Of race and Obama
Here’s a really powerful reflection, sparked by Obama’s speech. I can’t help thinking that no matter what the ultimate impact on the campaign, this speech was really key in lots and lots of ways to helping us deal more directly with race, as does this piece. An excerpt:
At some essential level of cultural abstraction, what it means to be black in this country is to manage the anger of a persistent past, to understand the power of humiliation as a daily depressant and to overcome it anyway with love, laughter and growth. That identification has lots of material expressions, but for many it is spiritually known. And for a lot of American blacks, underlying that spiritual connection is a notion of Christianity rooted in service, redemption and liberation.
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1 Comment
Dagmar commented on 20 March 2008:to prarphrase:
At some essential level of cultural abstraction, what it means to be female in this world is to manage the anger of a persistent past, to understand the power of humiliation as a daily depressant and to overcome it anyway with love, laughter and growth. That identification has lots of material expressions, but for many it is spiritually known. And for a lot of American women & women around the world , underlying that spiritual connection is a notion of not only Christianity but humanity rooted in service, redemption and liberation rather than just fury and revenge.
i simply wish that hillary would have the courage and capacity to give a similar speech about sexism than the one obama gave about racism. perhaps then some more of us would begin to realize the true scope of this election at this time in our story. i also hope that if she ever really tries to play the womens card she will be received with the same respect afforded to obama. perhpa we democrats will loose again but there better be some things worth loosing for otherwise what we win is not worth it either.
easter blessings