The Moment And Me

Twelve hours from now, Barack Obama will be sworn-in as our nation’s forty-fourth president.

However, unlike untold millions of Americans (and a great majority of my friends), I will not be be at a party or in Washington, D.C.

Instead, I will be in my central Jersey office, watching The Moment unfold online.

This is not to say that I am not as proud or excited. On the contrary, I’m just as ecstatic as anyone. And despite questioning the significance of his election to the “true believers” and conservatives alike, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to witness the presidency of man who has the political capital to do great things. Yet, like Election Day, I am personally served by taking in the events from afar.

Since I am literally a thousand miles away from my family, I witnessed Obama’s election victory with those who I deem to be the closest to me. It was not a rowdy, dancing celebration with bottles popping. Instead, it was a somber moment to take in what we were just witnessing and how the course of our nation’s history forever be changed. At the moment, it was fait accompli that I would have to be in the District of Colombia for the inauguration. (I mean, how could I not be there, we just elected the first president of color!) But, time and common sense made me understand that the best place for watching history would be alone.

The last three days have be fun to view and hear the festivities taking place in our nation’s capital. The concerts, the procession, the celebration is at a scale never witnessed before for the changing of power. Listen to the phone calls on radio or witness the news accounts and it is obvious that everyone wants a role in history. Everyone has their own personal story about how our next president has affected their lives. Everyone is wishing him well. Everyone acting as if the grey skies that have hovered over our nation for the past eight years have now been magically lifted.

But in the confines of my office, I will personally have the chance to realize what his inauguration means to me, undisturbed by the hoopla that is associated with this particular event. Like my personal accomplishments, I do not seek revelry in The Moment. Instead, it is merely a chance to acknowledge the task and be prepared to move to the next challenge. I mean, why bring notice to something that is already garnering attention. And the task for President Obama will be to move a nation, in the grips of an occupation in Iraq, a battle in Afghanistan, a “cease-fire” in the Gaza Strip, and an economic meltdown of historic proportions – just to name a few items of major concern.

Instead, The Moment will be an opportunity for me to think of what his swearing means to me. I can recall the various times in elementary school when I was questioned for reading “radical” Black literature, in high school wanting to go beyond Dr. King’s “dream” and discuss his campaign for the poor and anti-Vietnam stance, having to “justify” my acceptance into top tier programs for my undergraduate and law degree, and various “cultural” discussions that have been held weekly, if not daily, dating back to my elementary school days. Even more, The Moment will be a chance for me to reflect upon the contributions that Americans of color have made to this land – only to be told, implicitly or explicitly, that this land was (not) “made for you use and me”. (That Capitol that Obama will stand in front of – created by slave labor from the deforestation of the area before its construction to the very edifice without so much as an acknowledgment of their work.)

The Moment will also give me a moment to reflect that a family of color will be the standard bearer for the American family lifestyle. From a power couple, with the intelligence and style to bring about a second Camelot, and two adorable children that we will watch evolve over the course of four (no, let’s say it now, eight years). And this is just over twenty years when many Black Americans scoffed at”The Cosby Show” and the notion that it wasn’t realistic.

The Moment will finally show the rest of the nation, and the world, that Obama’s presidency states that at the end of the day, all Americans have the same desires. Much like religion, we all may have different routes on how we want to get to our final destination, but it is the final destination that we all have in common. Despite our differences, we ultimately want to achieve the same goal.

For me, it would be impossible to have these reflections amongst millions of others. The sound system, security, and scores of people would do their best to take away from The Moment.

Instead, I will take in the events from my corner of the world. Technology, in the form of email, texts, and phone calls will connect me with those who I cherish the most and give me the impression that we’re all watching The Moment together.

Sure, memories of a lifetime will be had just hours from now on The Mall.

But I will have mine and they will be just as special.

The Work Ahead of "U.S."

There are a host of ideas that come to mind the day after our nation elected Barack Obama to become the forty-fourth president of the United States.

The conversation has centered on the historical nature of the vote and pride the runs deep, not only within the Black American community, but also within immigrate communities.

Without a doubt, this is a seminal moment in our nation’s history; the son of a Kenyan man and a white woman rises to the presidency through hard work, determination, and modest means.

One thing that strikes me is this notion that our nation has somehow risen beyond its racialized past and that we are truly one nation.

This simply is not so.

As the results are still being tabulated, President-Elect Obama has received only fifty-three percent of the vote. Far from a mandate, in terms of politics, this means that forty-seven percent of Americans voted against him. Though I am not well-schooled in statistics, this shows me that American is still highly partisan. The only difference between 2004 and today is that the Democrats won.

The celebration that occurred on our nation’s streets was a collective sigh of relief. It was a cross-section of America that witnessed history. It was a collection of Americans reveling in the fact that a man who inspired them achieved the ultimate goal. It was a gathering of citizens realizing that the theorized notion of America, often taught in elementary school as a “melting pot”, was being realized.

Most importantly, it was a New Orleans-style “second line” celebrating the end of the W years.

Our nation is still as politically polarized today as it was two weeks ago, as it was two years ago, as it was in 1992.

The Obama election is symbolic in that he held on to the Democratic Party’s key constituents while able to incorporate the white working class during hard economic times. What is significant is now our nation has two distinct parties. As evidenced by the Grant Park celebration, the Democrats embody a 21st Century America where everyone believes they can play a role. Meanwhile, the Republicans appear to be a relic of an old guard. And yes, they are certainly not equal.

But before we can start the conversation about healing our racial wounds, we have to realize that Obama will be challenged and tormented by Republicans the same way we Democrats have demonized W over the past eight years. The GOP will not “give (Obama) a chance” by virtue of his place in history. In fact, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Mike Francessa, and Michael Kay (oops, the last ones are “sports” talk hosts) now have four more years to rail against progressive politics. Not because of race, but because of Obama’s ideology.

The challenge to those newly inspired to vote and participate in the political process, as it is to all Democrats, is to realize that the next four years will be tough in selling what we believe to the American people. In the process, we must also make the American Dream available to everyone. That is where the GOP failed for the past eight years.

I, like my friends are all celebrating Obama’s election. But there is still so much work which needs to be done. With his election, we now have no US Senators of color. There is only one Black governor. And this does not mention the dearth of Latinos in national politics. For our nation to truly move forward, we must strive for elective office in all branches of government.

So the “dream” is no longer just a dream but more akin to an extended thought.

But don’t believe that our nation has atoned for its past sins. There is plenty of work for ALL of us to do.

My Friend Is An Author

This blogging thing is merely an opportunity for me to fulfill one of my desires to be columnist “when I got older”.

Obviously, it is difficult to be a renaissance man, but I still find great pleasure in typing out some ideas for at least someone in this world to come across and consider. This is not to say that I am dissatisfied with my chosen path; it is actually quite the contrary. Still, I marvel at those those who are artists and wished that I had a similar “super power” to convey my thoughts to a larger world.

This week, I was ecstatic to hear that someone I know was published in a literary journal. And while that may not seem like a big deal to most, I was thrilled when I heard the news on a variety of different levels.

Much like blogging, the interwebs allows almost anyone to become a writer. And I am proof positive that you don’t have to be the greatest writer in the world to have a blog. (This, like most other non-professional blogs are nothing more than stream of conscious discussions on issues the author deems important.) And a quick jaunt down 125th Street in Harlem will prove that any joker can publish a book either on their own or through one of many fly-by-night operations looking to earn some money off any sordid tale. This makes what my friend is doing all the more special.

She had a short story published in a legitimate journal. To borrow a line from Tony Kornheiser, “How cool is that?!”

Since she’s told be about being published, I’ve read her story a few times and I’m bursting with pride with each word. After the initial reading, I scanned it and forwarded it to all of my friends for them to read. And in the email, I had to tell them, “Look, I know this woman and she just had her work published. This is great!”

Even more, I’ve been forced to drop her name in every conversation. My friend will discuss the fact that they’re having an argument with their Significant Other and out of nowhere, I will drop the non sequitur, “Hey, I know someone who had their short story published! You want to hear about it? Here it goes…”

I just find it amazing that she is able to create a story in her mind, complete with dialogue, and frame the story in such a manner that keeps the reader entertained. It is a skill that not everyone has and makes it all the more special that her work is being read by a larger audience. Sure, I can tell a great story but to actually write it down and have it published? Yeah, right!

In a similar vein, another friend has the potential to become a great writer. I think that she would write great short stories but she is currently ambitious enough to start writing her first novel. Having read a bit of her work, she is certainly talented and has more than enough experiences in her brief time on Earth from which to draw upon. All she needs now is the time and patience to “put her pen to a pad to give (us) something that we’ve never had“. (Chuck D.’s words are appropriate for almost any situation. Trust and believe.) But I think that it is only a matter of time before I begin to see her name in various media showcasing her skills.

In the end, I guess it is best to live vicariously through those who have the talents for things that we cannot do. Though I love sports, I’m not in awe of Chipper Jones’ hitting skills. And despite what the insufferable Michael Kay says, I’m not jealous of Derek Jeter. (Jeter is a decent player but certainly not the envy of others. His championships were won nearly a decade ago and he’s stealing money as a shortstop with no power and an average glove yet makes $20M a season. Jose Reyes does more and gets less.) Sure, athletes have the skill to run, jump, throw, better than the average person, but these are not pliable trades.

The ability to communicate through the writer word, songwriting, screenwriting, or the visual arts is all the more impressive because it is a recognizable skill from an early age and develops over time. If we’re lucky, we can witness the development and growth over a lifetime. And for the artist, it is a talent that only ends when they feel as if they are no longer inspired.

To my friend who was recently published, and my friend who certainly will be published, I’m certainly proud of their gifts.

My Friend Is Published! My Friend Is Published!

This blogging thing is merely an opportunity for me to fulfill one of my desires to be columnist “when I got older”.

Obviously, it is difficult to be a renaissance man, but I still find great pleasure in typing out some ideas for at least someone in this world to come across and consider. This is not to say that I am dissatisfied with my chosen path; it is actually quite the contrary. Still, I marvel at those those who are artists and wished that I had a similar “super power” to convey my thoughts to a larger world.

This week, I was ecstatic to hear that someone I know was published in a literary journal. And while that may not seem like a big deal to most, I was thrilled when I heard the news on a variety of different levels.

Much like blogging, the interwebs allows almost anyone to become a writer. And I am proof positive that you don’t have to be the greatest writer in the world to have a blog. (This, like most other non-professional blogs are nothing more than stream of conscious discussions on issues the author deems important.) And a quick jaunt down 125th Street in Harlem will prove that any joker can publish a book either on their own or through one of many fly-by-night operations looking to earn some money off any sordid tale. This makes what my friend is doing all the more special.

She had a short story published in a legitimate journal. To borrow a line from Tony Kornheiser, “How cool is that?!”

Since she’s told be about being published, I’ve read her story a few times and I’m bursting with pride with each word. After the initial reading, I scanned it and forwarded it to all of my friends for them to read. And in the email, I had to tell them, “Look, I know this woman and she just had her work published. This is great!”

Even more, I’ve been forced to drop her name in every conversation. My friend will discuss the fact that they’re having an argument with their Significant Other and out of nowhere, I will drop the non sequitur, “Hey, I know someone who had their short story published! You want to hear about it? Here it goes…”

I just find it amazing that she is able to create a story in her mind, complete with dialogue, and frame the story in such a manner that keeps the reader entertained. It is a skill that not everyone has and makes it all the more special that her work is being read by a larger audience. Sure, I can tell a great story but to actually write it down and have it published? Yeah, right!

In a similar vein, another friend has the potential to become a great writer. I think that she would write great short stories but she is currently ambitious enough to start writing her first novel. Having read a bit of her work, she is certainly talented and has more than enough experiences in her brief time on Earth from which to draw upon. All she needs now is the time and patience to “put her pen to a pad to give (us) something that we’ve never had“. (Chuck D.’s words are appropriate for almost any situation. Trust and believe.) But I think that it is only a matter of time before I begin to see her name in various media showcasing her skills.

In the end, I guess it is best to live vicariously through those who have the talents for things that we cannot do. Though I love sports, I’m not in awe of Chipper Jones’ hitting skills. And despite what the insufferable Michael Kay says, I’m not jealous of Derek Jeter. (Jeter is a decent player but certainly not the envy of others. His championships were won nearly a decade ago and he’s stealing money as a shortstop with no power and an average glove yet makes $20M a season. Jose Reyes does more and gets less.) Sure, athletes have the skill to run, jump, throw, better than the average person, but these are not pliable trades.

The ability to communicate through the writer word, songwriting, screenwriting, or the visual arts is all the more impressive because it is a recognizable skill from an early age and develops over time. If we’re lucky, we can witness the development and growth over a lifetime. And for the artist, it is a talent that only ends when they feel as if they are no longer inspired.

To my friend who was recently published, and my friend who certainly will be published, I’m certainly proud of their gifts.

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