Tomorrow is an historic day. Our first black president. Before I comment on my feelings about this, I have to share a few stories.
My grandparents were very judgemental of others, no matter the color. But in their household was the only place I remember real prejudice. It was a large family and the grandparents were the center of them all. And they were all prejudice. The "N" word was used frequently, "jokes" were told with black people being the butt of them. Even back then, I was uncomfortable with the "jokes". But more than that, I knew they were ignorant.
When I was about 9 years old, a black family moved in across the street from the grandparents. I don't remember what the bricks in the backyard were originally there for, but I do remember what they asked us to do with them. The grandparents tried to convince all of the grandchildren that it was a game. They told us to take the bricks and throw them at the black people's home. I don't recall any of us actually doing it, but I can't be sure.
At any rate, both of the grandparents are dead now. They did not live to see the election and inauguration of Barack Obama. I wish they had. I would love to know what they would say. It is hard to find fault in President-elect Obama or his family. Unfortunately, I am sure they would have found something. If nothing else, just that he is black.
But, what is even more shocking than that. I once heard my children's grandmother read a Dr. Seuss book about feet. The book says something along the lines of..red feet, green feet...and when it got to black feet. The grandmother said "we don't like black feet". This phrase was uttered by the same woman (by the way she lives in Iowa) that has since voted for Barack Obama. She sings his praises. What a change, what a welcome change!
It would be easy to criticize the grandmother that said she didn't like black feet. But what is more impressive, she learned to look passed color and focus on what is good for the country. She learned to look at the person, not the color. She is proof that you can continue to grow as a person no matter your age.
This is not the end of my enounters with racism amongst my own family. I have a younger sister that once tried to commit suicide because our parents hated her for dating a black man.
All of this having been said. I know this election effects black people on a very deep level. But it does me too, and so many of my family members and friends. I can see the beginning of the end of racism. We are not to the end yet. But thinking how far we have come in my lifetime, I can only hope that my children's generation is the one where it ends for good.
Next, gays and lesbians. Let's end all prejudice. Tomorrow is a good start.
Malicious Extrapolation
9 years ago
Posts
The fact that he is not our first Black president, he is our first Bi-racial president. A fact I find more amazing than being the first black one.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that fact that he is half white got lost in his bid to get elected. It's too bad that to get elected he chose to play the race card instead of embracing the fact that he is a man of both colors so therefore he is our first beige president. His mother ahd grandmother are the true heros in this, his mother was in a bi-racial marriage in a time when it was not accepted and then raised a bi-racial son after her African husband left them.
I am glad to see the country embracing him, but can't help but be disappointed in him for the fact that he seems to be turning his back on the side that raised him to become the one that deserted him because it is to his benefit.