My President is BLACK!! Well sort of...

As I was on I-435 driving to work this morning, I noticed something I've never seen before (well at least in the morning). There was a rainbow in the sky - very vivid and bright. I thought to myself, "How fitting is that?!". The morning after America shocked the world with a historic decision, a rainbow was cast across the sky. For me, it was symbolic of hope that a new president will bring to this country.

Can you believe it? History has been made - the first black (bi-racial would be a better term) American has been elected as the president of the United States. All party affiliations set aside, you have to look at how historic this is for our nation. I have to admit that I did shed a few tears. This is something I truly thought I'd never see in my lifetime. I think those who lived through the Civil Rights Movement are even more stunned. I know that many of them shed tears of joy last night knowing that another aspect of Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream has been fulfilled. President-elect Obama is the best indication of progress. I think it's clear now, more than ever before, that race is no longer a barrier that any person of color has to overcome. Yes, there are still prejudices that all races will continue to face, but this election proved that racism is no longer a huge issue in America. Black people will claim it was our vote that put him there. Yes, we did help but lets be serious; we could not elect him all alone. The break down of voters was 61% white, 23% black, and 12% hispanic. Those are the facts - now you tell me who carried him? We need to move past this issue of race.

What impresses me most about the election of Obama is the worldwide reaction to it. On Good Morning America (GMA), a correspondent showed a series of overseas papers praising America for our presidential pick. Is it possible that the election of Obama will improve our national image in foreign affairs? Will he be able to bridge the gap between the Eastern and Western worlds? That remains to be seen. They interviewed multiple persons from several different countries, asking for their personal opinion on the decision. All feedback was positive. A young man from a Middle Eastern country said that it restored America's image as truly being the land of possibilities. An Italian woman said that she hopes his election begets a wave of young, fresh faces in politics. It is also speculated that his election will influence race relations in other countries. Hopefully, minority groups in other countries will be inspired by America and believe that they too can achieve greatness against the odds.

It's too early to tell what an Obama presidency will mean for America but I am hopeful that he will bring the needed change we so desperately need. To all the naysayers, I say give him a chance. We don't know what he's capable of and won't know until he's in the White House. God bless Obama and God bless the USA!!

Higher Learning

I wanted to capitalize on my last entry a little more. My intention was to talk about ignorance in a general sense but I ended up on the subject of racism. I do believe that ignorance breeds racism but ignorance encompasses so much more than racism. I wanted to go more in depth on the subject of racism so this entire entry is devoted to racism. It's a reality for all of us and unless we all can learn to be tolerant and open-minded, it will always be present.

Everything about American culture is very Eurocentric - what we see in various forms of media, television shows, movies, music and even what we're taught in school. This culture of eurocentricity is the reason why I always encourage my friends to watch John Singleton's Higher Learning. I think it's a very accurate depiction of racism in modern times from a different perspective. The movie was filmed back in the mid-90s but still has relevance today. I know not everyone has seen the movie so I'll provide a brief synopsis. The movie focuses on the lives of 3 college freshman: Malik -a black male who is attending college on a track scholarship but has academic issues; Kristen - a white female who is a bit naive and has a personal struggle with her sexuality; and Remy - a white male who is struggling to fit into the multi-cultured atmosphere. One issue that seems to plague each student to some degree is racism. Malik is challenged on race and politics by a new friend, Fudge, and a college professor. Kristen has some prejudices which are displayed at the movie's inception. Remy is approached by a member of a group of white supremacists who accept him into their group and prey on his insecurities. The climax of the movie results in tragedy when 2 students and one of the main characters are killed as a result of racism.

Admittedly, racial violence is not as common as it once was but racism still occurs at the same rate as it did 40 years ago. For those who believe racism isn't as prevalent now as it once was, Higher Learning will change your perception. The movie has a bit of shock value for those who have not been exposed to the situations that take place and the types of ideals expressed by the different racial groups. I liken the portrayal of the group of black students to that of the Black Panthers and the group of white supremacists to the KKK. Morals and opinions expressed by both groups [in the movie] would be considered radical. The prejudice depicted in the movie boiled down to two things: misunderstanding and lack of knowledge (ignorance). Those two factors are the force behind racial prejudice and stereotyping. The only way to rid the world of this prejudice and discrimnation is through education. Unfortunately, everyone isn't willing to learn and would much rather clinch on to their close-minded views.

So what about reverse racism? You'd be surprised but many black people don't believe it exists. I found this statement on a website:

"Blacks can't be racists because they don't have the power and infrastructure to support superiorty, discrimination, and subjugation via systems. Every race can hate but their are more components to racism than sheer hate. Whites who are the only possessors of racism ever to have executed in North America have all of these components and have always been racist in America. I never seen any white men hanging from trees or blacklisted for being white. If you find a case of it it is few and far between."

So do you agree or disagree with this statement? The way you answer that is dependent on your definition of racism. If you believe that racism is a belief in racial superiority you might agree with his statement. If you feel that racism is animosity towards another race, then you'd probably disagree with the statement. I don't agree with the statement because I feel that racism is more about hate for or bitterness towards another race. With that being said, reverse racism is a very real thing. It's my personal opinion that the number of racist black people is equal to, if not more than, that of racist white people. We (black people) tend to have a sense of entitlement, and because of that, many of us are prejudice. And honestly, I think it's a fact that a large majority of black people have an accusatory attitude towards white people. Meaning, many black people are constantly on the defense because they feel that white people are discriminatory by nature - whether it be conscious or unconscious. That belief system is racist and substantiation of reverse racism.

So what are your thoughts on racism and reverse racism (including the comment in quotes)? This will always be a controversial topic but we should be able to have intelligent and open discussion about it without being offensive. I encourage everyone that reads this posting to comment. I'm sure that we'd all like to see different perspectives on the issue.

Ignorance

Ignorance is a perfect descriptor of the world we live in. It drove followers of Osama Bin Laden to high jack the plane on 9/11 and kill so many innocent people; it’s the foundation of the organization we know as the KKK; and it's the reason for racism in general.

There are signs of ignorance everywhere and the greatest perpetuator is the media/television. I remember a conversation I had with a Vietnamese friend my junior year of high school. She explained to me that her parents were afraid of Black Americans because of how we are portrayed on television. Sounds crazy, huh? When you think about it, it's not so crazy. If you're from a foreign country and never had interaction with a particular race, then you would be scared after seeing negative images on television. So what's the excuse for persons born right here in America? It boils down to one's environment and lack of exposure to other races. The combination of my parents and different school environments taught me to respect all people regardless of color and to be open-minded. If you're not taught these things at an early age, ignorance becomes a way of life.

I was looking at a youtube video late last week and started reading the comments below it. A young black boy was claiming to be Bristol Palin’s baby’s father. Turned out to be a hoax but it was interesting to see the political and racial dialogue that ensued. What I saw was disturbing and indicative of how although we as Americans have come so far, we still have a far way to go. There was a white man going back and forth with other users about how dumb, un-educated, and inferior black persons are to white people. He used the words n****r and Negroes so casually – pretty much as a replacement for black or African American. It’s sad that some still believe that because I’m black, I’m pre-disposed to some type of gene that makes me less intelligent than a white person. If anyone lacks intelligence, I feel it has more to do with their quality of education or aversion to learning. Other than physical attributes, the educated should know there are no significant differences between any race and ethnicity. It’s unfortunate that this type of racial prejudice still exists but proves that ignorance will always be present in society.

Fortunately, generation x and y have grown up in a more diverse society and are more accepting of cultural differences. An example of this lies in music. Hip hop & rap have have enjoyed mainstream popularity over the last 2 decades. Further proof of this lies in the political process. For the first time in history a Black American has been nominated as a candidate for the presidential election – definitely a step towards progress. Though the color lines blur more and more with time, you can be assured that there will be persons from all walks of life that will keep ignorance alive.

Love...

Love - such a beautiful thing, right? Depends on the context in which it is being used. The love we receive from God, without question, is beautiful. He loves us unconditionally no matter how much we neglect Him. He has done so much for us but we tend to forget. How can a person be so selfless? We could never fully understand because we are, by nature, selfish beings. Yes many of us do things for others out of the kindness of our hearts but, admittedly, some acts are done with selfish intent. Jesus committed the ultimate act of love by dying for us - those that were and that were to be - with no apprehension. It seems like a rhetorical question but how can someone die for the sins of persons who have yet to be born, and better yet, for people who hated Him? We could all take a page from His book...

Love as it applies to family and close friends is a beautiful thing - at least for me it is. I love my family whole-heartedly and I know that love is reciprocated. Without my family, I would not be the woman I am today. The love my parents have shown me and my sister over the years has taught me that love has no boundaries. The love of my family has brought me through difficult times and rough situations. Often, I deny wanting to have a family of my own but the truth is, I do want to have a child that I can love the same way my parents loved me. My love of close friends is as deep as that of my family. The only thing separating us is blood. I won't elaborate too much on this due to an earlier post I made ("To my close friends, I just wanted to say"). I said all I needed to say to my friends then.

And then there's the love of a significant other. The passionate love you feel for him or her can be a beautiful thing, but can also be deadly. This type of love can bring joy, happiness, everlasting bliss... or it can bring betrayal, anger, and even fatality. Have I ever been in love? I've asked myself that question over and over again. I come up with the same answer everytime, "Maybe". I've only been in one serious relationship. We dated off and on for about 3 years. He told me he loved me after a couple months. It just blew my mind! We were so young at the time and I didn't know what love was. I thought I loved him and told him this after dating for about 6 months. To this day, I don't believe I meant it. At that age (15-16) I think it's purely infatuation. What do a couple of teenagers know about love? It wasn't until after we'd been broken up for about a year or so that I thought I was in love. Who pines over someone for more than a year if it's not love? I dated/talked to other guys afterwards but always compared them to him. It took a long time for me to move on. In a sense, he was my "first love", but it wasn't the kind of love two people marry for.

I've seen the best of love through my parents. Almost 24 years of marriage and still going strong. They have their ups and downs but never have doubted the love they have for one another. I've also seen it turn fatal. About 6-7 years ago, a new neighbor killed his wife, step-daughter, and then himself, leaving 2 small children behind. Was he really in love? I think many people are in love with the idea of being in love. Can you really know if you want to spend the rest of your life with someone after 4 or 5 months? Or even a year? I think not. It takes time to learn about all aspects of a person. I do want love but I'm not in a rush to find it...

To My Close Friends - I Just Wanted to Say...

This is the second week that I've felt compelled to write about my friendships. Not having a significant other limits my thoughts and topics to my relationships with friends and family. I guess today has more to do with me than with my friends but what I need/want to say is directed at my closest friends.

Growing up, I was a troubled child. I had a normal upbringing so there really wasn't any reason for me to be mean, rude, cruel and/or selfish. Both my parents loved me and did all they could to make sure I was happy. The more I think about it, the more unsure I am of what triggered that behavior. Maybe I was just a spoiled brat :) I think the person who experienced the worse of my wrath was my baby sister. I was terrible to her for the majority of our childhood. It wasn't until I reached my adolescent years that I started treating her like I loved her. I wish I could re-do our childhood; I'd treat her so much better. Now, she knows I love her and that's all I care about. Looking back, some aspects of my cruel behavior affected me negatively in the long run. I've always been known for having a "tough girl" exterior. The "tough girl" act, coupled with my nonchalant attitude has given many persons - even my friends - the wrong impression of me throughout the years. As I've matured over the last 4-5 years, much has changed. Overall, I've grown to be more emotional with family and close friends but I tend to hold back. Obviously I don't lack emotion I just have a hard time expressing myself. And some have noticed, but I always feel awkward consoling my female friends... well I guess that statement encompasses all my friends! I've gotten better in that aspect over the last few years. I'm more at ease with being affectionate when family and friends need comforting. So why the long-drawn out analysis? I felt I needed to give that background to lead up to this final section. I'm not the best at verbal communication so this is my way of showing how I feel. This is for you, my closest friends...

I know I don't say it much because sometimes I don't know how to but... I love you. No matter how long you've been in my life, a season or a lifetime, you've affected me in the greatest way possible. Good, dependable friends are hard to come by and I'm glad that God placed you in my life. I'm a realist and can be a bit blunt in getting my point across. I apologize if I've hurt you in being too blunt while giving my opinion but I'm only looking out for your best interests. I also apologize if my honesty has upset you. Sometimes I'm not aware that my words are hurtful until after I've said them. I'm a very complex person and tend to shutdown when I'm upset. Thanks for being patient with me and letting me come to you in my own time. Don't ever think you can't confide in me - whether your problem be with someone else or even me. I'll always remain open-minded because I know most times when there is an issue with me, I'm not without fault. Just know that no friend is ever a burden when in need - whether it be a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. No matter where our paths may take us in the future, know that you will always have a special place in my heart. I am a changed person... a better person because of you. I thank you, I appreciate you, and I love you.

Friendship Labels

So here I go again... making yet another attempt at doing this popular new pasttime we call blogging. I've never been great at keeping up a diary so I thought I'd take a different approach this time around. Rather than give a play-by-play of what happens in the day of the life of me, I plan to write about issues/topics that spark some sort of emotions within me.

Anyone that knows me should know that I'm not an outwardly emotional person. The facade can be deceiving. I'm truly a softie at heart and passionate about various things. I've always been very passionate about my relationships - especially those with close friends. I'm frank when I need to be and sometimes when it's not so appropriate. I had a conversation with one of my closest friends last night about the label of "best friends". My philosophy has always been a person doesn't really have more than one best friend. No matter how many best friends you may have there will always be one in particular that you have a stronger connection with. In my opinion, that's an indisputable fact. Some might say I'm wrong for thinking this way, but my thought process has always been different from the norm. Anyway, as we delved deeper into the issue of best friends, I felt that this hole I had already dug myself into was getting larger. Most know who I consider to be my best friend (other than my younger sister), but does it really matter that she is the only person I call 'best friend'? Is it wrong for me to refer to my long-time friends, or even those friends that I've formed a strong bond with in a short period of time, as 'close friends'? I don't believe there are tiers to friendship; however, I do believe that each set of friends serve a different purpose. Because I don't consider mulitple persons my best friends, doesn't mean I think any more or less of them. For me, it's just a label.... that's all it is - a label. It doesn't define our relationships. Our experiences and kinship is what shapes our bond.