Barack Obama Ya'll

I'm emotionally frozen. My President of the United States of America is Black. I really don't know what to say, but we made it. After being brought over to a country against our will. Being strategically separated by language. Enduring over 300 years of slavery. Living through racist Jim Crow. Being seen as the lowest version of humans...we weren't even seen as actual people. For years we were just property or allowed to be counted as half a person. Now, one of our own...a Black American....holds the highest office in the country. I don't know what else to say, but we made it.

As I see the tears of our Black leaders and Black journalists in broadcast media, I know why they are crying. White Obama supporters may be happy, but Black Americans are emotional. We have been through so much and all I can say is we made it. This event is so historic that even John McCain was forced to recognize it in his speech. True enough the true highlight of my evening was the announcement that Obama had won, but there was another. When the camera panned over to McCain's headquarters, after the announcement had been made, McCain supporters were totally oblivious. They were low in spirits, but not yet made aware that they had lost. I loved every minute of watching their complete oblivion. Furthermore, they panned the crowd and I saw not one Black face. How can you lead America if your supporters don't even look like America? Perhaps Spongebob & Patrick Star said it best in the Spongebob Movie: IN YOUR FACE!

The reason I am frozen is because this is a moment I never imagined in my wildest dreams I'd ever see. I never dreamed of seeing a Black Presidential candidate. I never dreamed I'd see a Black Presidential candidate's name on the ballot. I never dreamed I'd see a Black Presidential elect give a victory speech. I never dreamed a Black President would be inaugurated. I never dreamed a Black President would live in the white house. This isn't a dream come true, because I never dared to dream that big. Anything is possible. All dreams are possible.

Everything our ancestors went through in this country were worth it. Through their struggles, blood, tears, sweat, etc.... they turned us into survivors. They gave us the strength to endure. They taught us to never give up hope.

WE MADE IT!

Ps: Black people, this is NOT a national holiday. Take your ass to work tomorrow!

I Baracked the Vote

I am Miss Black America. Today I voted for my first Black president. I'm not really the type to get emotional over stuff you are actually supposed to get emotional over, but this was different.

The whole process took 2.5 hours, and honestly it didn't feel too historic at first. I waited for hours next to an elderly woman who smelled like pee and had no regard for personal space. By the time I made it into the polling room, I was just relieved to get the hell away from her.

I got emotional once I saw Barack's name on the little electronic machine. There it was in black and white. Barack Obama/Joe Biden - DEM. When history books write about the first African American presidential candidate, I can say I was there to vote for him. I took it upon myself to find early voting. I stood in line for hours to vote. I voted for the first Black President. I served my duty as an American and a citizen of Black America. I couldn't help but feel emotional at this very historic moment.

After voting, I couldn't help but think about the responsibility Obama will carry if he wins. He will not only have to be 20x greater than Bill Clinton just to be viewed as equal. He will be under close scrutiny. Barack will also carry with him an unspoken burden to be the Messiah for Black America. Only the most radical among us expect him to enact reparations for slavery, but we do expect something. We expect him to somehow right some of the wrongs that are seen in CNN Presents: Black in America. We expect him to not only run the free world, but act as a Black leader. We expect him to encourage us, to somehow make things better, to fund projects that will uplift our torn communities. Barack Obama holds the fragile ecosystem that is Black America in his hands.

God forbid, Obama looses. Black America will be crushed. It may be decades until we see another one of our citizens in that position. Morale in Black America will be lower than ever. I'll be shocked if I don't see riots. Fuck the reasons Republicans state for why Obama is unqualified. We know the truth. If Obama looses it is because he is Black.

While standing in line with the elderly church women, it became even more clear to me that loosing is not an option. They quoted Bible verses that clearly had nothing to do with this 2008 election. The verse said something about, "Those on top will go to the bottom." Hell, if they like it - I love it. Black Americans view Obama as the man who holds the key to freedom. He is the gatekeeper to the America, White America has been enjoying for centuries. Once he is elected, Black America will slowly be able to fade and blend into one America. He represents all minorities. People are clinging to every ounce of hope or sign that victory is ours.

For the first time in decades, Black America is coming together. Like the instinct birds are born with that tells them to fly south for the winter, Black Americans sense it's time to focus and fight for our freedom. The hoards of people waiting to vote in that community center gymnasium, all knew they had to be there. This election voting is not a choice just as breathing is not a choice. It is something that must be done to survive.

If you haven't voted yet, vote on November 1st. If early voting is not an option vote on November 2nd with everyone else. If the lines are long, don't leave. Bring your state identification, bring your voter card, bring whatever you need to prove your identity. Leave your Obama paraphernalia at home. Emotions are running high so do whatever it takes to stay peaceful. Don't give them any reason to turn you away. Know that your right to vote was made sacred by your ancestors who fought for it. You are creating history. You represent Black America.

I am Miss Black America.

Commentary: VP Debates

I should have done this for the Presidential debates, but I figure with Palin's inexperience, this should be more fun. Here are my play by play off the wall comments/observations:

• Debate hasn't been on for 10minutes yet and Palin has already used the word "maverick" twice. I hate that word. This aint a country western.
  
• Palin is out of touch with reality. She's talking about $300,000 houses being foreclosed on. People who can get into a $300,000 house aren't facing foreclosure! It's the people living in $150,00 and less.
• Palin is already lying on Obama and we are 14min. in. Obama didn't vote to raise taxes for middle class America.
• Did Palin just tell the moderator she's not going to answer the questions in the way she wants? Palin is going to push her track record. HAHA! The moderator just cut her off.
• Funny how she thinks national health care is a bad idea...
• Is she not allowed to wear colors? Why is it that everytime i see Palin she has on all black from head to toe with the same hair style? Sweetie you can wear a nice blouse or cami underneath that suit.
  
• Biden is right on the money with his statistics. All Palin is going on is her year and a 1/2 track record. Seems like she doesn't know much about anything else.
• 27minutes in and she's already restaiting the exact same points she's already said. Exact same words in the exact same order.
  
• Does Palin not know how a debate works? She gets asked a question then states what SHE wants to talk about it instead. Palin, you aren't the moderator, the Black woman sitting in front of you is...SHUT UP ALREADY!
• I like Biden, he's all about the facts & that's all I care about. I don't care about asking a soccer mom (as Palin suggests we all do), I want facts and he's giving them to me.
• Funny how the subject of gay marriage makes Palin so uncomfortable.
  
• I can't help but notice (there goes that word "maverick" again) how presidential Biden sounds and how motherly Palin seems. She reminds me of the mother off of "Bobby's World" - don't cha know
• "Maverick" count: 4
• Palin quotes: "Say it ain't so Joe," "Average Joe 6-Pack" & "Darnnit"
  
• Did Palin just send a shout out to a 3rd grade class during a VP Presidential Debate!? Hell nah
• Unlike McCain's flimsy comb over, Biden's bald spot is in the back. Good shit. The camera can't see it.
  

Assasination Anyone?

Ok so I know the title is one that may get me flagged and raise the eyebrows of a few CIA agents. Before you start thinking i'm a terrorist, let me take time and explain.
Just like the rest of the world I am following the 2008 Presidential Elections very closely. There's finally a member of my race running! While Obama's rise to glory has been nothing less than inspring, I can't help but feel a tinge of fear. Fear for his life.

I'm so proud of how far our dysfunctional racist country has come from the times when it was law that you had to pass an incredibly difficult and ridiculous test just to vote (even though the constitution had already given you the right to do so). Let my grandma tell it and it was just yesterday that they killed that innocent man for nothin' [Martin Luther King Jr.]. Finally, we as a race are approaching what could be the single most greatest accomplishment yet. We have the possibility to run this country. That's sending an international message that we have made it! We survived slavery, We survived Jim Crow, We survived modern day discrimination like in the Jena 6 trials. We made it to that high rise apartment in the sky baby!

How far have we really come?

Just as the 2000 Elections divided the country, this may have that effect as well. Fundementally there are Democrats & Republicans. Next, there are the people who don't see color as an issue when choosing a candidate and those that do. Lastly, there are the people who will accept a Black man as president (weither they like it, love it, or simply will tolerate it) and those that would rather die than see it ever happen. That very last category is where that nagging tinge of fear comes from.

Now that we have a Black nominee, we like to think of ourselves as liberal and evolved. The question I would like to pose is, just how evolved are we really?

Can we safely assume that every person living under the glorious Stars & Stripes has evolved? I like to think not. If that was the case then organizations such as the KKK would cease to exist. With a country as free as ours, each and every person is well within their rights to be a radical extremist if they wish. More power to you! What concerns me is, it only takes one radical extremist to shut down our rise to glory. It only takes one person with a "kamikazee" type personality to pop all of our damn bubbles.

You all know what I'm hinting at....

My blackness will not allow me not to be an Obama supporter. My christian faith advises me to pray for that man's life, and pray even harder if he is elected to be our Commander & Chief. That's a very brave man. Sometimes it takes the elderly to snap your evolved ass back to reality. My grandmother's face says it all. I watched as she displayed sheer joy and elation to see a member of her race take the stage at the Democratic National Convention (DNC). She couldn't hold in her smile. Then she asked, "Child, is that really a Black man?" I replied, it was. Her face dropped and became sullen. You could actually see her relive the moment when they "shot that innocent man down for nothin...just killed him."

I couldn't help but wonder, does Obama share the same fate?