Morning in America Again
It is morning in America again.
As I predicted, white voters joined the broad coalition that elected Barack Obama the first black President of the United States (and allowed us to perhaps finally put the Bradley Effect to rest). It is morning in America again.
Despite the fact that a surprising number of people (even some who voted for Obama) believe at least a few of the untrue rumors about what electing him would mean are making a run on guns, though (unsurprisingly) white supremacist groups are using Obama's election as a recruiting tool, and even in the face of recent revelations that Sarah Palin's rally rhetoric lead to not just shouts of "kill him" but curiously coincided with notice from the FBI that the Obama family experienced a sharp increase in threats, it is once again, gloriously, morning in America.
Morning in America was a feel-good campaign slogan of optimism that came to be synonymous with Ronald Reagan. The morning in America that dawned on November 5, 2008 was one that found many feeling fully American and prouder than ever of their country.
Like many, I was moved to tears on Tuesday night. Wednesday morning I awoke with a feeling of American-ness I've never before felt. My skin is a constant reminder of America's legacy of excluding black people from full humanity and citizenship. I am farther removed from slavery than many other African Americans of my generation because my great-great-great grandmother used the same quirk of genetics as I have that left her - a child of slave and slave owner - fair enough to be seen as white to escape slavery. After she and her husband made their daring escape the fugitive slave law was passed and men were sent to recapture them. They fled to England and raised a family. After slaves were emancipated, my great-great-great grandparents returned to America. After risking their lives twice to escape a nation where they were treated as property and not human beings, they believed in the promise of this country enough to return.
On Tuesday night the faith of my ancestors was rewarded. And on Wednesday it was morning in America again.
Related Reading:
What Tami Said: Early thoughts on our new Obama nation
Marisa Treviño of Latina Lista: Obama's election forces a new national dialogue on "multiculturals"
Shark-Fu (Angry Black Bitch)at Feministing: Notes from a bitch...
Content Black Woman: The Obamas: America's New First Family
Toddie Downs at WordHappy: Essays on Obama: America the Beautiful
BlogHer member Gingerken: What a Gift We Gave Our Children & Grandchildren on November 4, 2008
Vérité Parlant at whose shoes are these anyway: Obama Wins! McCain Concedes
Jessie Daniels at racism review: What Obama Means to Me: A Personal Note
Tami Abdollah at The Los Angeles Times: At 114, a daughter of former slaves votes for Obama
Racialicious:
Tim Wise: Good, and now back to work: avoiding both cynicism and overconfidence in the age of Obama
Shawna: What President Obama Means to This Muslim Mama: A Letter to My Sons on the Eve of a Nation's Great Change
Jack & Jill Politics:
riyrah: Unexpected Moments, Being An American - This Election and one of the many series of photos that made me cry again
Jill Tubman: Letter from Angela and A Moving Message from A Conservative Friend
Ali Savino: The First Breath of Fresh Air in a Really Long Time
Republicans:
Juan Williams
Condoleezza Rice
Colin Powell
Elisabeth Hasselbeck
The New York Times:
Bob Herbert Take a Bow, America
Judith Warner Tears to Remember
Nicholas D. Kristof The Obama Dividend
Thomas L. Friedman Finishing Our Work
Adam Nagourney Obama Elected President as Racial Barrier Falls
Kevin Sack A Time to Reap for Foot Soldiers of Civil Rights
Alan Cowell Election Unleashes a Flood of Hope Worldwide
Did you blog your election feelings or reaction? Please share a link in the comments.
Cross posted at BlogHer
Its not much, but its sincere: http://victoriamarinelli.com/main/2008/11/05/the-dream-lives/ (which may be my last overtly political post for some time)
Thanks for all your work over this election season, btw. Youve been a clear, consistent, passionate voice.
Posted by: Victoria Marinelli | November 08, 2008 at 09:26 PM
Thank you for sharing your post, Victoria. Simple, heartfelt and beautiful.
Thank you for your kind words and enjoy your well earned and deserved break from political posting.
Posted by: Maria Niles | November 08, 2008 at 09:47 PM