So, my mom's guy has cancer. It's in some of his endocrine organs. It's pretty progressive and he's pretty old, so the writing is pretty much on the wall as far as I know. It's really more a matter of "when" moreso than "if" at this point.
I've been trying to spend more time with him, which is pretty much the complete opposite of what used to happen. I was rubber and he was glue. Anything he'd try to do with me would bouce off and wind up sticking on him. We had our fare share of rubs, no matter the subject it seemed. But now I'm trying to make a concerted effort to be more friendly, more welcoming, more like myself. It's a shame it took this for me to act like this, but it's better late than never. At least that's what I tell myself.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Yes We Can
As my ears ring from the horns and screams and joyful wails of the people, the election of Barack Obama brings about the idea that anything is possible.
But possible for whom?
There's a reason most of those crying were black people. You see, even in the midst of the unifying words and the togetherness that Barack's words foster, for some reason I can't help but think of the generations of black people before me who never, ever thought to themselves yes, we can.
Never did they think there would actually be a time when someone of their color would rise to rule the free world. They were too busy trying to run from the police dogs or figuring out how to avoid being beaten and lynched. Dr. King's dream was an ideal for the future. By no means did it reflect the trials of the times.
My family isn't that of Barack's. We are no first-generation African Americans. I come from a family of slaves and have no knowledge of which African country carries my ancestry. My mother grew up in Arkansas and would have been in that first group of teens to be integrated into the high schools had she not moved out to California in the preceeding summer. She still remembers having to go to colored bathrooms and being forced to sit in the balcony to watch every movie because no Black was allowed to sit below the mezzanine. When thoughts creep up, they seem to seep out through her tear ducts. It is true for so many others.
After generations of being told first that we weren't human, then human but unequal, then equal but treated with actions incongruent with those words, we finally received a mighty blow which never thought could really happen.
Believe in ourselves?
Yes, we can.
Believe that it's true when we tell our children they can be anything they want?
Yes, we can.
When others tell us it can't be done because it's never been done before, we now have a response.
Yes, we can.
But possible for whom?
There's a reason most of those crying were black people. You see, even in the midst of the unifying words and the togetherness that Barack's words foster, for some reason I can't help but think of the generations of black people before me who never, ever thought to themselves yes, we can.
Never did they think there would actually be a time when someone of their color would rise to rule the free world. They were too busy trying to run from the police dogs or figuring out how to avoid being beaten and lynched. Dr. King's dream was an ideal for the future. By no means did it reflect the trials of the times.
My family isn't that of Barack's. We are no first-generation African Americans. I come from a family of slaves and have no knowledge of which African country carries my ancestry. My mother grew up in Arkansas and would have been in that first group of teens to be integrated into the high schools had she not moved out to California in the preceeding summer. She still remembers having to go to colored bathrooms and being forced to sit in the balcony to watch every movie because no Black was allowed to sit below the mezzanine. When thoughts creep up, they seem to seep out through her tear ducts. It is true for so many others.
After generations of being told first that we weren't human, then human but unequal, then equal but treated with actions incongruent with those words, we finally received a mighty blow which never thought could really happen.
Believe in ourselves?
Yes, we can.
Believe that it's true when we tell our children they can be anything they want?
Yes, we can.
When others tell us it can't be done because it's never been done before, we now have a response.
Yes, we can.
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