History Has an Interesting Sense of Timing
by Latoya Peterson
Marc Lamont Hill writes*:
August 28, 1955 – Emmitt Till is murdered in Mississippi
August 28, 1963 – Martin Luther King gives his I Have A Dream Speech
Augist 28, 2008 – Barack Obama officially moves toward the White House
When confronted by these dates, I finally understood the historical significance of Barack’s candidacy. For the first time, I understood how much Barack’s candidacy means to oppressed people around the globe. For the first time, I fully appreciate how the idea of a Black presidency serves to sustain the hope and faith of a diasapora marked by suffering, oppression, and dislocattion. For the first time, I was proud.
He goes on to say:
Does this mean that I support him? No. Do I think that he will help the condition of black and brown people? No. But maybe, at least for today, that’s not the point. Today, I am merely going to bask in the joy of knowing that anything is possible for our people..
Fair enough.
*Pictures added for emphasis.
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of
DEAF FEMINIST PUNK!! wrote:
That Emmit Till story always tears me up. I cannot believe how fucked up, evil and hateful racist people can be.
As for Obama: I truly believe that if he wins as the first Black/Biracial, dark-skinned president of a Western nation, it will at least give more hope for many non-white, colored folks all around the globe.
However, racism and oppression cannot be 100% eradicated, but it will pave a little more progress and improvement, I hope.
Posted 10 Jun 2008 at 11:05 am ¶
sylvie wrote:
“Today, I am merely going to bask in the joy of knowing that anything is possible for our people.”
beautifully written. i wish i could have been able to articulate anything close to that when people would ask me, “why vote for him? what does hope have to do with fixing our country?”
Posted 10 Jun 2008 at 12:10 pm ¶
Sean wrote:
Apologies if I missed something, but what will happen on August 28, 2008? Is that a typo?
Posted 10 Jun 2008 at 12:15 pm ¶
Jaye wrote:
These pictures make me wonder what Emmitt Till would have done with his life had he not been murdered.
Posted 10 Jun 2008 at 12:16 pm ¶
Latoya Peterson wrote:
@Sean –
August 28 is the final day of the DNC.
Posted 10 Jun 2008 at 12:19 pm ¶
Sean wrote:
Ah…. thanks, Latoya.
Posted 10 Jun 2008 at 12:30 pm ¶
Elton wrote:
“For the first time, I understood how much Barack’s candidacy means to oppressed people around the globe.”
“Do I think that he will help the condition of black and brown people? No.”
In other words, he thinks Obama is merely a symbolic figure who will ultimately be ineffectual. False hope is better than nothing, I guess.
Posted 10 Jun 2008 at 12:51 pm ¶
gatamala wrote:
He’s no panacea, but as jaded as Wa(r)shington has made me, I need a little bit of hope.
Posted 10 Jun 2008 at 12:53 pm ¶
lunanoire wrote:
Wa(r)shington!
So true
(currently in Mrrrlnd)
Posted 10 Jun 2008 at 1:22 pm ¶
F wrote:
An Obama presidency would change things for other people in the world, particularly non-white ones. I say this as a non-white person who has lived in 3 countries outside of the US. So many of my family and friends feel hopeful just by the idea of him. Before he went all <3 for AIPAC, Hamas was willing to talk to him. So is Chavez now. I think it will make a huge difference.
Posted 10 Jun 2008 at 1:42 pm ¶
Renee wrote:
WHne Mrs. Till commented on her sons death she said, I don’t have time to be angry, I have to get justice. Those words always resonated with me. The frive behind Obamas candidacy is the legacy of injustice POC have had to face world wide. For many he represents a chance at equality and an end of marginalization. In his body they see every black man that has been lynched for the crime of being uppity enough to declare himself a man.
Posted 10 Jun 2008 at 11:20 pm ¶
bdsista wrote:
Renee how eloquently put. Reading Marc Hill’s blog, I wish he would read that statement. So many of us feel that b/c we become middle class academics, it shields us from those who would string us up in a heartbeat or cut us verbally to “keep us in our place”. Barack has torn that asunder to tell the world that our place is at the table with everyone else.
Many cultures regard dates as being auspicious, these bode well for the future.
I, Too – Langston Hughes
I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.
Tomorrow,
I’ll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then.
Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed –
I, too, am America.
Posted 11 Jun 2008 at 7:56 am ¶
blackstarr wrote:
I see Mr. Hill’s statements as somewhat of an oxymoron in that he doesn’t support Obama, and doesn’t think he’ll do anything for people of color, yet, he says that he “basks in the joy of knowing that anything is possible for our people”. That’s tantamount to saying that although there is no accomplishment made here, he is still proud. What exactly is he proud of?
I have but one question for he and my other friends who have stood on the fence waiting for the right candidate. Now that the choice is between McCain and Obama, who do you now support? Keep in mind that there are only two choices now and that there will be no other Messiah to come forth by way of independent, green party or anything else of significance. Two options from which to choose: McCain or Obama. Who will it be? Peace.
Posted 11 Jun 2008 at 8:24 am ¶
blackstarr wrote:
I suppose “contradiction” would be better than “oxymoron”. Peace.
Posted 11 Jun 2008 at 9:30 am ¶
eric daniels wrote:
Finally someone who is being reasonable in this whole “Obama is God” sweepstakes, I am happy he won yes, does it do anything to stop young black men from killing each other in the hoods of America or stop domestic violence or end poverty and bring LIVING WAGE jobs to help those black men and women feed their families NO !!!!!
I am voting for Mc Kinney
Posted 11 Jun 2008 at 9:33 am ¶
Bq wrote:
That is the first time I have seen that picture. It fills me with pain and rage.
Posted 11 Jun 2008 at 4:00 pm ¶
Morpho wrote:
@eric mcdaniels – None of us think that Obama is G-d, or more appropriately stated, the Messiah. Voting for McKinney won’t bring about those things either. I fail to see why you’d waste your vote on someone who doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of garnering even enough votes to get the Green Party recognized.
Posted 11 Jun 2008 at 5:51 pm ¶
superchunk12 wrote:
Whaaat? This woman’s parents were totally cousins.
She probably says things like “Oh, but I don’t think of you as black…” Geez.
Posted 11 Jun 2008 at 9:00 pm ¶
superchunk12 wrote:
oops, meant for another post on another blog… still mastering this whole technology thing. Apologies to everyone
Posted 11 Jun 2008 at 9:01 pm ¶
Fiqah wrote:
@bdsista: One of my favorite poems, GREAT interjection! Also, RE: the Till photos – first saw them over 20 years ago and they are still devestating. Do they still run them every year in “JET”?
Posted 12 Jun 2008 at 8:42 am ¶
K wrote:
After reading this article and all the comments posted I was shocked by how race is having an impact in this election. When I first saw that Obama was a candidate I was afraid his race was going to be more important to people that his qualifications. I’m not saying that race should be ignore but it shouldn’t be why people vote for him. I agree with the author, I don’t believe things are going to change for black and brown people and I don’t think people should expect it either. This is an important position and people should focus more in how qualified he is.
Posted 12 Jun 2008 at 3:25 pm ¶
eric daniels wrote:
Morpho, why should Blacks vote for a “Biracial’ hustler who for the most part hasn’t talked about a platform for helping African- Americans, but he is bending over backwards for “working -class whites” Jews, Hispanics but I have never heard one speech from Obama outling a plan about
improving black schools,
gang violence amongst young black people
health issues in black america
economic development in the inner city
making those neighborhhods safe
All I have heard from the “Messiah” is criticism about poor blacks expectations, criticizng us for being ‘anti – semetic (even though people like me have legitmate concerns about Jewish- American elite and reporters invading our politcal affairs) or doing the “Cosby Rap”, I am sorry Morpho that is not politcal dialouge that is a rant designed by ‘the Messiah” and his team to create a media moment and say “See I tell those niggas the truth about their pathologies” so vote for me white folks and everybody else, Yeah Mc Kinney and Nader may not win, but at least they care about real issues and flesh- bone concerns. I would love to see both of them on a debate dias debating both Senators Mc Cain and Obama.
I would enjoy so much watching those two idiots squirm when they have to debate real issues from people who are involved from other parties than the typical two- party hustle.
Posted 12 Jun 2008 at 3:33 pm ¶
Hh wrote:
eric- ouch. some good points tho….. but keep in mind that the media really is not controlled by the Jews. A good resource: http://www.pinteleyid.com/past/
Posted 12 Jun 2008 at 8:25 pm ¶
HellaKali wrote:
Just wanted to commend you on this blog! Excellent information.
Posted 12 Jun 2008 at 10:00 pm ¶