Ok, so this is America, the U.S. of A. I love it. I respect it, I believe in it.
We are on the verge of a historical moment in the United States. We might elect the first African American to the most difficult, challenging, and powerful position in the world.
How does that make you feel?
I am awed by the possibility. I am further awed that a woman came ever so close to also doing something never done before in the USA: vying for the Presidency of the United States.
I have seen segregation in the South first hand. I still recall the “Whites Only” signs. I still remember facing down a Virginia Deputy Sheriff who wanted to ban our church group from a public beach because we had one “colored” girl with us. It has been a period of great introspection and revelation for this nation. Think about that for a moment. It gives me goose bumps.
You know what else gives me goose bumps? That my grandchildren, Kyle, who is twelve, and Rachel, who just turned ten, think that electing a Black man is as normal as listening to their Ipods. That gives me goose bumps and puts a huge lump in my throat.
I asked them about this possibility, this moment of history in the making. When I explained to their dad that I was writing this article and wanted to know if Kyle and Rachel realized how momentous an occasion this was, or if they were clueless, he told me they were clueless.
Not so, Dad. Read on.
I asked Kyle:
Do you know who Barack Obama is?
Yes. He’s running for President.
Do you think he will be elected as our President?
I think he will because a lot of people like him.
Do you realize that he is the first Black man to run for President of the United States?
Yes I do, I think he’ll be the first Black President. A lot of kids at my school like him.
Grandma, is he the first one (Black man) to have ever run for President?
