32 years, 7 days, 15 hours, 34 minutes
Around 10.20ish pm I noticed I had voicemail, so decided to check it-- wasn't really expecting any sorts of calls tonight, of all nights-- and there was a loudly, tipsily enthusiastic message from rhiannon76... something about
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So much has been said over the entirety of the presidential campaign re: race, and how black folks are this huge monolith who only care about the race of a candidate, as though we're still the ignorant, savage children so many white Americans think we are, overtly or behind closed doors. I thought, and still do think, that that sentiment ignores the institutional race privilege that, to this day, our country refuses to address-- for how many times has anyone bothered to talk about white political candidates, and the votes they garner, in the same way?
So well said, Q. NPR and one of the news stations I was watching last night did talk about some poll that asked whether race was the primary issue in the voting decision, and which candidate the people that answered "yes" voted for. I don't remember what percentage of people said that race was their primary issue, but of them, more voted for Obama than McCain, but the percentage for McCain was scarily high. The news people didn't dwell too long on the story, though-- it was as if they knew they had to talk about race a bit, but were too scared to dig deeper.
Did you watch/hear Obama's acceptance speech? It was the most powerful work of oration that I've ever been privileged to witness in my lifetime. Here it is, if you haven't seen it:
(And to be silly about it, OMG puppy!)
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Turned on NPR after celebrating with you and N. and man oh man, that victory speech... went though so.much.tissue. Even just reading it... goddamn. Actual human beings are getting inspired to go out and serve in their communities. How incredibly amazing is that? And isn't that what real live honest-to-gosh PRESIDENTS are supposed to do?
Sasha and Malia TOTALLY earned that puppy, yo. Wonder what they'll get? *puppy!squee*
The news people didn't dwell too long on the story, though-- it was as if they knew they had to talk about race a bit, but were too scared to dig deeper.
This is something that I ranted to my poor therapist about on Election Day... thank FSM our appt. schedule'd fallen out like that. We as a country have got to start talking about this poison, even if it gets uglier than it already has (and lemme tell you, I've already heard a story today that tripped my WTF-meter to 11.) What's the fear? That The Establishment™ will be offended? That certain segments of America will have to give up their exceptionalist thinking? And is that so much more worth having than a society where humanity is truly valued for the gorgeous, hellish beast it is?
Will stop with the rhetorical questions/flourishes, but this has been on my mind and heart for so long, had to get some more of it out. ;)
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