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"Dear Vibe Readers, I am running for president to take this country in a new direction. But I can't do it alone. I need you."I read the editor's note, and noticed she ended her passage by saying, "We're the ones we've been waiting for."
I sat and contemplated this single sentence for a while. Just sitting at my computer and thinking and thinking and thinking. And I thought, June Jordan was right.
I am a Black Woman. I teach at at a high school where we are 85% Black, 10% Latino, and 5% White. All of my high school classes are Black and I do my damnedest to teach them about being proud of where they come from, who they are, and where they are going. Everyday, I feel, in the words of that old spiritual, that I'm on the battlefield, attempting to help them understand the true GREATNESS that comes with being Black.
This is a task unto itself, for they have been taught they have so many things to be ashamed of, and the primary "thing" is their Blackness. To be Black, they've learned, is to be at the bottom of every barrel (socio economic, education, legal system etc.) They've learned that it is dangerous to want more, to do more, to be more. And I am here, trying to help them unlearn that, emphasizing--in my kids' cases--that it is okay NOT to want to use your body or step on someone else's to "get money," that it is okay use your mind, which is the greatest gift they are blessed with, not just to "get money," but to "get knowledge," to "get empowered."
I wish they could see in themselves what I see in them... that We Are the Ones We've Been Waiting For. That potential and possibility are in our very souls--that when we were not allowed to attend public schools with white students; we built our own elementary and junior high/high schools, our own universities and we educated our own students and these students went on to become world leaders. We did that because we were a prideful people who were able to take care of our own.
And with that in mind, I agree that we ARE the ones we have been looking for. From the Harriet Tubmans like myself, trying to lead my students to freedom from the jails they have created within their minds, to the Martin Luther Kings, trying to help us as a people realize we can achieve our life goals without violence, to the Fannie Lou Hamers, standing up for what we believe is right and just. Oh yes, WE ARE THE ONES WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!
And so I return to the Vibe article and to the Obama candidacy. I think it is especially apt that Obama invoked that line long, long months ago. No, I do not believe Obama will be able to right every wrong in America, but I do believe that between him and McCain, Obama is the best man for the job.
And, yes, I believe in so many ways, he is the one we have been waiting for...
13 comments:
That was so perfect. Thank you.
Thank you for your comment. Reading your response just made my day brighter. Thanks!
Great post, it gave me chills. Really.
Hi, Elle. Beautifully written post!
Thank you Dr. A! I'm not as accomplished as Elle when it comes to blogging, but rest assured I am honored by your comment.
Oops! I meant beautifully written post, Mrs. O!
That's okay, pacatrue. We've been best friends since kindergarten! My thoughts and hers are alike in many ways. One can't help but be influenced by Elle's greatness!
Voting is so very important. In Canada we just finished an election with the worst voter turnout ever. Part of this had to so with Aboriginal Canacians being disenfranchised and the other to do with voter apathy. Daily we gripe and complain about our governments but if we cannot even be bothered to go to the polls what right have we to say that we don't like the country is being run.
As people of color we have a responsibility to vote. There has been a terrible price paid so that we could have a say. I took my children with me when I went to cast my ballot and we have a long discussion about civic responsibility. If we want to see change we need to demand more from the people that seek to lead us.
You are absolutely correct renee. When I first began teaching, my students informed me that they saw no reason to vote. I explained to them the importance of always voting and THEN I showed them the Eyes on the Prize Series over the course of two weeks. They could not believe what people of color had to go through to attain the right to vote, sit where they wanted rather it was on buses,in restaurants, or going to their school of choice. They had no idea of the price so many people paid so they could enjoy the rights they have today.
in my son's class today, they had to do a poster of who'd they decide for president and voted on the Nick kids pick the president ( http://www.nick.com/kpp/ ) He and alot of the other kids chose Obama, a few did posters on McCain. There were so many who were doing posters on Obama, that the teacher made students do them on McCain instead. Me and him (he's 8) watched a little of the last debate and I'm glad we've been talking and he knows whats up. He says the fact that only citizens can vote "is stupid." He asked me the important questions, how many times have I voted, who did I vote for, when could he vote. I told him can you believe there has never been a person of color president? No black person, no Mexican, no Puerto Rican. I told him he could one day be the boyfriend or brother of the next president too :) (sorry for the long comment)
Noemi, I welcome long comments. I also encourage my son that he can be anything he wishes to be regardless of his color.
Well said.
And I am glad there are teachers like you.
Thanks field notes. I am glad for readers like you.
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