feels like karma
Over the past few weeks I've been reading a lot of African American literature. Obviously this is because I'm taking a module in it, but it's been very interesting timing. I started off with Frederick Douglass, the ex-slave turned author and scholar, Harriet Wilson, and moved on to people like Booker T Washington and W.E.B. DuBois. Up through Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance; when African American art changed from many slave accounts/songs and factual stories to poetry, jazz, the blues, and fiction, through Zora Neale...
I've been reading the African American consciousness going through serious changes throughout time; coming from slaves, the 'Old Negro' perspective, through to the 'New Negro' - the African Americans who were proud to be both black and American - DuBois' 'twoness' - who fought for equality, who believed that they were every bit as good as their white compatriotsl who refused to submit and who tried - through their art - to help the world see the beauty in them that they finally saw themselves and their country - "I, too, sing America."
So watching America elect its first black president is ridiculously exhilarating, because it's a direct extension of what I'm studying now, and it's a sign - a big, HUGE sign - of Real Change in people's attitudes.
I'm skeptical about Obama the politician, in that I'm skeptical about pretty much ANY politician. He's not liberal enough for my likings, but we'll see how he does. Gotta give the guy a chance, afterall. And the job he has in front of him doesn't look like a particularly easy one.
But I am really, really proud that the US finally managed to get over (for the most part) this race thing and that they elected an African American president - who was also the best candidate and didn't let race scare them away from trying to make a change. I thought it would take a lot longer than this. And I sincerely hope the KKK grandmasters or whoever they are - imperial warlord dragon squids or whatever silly title they give themselves - are choking on their bigotry right now.
And even more, I can sort of see Booker T, DuBois, Hughes, Douglass and Co standing at the sidelines - like some bloody cheesy rip-off of the end scene of Return of the Jedi - singing in bloody jubilation 'cos Obama's victory today is also theirs.
Now...can we work on those gender issues, please?
And can we never, ever have to hear Sarah Palin's voice again? Seriously - never. Ever. Just remove her larynx. The taxpayer won't mind. Just remove the damned thing and send her back to bloody Alaska, or perhaps Nebraska - somewhere where she can't 'drill, baby, drill'... Hell might do.
Dexter Season 2 arrived yesterday. I'm halfway through and OMG. O-M-G. WOW.
Edit: George Bush tells Obama to "enjoy himself?" What, in cleaning up your shit? Go fly a kite, George.
And you know what really gives me the tingly shivers of pleasure? This article: "Voters in Colorado and South Dakota defeated ballot measures aimed at restricting abortion, while Massachusetts and Michigan approved measures to slacken marijuana laws. In Washington state, voters approved a law allowing physician-assisted suicide."
Yes, YES, YES! YES. This is the right direction, YES.
Edit 2: They voted 'Yes' on Proposition 8?! No - WRONG DIRECTION - NO no no! You stupid sods. The only thing that 'makes' a marriage is love.
I've been reading the African American consciousness going through serious changes throughout time; coming from slaves, the 'Old Negro' perspective, through to the 'New Negro' - the African Americans who were proud to be both black and American - DuBois' 'twoness' - who fought for equality, who believed that they were every bit as good as their white compatriotsl who refused to submit and who tried - through their art - to help the world see the beauty in them that they finally saw themselves and their country - "I, too, sing America."
So watching America elect its first black president is ridiculously exhilarating, because it's a direct extension of what I'm studying now, and it's a sign - a big, HUGE sign - of Real Change in people's attitudes.
I'm skeptical about Obama the politician, in that I'm skeptical about pretty much ANY politician. He's not liberal enough for my likings, but we'll see how he does. Gotta give the guy a chance, afterall. And the job he has in front of him doesn't look like a particularly easy one.
But I am really, really proud that the US finally managed to get over (for the most part) this race thing and that they elected an African American president - who was also the best candidate and didn't let race scare them away from trying to make a change. I thought it would take a lot longer than this. And I sincerely hope the KKK grandmasters or whoever they are - imperial warlord dragon squids or whatever silly title they give themselves - are choking on their bigotry right now.
And even more, I can sort of see Booker T, DuBois, Hughes, Douglass and Co standing at the sidelines - like some bloody cheesy rip-off of the end scene of Return of the Jedi - singing in bloody jubilation 'cos Obama's victory today is also theirs.
Now...can we work on those gender issues, please?
And can we never, ever have to hear Sarah Palin's voice again? Seriously - never. Ever. Just remove her larynx. The taxpayer won't mind. Just remove the damned thing and send her back to bloody Alaska, or perhaps Nebraska - somewhere where she can't 'drill, baby, drill'... Hell might do.
Dexter Season 2 arrived yesterday. I'm halfway through and OMG. O-M-G. WOW.
Edit: George Bush tells Obama to "enjoy himself?" What, in cleaning up your shit? Go fly a kite, George.
And you know what really gives me the tingly shivers of pleasure? This article: "Voters in Colorado and South Dakota defeated ballot measures aimed at restricting abortion, while Massachusetts and Michigan approved measures to slacken marijuana laws. In Washington state, voters approved a law allowing physician-assisted suicide."
Yes, YES, YES! YES. This is the right direction, YES.
Edit 2: They voted 'Yes' on Proposition 8?! No - WRONG DIRECTION - NO no no! You stupid sods. The only thing that 'makes' a marriage is love.