To the Blacks at DU

I get teary-eyed every time I see Obama on TV when I think about what a great thing has happened to our country. How good you must feel about his winning the nomination, especially you with children who now feel that they will have a better future....hopefully we all will.

I'm almost 70, and never dreamed I'd see this day and feel lucky that it happened in my lifetime. There's still hope for this country.

I gave up religion a long time ago, and so I ask that those of you who still believe pray for his safety, and pray hard.

I wish him the best more so than I ever wished any other candidate because times are much worse now than they have ever been that I can remember.

I'm happy for him and all of you who must feel this incredible joy.

Bedtime...goodnight.

:hi:

i too, am delighted to see this in my lifetime. i haven't felt this way about a candidate since RFK.

you can't imagine the pride and joy I feel.

:hug:

It is a very good feeling to know that so many millions of people love him for who he is, not what color he is~

I feel like he is my grandson, I love him just that much.

It gives me goose bumps to see people just wanting to touch him and working so hard to see that he is the President of the United States.

His achievements make me want to sing the song, "America, America...and crown thy good with brotherhood from Sea to Shining Sea."

I didn't save the link but, you could hardly see him for all the hands reaching out to him. It'll turn up again.

:toast:

more pictures here
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6261884#6262370

It tells so many stories

There are four incomplete faces. Has there ever been so much joy from such small little glimpses.

And all of those hands. Each one different. Each hand tells a story. And each hand that touches that man will allow them to tell stories about this moment for the rest of their lives.

The system has lost control - the people have taken over from the system. The agents have been overwhelmed and have lost control and the people have grabbed him.

And in a few moments the strong hands of the Agents will bring him back.

And the only thing we can see of the next President of the United States is his most important sense. He is a great listener and all that can really be seen is his ear.

lol

I keep staring at that picture, with tears in my eyes, and wondering why it seems kind of familiar.

And then it dawns on me, that it looks like something Norman Rockwell would have painted.

Hell... it actually looks like a Rockwell painting. The lighting, colors, composure, and subject matter.

Rockwell generally painted what was best about America, and I think this photograph could stand right there with Rockwell's work.

We have the opportunity to be our best again.

And yes... we will be.

:cry:

:hi:

that's it!

It would have been on the cover of Life Magazine.

:hug:

What a picture.

Hugs to us all. I'm falling in love with my country again and it feels so good.

I'm sure it gives his SS detail heartburn. :D

The African American woman that happens to be closest to him is absolutely elated!

As a supporter, and as an African American woman,I could see my face in her face. My DNA was her DNA at that moment.

The historical photograph also makes us wonder how Obama must have been feeling in the mass of humanity closing in on him.

Secret Service was trying in a maybe too kind way to get him out of the "pile of hands." Perhaps they were caught up in the moment as well.

If anyone has the after pictures I would love to see them. Or, if anyone has spoken to the " Laying On Of Hands" participants I would love their impressions, as well as Obama's.

Because,from what I could tell,he was feeling the excitement and yes, "listening" to the power of those that loved him so much.

I'm sure most people would have started screaming and hollering "Let me out!"

"You are crushing me!"

Some may even have come out screaming and cussing.

But unless I missed a part, he didn't.

From a Biblical sense, it was as if he was being Baptized and he needed to feel the blessings to give him strength to continue the fight for all of us.

He is a mighty warrior, a real Drum Major for justice.

All I can say is for this Senior African American woman, whose ancestors were slaves in Rappahannock Virginia,I am overwhelmed with this miracle that I never dreamed would happen in my life time. Never.

My 90 year old Mom said to tell the Obama Supporters at DU she loves you for working so hard for him to be President.

As she walked out of the room on her cane she looked over her shoulder and said softly,"The Ancestors are dancing in Heaven right now ~ Please Dear Lord keep him safe."

talk to miss rubyslippers she spoke to him in maitland florida

:loveya:

That's our AMerica!

I really do believe our 7 year nightmare is over.

One of many things I like about him is how he looks like he's really in love with her, still, after all these years. They act like it. I was so happy to see Al and Tipper Gore smooch it up, and John and Elizabeth Edwards. My kind of guy - who squeezes in a little sweet stuff for his wife in public! I have ACHED to see such a demonstration between Bill and Hillary. ACHED for it. After everything she's put up with from him, and what he's put her through, just once, Bill, ONCE - plant a sweet little kiss on her lips when you've announced her and she steps up onto the stage. Just a little complaint from me, as a wife who likes it when her husband shows his affection for her in public.

There's just a whole lot that I like about Barack Obama. I'm a middle-aged white woman, but I'm just thrilled about him. I feel the same way I did during Bobby Kennedy's heyday. I'm hopeful for what it will mean to us as Americans - ABOUT us as Americans when we vote him into the Oval Office. It will telegraph to the world a DESPERATELY NEEDED postcard from the edge, from America - that "we're back. We learned. We're growing up and we're going to act like the adults we claim to be. And we're not gonna make those mistakes again!"

Because Obama is talking about US,all of US making this world a better place.

:hug:

I think I have an idea. I'm guessing it feels a little bit like what I'm feeling now.

Same here.

It woulda killed'em. :evilgrin:

:rofl:

:evilgrin:

Funny, but baaaaaaaaaaad.

who along with his peers lived through all the prejudice...not being able to use a public swimming pool with his high school classmates, being kicked out of public parks, all of that.

I'm sorry my mother isn't here to witness it. She would've been so happy and would have just loved Obama like a proud mom would.

My father cried during Obama's speech on race, and I think of him and all the 'older generation' who put up with so much but had the chance to see this happen and I shed tears of happiness for them...and the ghosts of all those who suffered and were martyred before. It's pretty intense.

thank you

This is definitely monumental and will say to ALL minorities, we've arrived. We are almost no longer second class citizens. As a female, I'm awaiting that moment.

to ALL my brothers and sisters for making this happen. It's an incredible realization to process.

Thank you :hug:

While I was happy last night it is still surreal to me. I hear all this talk about how historic this is but I also feel that it has not hit me yet. You are so right when you say "it's an incredible realization to process." :hug:

Finally!

I'm glad I'm not the only one who hasn't processed this yet. :hug:

its about FREAKING TIME!!! Long overdue.

GOBAMA!!!

I cried happy tears most of the night. I made all three of my children listen to the speech last night. Even though the youngest was a little bored the oldest two were captivated. I now tell my 11yr old that there is no excuse for her not to accomplish any goals she has in life. If the skinny black guy with the weird name can do it so can she. I know my granny was in tears last night as well; she is 72.

I saw my dad cry twice in my life. the last time was when he told the story of being in the south while on his summer stint for the reserves. He got on a bus and took a seat near the back. The bus driver told him he could not sit there. He asked why and was told it was because he was white. My dad literally dug in his heels and refused to move. The bus driver stopped the bus and made him get off. In his air force uniform.

As he told that story, shortly after it happened, he said he got off the bus and looked around and saw the separate drinking fountains etc and said "how can my country treat people like this?"

You gotta hand it to Truman. Integration of the service helped my dad see how unfair it was for these people in the south.

Wish he were here to see this. He'd be busting in pride for his country. His fellow whites.

conservative but he hated the south and the time he had to spend in Mississippi during the war.

people who lived in a tiny little town in Mississippi and when Head Start was beginning there my Daddy went to work there. The local red necks threatened (I guess it was the Klan) to burn a cross in their yard. One of them actually confronted my mother on the town square and asked her "Edna, did they burn a cross in your yard?". They did not and my Daddy continued to work for Head Start. They would both be as proud of Barack as I am.

Black, Asian, Arab, Mexican, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, you name it -- the cultural impact Barack Obama will have/has already made is immense.

My two boys have a similar history and background as Senator Obama.

It's an exciting time to be a witness to history. My sons are too young to understand it now, but I hope they'll appreciate it later.

it is so amazing. i thought i'd never see this.

We are lucky to have had ground-breaking candidates in this election cycle and I'm proud that Democrats were strong enough to put them through despite great difficulty. On to November and January 20th.

yeah, I know that no one gives a fuck, but seriously *to all the blacks?* how fucking offensive.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

It used to be that the polite term was "negroes". Then "blacks". Now it's "African-Americans". Honestly, it's hard to aim a post at a particular segment of society without someone becoming offended at the term used to describe them. I'm sure the OP meant no offense.

It used to be that the polite term was "negroes". Then "blacks". Now it's "African-Americans".

I don't know a single black person that refers to themselves or other black people as African-Americans. Now, Jesse may have coined the term but not every person bought into it.

I have always found it very interesting that in my experience, only white people refer to black people as African-American. And actually, it was negroes, then coloreds, then blacks as far as the linguistic timeline goes. But I've always referred to myself as a hot black chick. Hot African-American chick sounds so stuffy....

the fact is that most white people are deathly afraid they're going to say something wrong and be labeled racists. It seems like we have to keep switching euphemisms every few years, for some reason, but I think the problem at the heart of it is that being black, or AA, or whatever you want to call it, imputes a certain negativity in itself in this country, so whatever term people use, it still hurts a little psychically. It's similar to the way we've shifted from "mentally retarded" to "mentally challenged" to "developmentally disabled" to whatever it is now. Not to compare the two, just that it's the attribute itself, not the words used to describe it, that makes people uncomfortable, so switching names for it does nothing in the long run.

I agree, African-American sounds so clinical, but the fact is that most white people are deathly afraid they're going to say something wrong and be labeled racists.

I think you're absolutely right and it's sad, isn't it? I can understand the fear on behalf of whites on what to call blacks and I can also understand that whatever black people are called, because of our country's racial history, it still sounds "not quite right." Very similar to going from "Oriental" to "Asian".

You're also right that the names we use to describe people changes so often. But I don't think "African-American" ever caught on very well in the black community even though I personally have no problem with being referred to as AA. It just sounds so stuffy and formal. I much prefer "black." Reminds me of the big Black Power phase from the 70's.

episode in Homicide: Life on the Street where Beau and Frank are working together and have their conversation about same. It goes something like this: Beau - Why all of the confusion about what you guys want to be called? I mean, I can see losing Negro, But what's wrong with Black? Frank - Because we are not all black. Beau - So a person from the Artic would be called an Artic American? And so on and on. Frank - You just don't get it.

Pembleton was maybe my favorite TV character ever.

Black is easier, less syllables.

Deal with it.

The post is about solidarity

Its about people who have seen other people treated badly and for a long time they have been expressing solidarity. In big ways and in small ways reaching out. But in all of those decades since April 1968 realizing that while many things have gotten better that there was a missing piece.

And some of those people who expressed solidarity they sacrificed something of themselves. This is the other side you don't know about. Some of those people have great grandfathers who came back from a war with a leg missing. Some of them have have fathers who got into shouting matches with somebody at a party because of a racist joke. Some of them got into fights because they were called n***** lovers.

Some of them lost part of their families. You can read there are people on this thread that grew up in racist families and had to walk away. Nobody complained and there weren't any movies about it and the reason was that we studied all the way back to Mr. Dredd Scott and realized the evil of a system that one day would take a person and rob him of being a person and make him into a thing, a piece of property, change a person into a thing all because of a piece of paper.

And all of those whites who expressed solidarity and lost parts of their family or just bore the pain of knowing that others have been threatened and still are facing petty humiliation, all of those shared one secret hope, they knew a piece was missing.

That hope goldie do you know what that secret hope is that no one will talk about?

That before we die that we kill this one thing. That of all the fucked up things about this world we will all feel like our lives weren't a complete waste if we can simply take this one evil away. And so yes that is part of the story of Senator Obama. It is a sign that we have come to that point where all of those decades of solidarity is going to mean something and that all of these young people who look up and want this man to be President they don't have the virus that has haunted this country for 300 years. We did it. One by one we taught our children and they taught their friends and that sickness which had been alive has been contained and is just about dead.

Now that is not a reason he should be the candidate or the president but it is proof that something that was very bad no longer exists. It still exists in small pockets and we know those places but they are growing smaller and eight years from now they will be microscopic.

So together all the people who expressed solidarity for 40 or 50 or 60 years can say well we may have fucked a lot of stuff up, but we got this one thing right. We did it - together - in solidarity.

That was beautiful.

Thank you for this. :hug:

Thank you.

:grouphug:

so I can K&R it!

:applause:

K

Thank you.

I almost want this to be it's own thread. :thumbsup:

I appreciated this thread.

It may have read like an inartful turn of phrase, but you have to take it in context. There should be nothing offensive about celebrating a great milestone in history where history in this country has been particularly exclusionary and worse toward our black countrymen. It's every bit as proud a day for all the whites and latinos and for all Americans who wish to embrace it.

edited

Where having a black presidential nominee of a major party is a great accomplishment, given our recent history and our present racial issues in this country. The OP is expressing pride of a man who is able to see obama, an African American, have a shot at the presidency and most likely be our next president.

Yes, Obama is a man first and foremost. But we live in AMERICA so ask any black man or woman if America has been kind to them and if it is not harder to for them to get anywhere because of the color of their skin. And if you are black, I wonder if you are living in America since you seem unable to grasp the point of the OP. Jesus fucking Christ!

I cringed at that title. Sorry.

:eyes:

Wow, things sure are different on this side of the looking-glass.

Think about how newspapers use the terms "blacks" and "whites" to refer to AAs and caucasians. When they print "black people" or "white people," at least they're still people.

Imagine printing "browns" and "reds" and "yellows" for other races.

They'd get excoriated.

eom

by the title of the thread ~ some call us Black, some call us African American~ both terms are used.

Others are White and they are proud as well.

Ditto for all the other colors in the rainbow.

*shaking head*

I absolutely LOVE it when Hillary supporters try to diminish the importance of Obama's candicacy, faking offense when anyone points out his African-American heritage. Yet you'll turn around and go on and on about Hillary's historic candidacy, how great it is for women that she's gotten as far as she has, etc.

Fucking hypocrites.

It's that entitlement issue they tried to reflect onto Obama. You know the deal.

:eyes:


Since you're a Hillary supporter, here's a newsflash: blacks are overwhelmingly proud of Obama. Let them enjoy this! It won't kill you.

I am 58 and even though I too, gave up on organized religion, I am talking to the stars about Barack Obama.


The times they are a changing!

I have cried though, on numerous occasions, when I've heard him speak or see him with Michelle and his daughters and know what he is doing to uplift our race. I'm proud that our party is giving him a chance and yes I do pray for his safety often.

It's a bigger event than I can process right now, and it's great to hear that others share some of the excitement and recognition that positive change does occur, especially if leaders and everyday people can combine idealism and hard work. It did during my mother's generation and before, and it's happening in mine.

I hope that the Obama family is at ease, having accomplished something that no other candidate in American history has done. No matter what happens in the general election, this is a triumph.

Amen - peace out.

Namely Thomas and Rice.

I think he will 'cause he's about the facts, truth, and progress.

THANKS so much for posting it. :-)

K & R it if you get a chance.

:hi:

On edit. whoops. thread linked below

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6286397

so I could K&R. :thumbsup:

I am proud of Sen. Obama and his family. More importantly, I am proud of the people of the United States who are able to see the man's excellence unimpeded by the difference of his color or name.

I am also biracial so I feel a particular happiness at seeing another of a similar background have such an important impact.

thoughts of prayers for Barack. I gave him a mustard seed. It represents a lot of faiths....and you, my friend, still have a little left, I think, if you still believe in prayer.

And, yes, he brings tears to almost everyone's eyes. Unique thing, huh?

for our nominee.

Someone told me that you knew more about the Hands Picture.

Did you do a thread about it?

:hug:

This great man is going to be OUR president, for all of us. Not for the rich or the powerful or the corporations, but for us, the people, because he is us, and we've let race divide our people for too long keeping us, We the People, while the powers that be exploit us all, white and black, just the same. For too long, we've let that division prevent us from realizing our power to make change when we unite for our common interests.

But I spent Tuesday evening watching Sen. Obama deliver his speech and I tried to etch into my memory every detail of what I was seeing and thinking and feeling so that someday I could describe those moments to my Grandchildren.

I don't have any Grandchildren yet, but I just can't wait to tell them about Tuesday night.......

to give to my nieces when they're a little bit older. Maybe later in the season, some campaign literature. All the things I wished had been saved for me when JFK was elected. They'll like that. :)

Look at the little girl on the top left and the little girl on the bottom right....

BRAVO America!





K

lol

:loveya:

:applause:

I am white...and anymore, I am not sure what certain minority and ethnic groups prefer. So...is it AA or black? I sincerely am asking because I do not wish to offend anyone.

TIA...:hi:

I try not to say "blacks" or "whites", but they're definitely accepted.
"black people", "white folks", sounds a little more friendly.
African-American is widely used though, especially in the news.
What's not acceptable is to call a black person from, say, London or Nairobi, an African-American!

...anyone. I have used the term Black since the 1960s and was not sure if that was still PC.

:hi:

"It never occurred to me that I would fall in love with a Negro, but I have, and nothing's going to change that."

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)

They will try to undermine the presidency instead.

But thank you for assuming a whole bunch of shit about me and the rest of an incredibly diverse race of people.

Prickly rejection of anything tending away from balkanized particularism and toward unity and commonality.

"Assuming" gets you keelhauled. Offense is quickly taken, even where none is given. Solidarity is impossible.

Not to mention all of the countless families across America and around the globe. Some will appreciate it, some won't, but they can never diminish it. It's tough to put into words, but it's such a great feeling to know that so many hearts are glowing brighter than ever before.

I'm as black as the night. But I was a Hillary supporter all the way. Still am. I will vote for Obama and I'm happy that barriers have fallen. But I'm much much more impressed by Hillary than by Obama. My young son loves Obama, though. So despite the fact that my wife and are are both avid and active Hillary fans, we never say anything bad about him in our house and we do celebrate his achievements.

But frankly, Obama leaves me cold.

I guess what I feel is that it's more of a strike against the US that this is just happenning now. Same thing with a female candidate.

:grouphug:

And, yes, I pray everyday with candle and icons for the saftey and health of Barack Obama and his family.

Obama is going to be president and he's going to be a great president. But that won't eliminate the kind of racism we've seen during this primary season.

Obama can't get rid of that. Only we can.

when he got the word Tuesday night that Obama had reached 2118, said that he thought back to the time he spent in jail cells in the 60's in South Carolina when he dreamed about a day such as this. He said that he always thought the day would come, but he did not think he would live to see it. He had to watch Obama's speech in private because he was so overcome with emotion.

An Obama clip was shown on this segment, and Obama spoke of a woman who told him that her son teaches in the inner city in San Francisco, and her son told her that he has seen a change in the African American boys there in terms of how they think about their studies. Obama says that hearing this makes him realize that it's not about him as an individual, but of the progress our country has made.

After the clip, Clyburn said that nothing will inspire and change the attitudes of at-risk kids more than what Obama has accomplished. And no matter what happens now, this country will be much better off.

edited for clarity.

the nomination. They now know the sky's the limit if they dedicate themselves and work hard. It's a wonderful moment for our country.

Bush sure as hell hasn't done anything to help anyone . . but his friends.

I imagine being black would make Tuesday night very special. I would only add that you do not have to be black to understand how historic Tuesday night really was.

Our party has proudly made American History.

It's African American History

It's American History

It's World History

It's OUR HISTORY!


Great Post topic!

courtesy of -> alphafemale http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHNhc6TPXts

but sit down and listen. He is so inspirational and has given hope to so many. God willing he will be our next president and lift us out of the dark gloom we have been living under for the last 8 years.

and I'm OVER THE MOON! I wish my dad were alive to see this...he'd be SO proud. I'm so proud. I will be so proud to vote for him in November.
This is awesome. This is historic. This is HOPEFUL.
I do pray for his safety, and will continue to do so. And for that of Michelle and their beautiful children.