood growing up in the 50s deep south was nothing but empowering and magical. How can that be? Clearly she's from the old school. Before 'I'm Black and I'm proud', before anybody had any 'Dreams'. She hails from a time where the black middle class wanted to distance themselves from the common black folk and assimilate to the best of their ability into the white mainstream. Obama is no Condi.

Our forefathers fought specifically for us to be able to attend the best schools so that the best opportunities would become available to us. Obama has benefited from that fight. Yet, we have trouble identifying with him. Why is that? However, when Jesse Jackson ran for President, I don't remember people saying that he shouldn't run because he's 'inexperienced'. One of my friends used that red herring to justify her reasoning for why Obama couldn’t win. I don't think experience comes into play unless you're black. On the flip side, Bush is super 'experienced' (especially if nepotism counts as experience) and look how well that's working for us. I think just because Obama can traverse easily between mainstream America and our world, he's infinitely more experienced than a Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton.

Why isn't anyone offended that Jesse assumes that we won't be able to follow his speeches unless they have rhymes in them. What the hell is that? I listen to rap music so all of my information must come in via 8 bar and 16 bar chunks? Why do we let people pander to our worst stereotypes instead of choosing someone that will elevate us?? I'm not saying Obama will make the best President. I don't have enough information yet to decide. But, I'm NOT going to discount him because he happens to be the only candidate that looks a little like me.

Holla