radiance and rosebud

so many writers explain that obama's ascent is confirmation of dr. king's boldest dream. of course, i don't think that that's true. it's clear that while 43% of whites did vote for obama, and more than 54% of young whites ages 18 to 29 voted for obama, there are still grim realities in america. we know that blacks are disproportionately poor, black and latinos dramatically underperform their white and asian peers in school, and our neighborhoods and institutions are still wildly segregated.

and while the far right is staggeringly afraid that obama will tilt america socialist, it's clear to real liberals that obama governs a centered coalition. rep. john clybourn recently explained that he may sometimes be "center-right, sometimes center-left, but always from the center." cabinet appointments that may include republicans, including current secretary of defense robert gates, make it clear that obama is not interested in being overtly partisan.

in fact, i hesitated to support obama in the primaries because i felt john edwards' policies were more clearly focused on redistribuiting opportunities and access to the poorest and most disenfranchised. i also felt that hillary clinton's clear and express support for universal health care advanced more sustainable protections for more underserved than obama's employer/employee based health plan. while many wealthy can still afford private health care in socialized health plans in europe and canada, the larger advantages of prevention and protection more clearly help the second 95% of the population.

yes, it is still clear that obama is interested in change, and it's even more clear to me that he also has the vision and the pragmatism to serve us all. it has also been clear that people across america are aware of this moment. people left, center, and wrong are proud that we have made such an historic leap forward in our history. it is true that the first 14 president could have legally owned a black slave. it also true that the first 35 presidents could not have even voted for not have even been able to a candidate obama in some places in the united states.

yes, we can. si, se puede. ken, anu y'cholim.

still, i believe obama's election will have the greatest impact on those even too young to realize what just happened. for those who are 80 years old and older, they have heard biological arguments that served to barbarize and colonize blacks. they witnessed and maybe participated in or demonstrated against violent laws that forcibly segregated and oppressed blacks. for our oldest seniors to know that america has rejected our past as vile, contemptible, and disgraceful is a just reward and a dish served cold.

yes, i am unendingly happy that barack obama will be the next president of the united states. and yes, i do believe it sends a powerful message to the world that americans are real people. we are not the caricature of all the right or wrong decisions our elected government makes. we are smarter than our history has sometimes shown us to be because i have always believed this country makes a slow but steady walk forward.

still, our middle aged have been too slow to this moment and we will be too slow to change again. we have been colored already. i don't think his election means we have arrived. it's been disgraceful that we've only had 43 white men serve as president. and yes, i'll have to change a long standing lesson i give where i explain that we have never ever elected anything but a rich white male. but, man, we've still got a long way to go.

so, now, i don't think we haven't arrived anywhere, yet. but i really do believe that radiance and rosebud have. i am beyond amazed and thrilled and happy to see that malia and sasha will be the face of the kids of the first family for everyone to see.

for our youngest, this is the absolutely most powerful new show on the wb or disney. we will see young african american girls the ages of my students and younger inside the white house. girls with locks or braids or flat irons. girls who go to black church. girls who sing "lift ev'ry voice and sing". girls with names like malia and sasha and radiance and rosebud. in fact, the first time i cried this election is when i read an article this morning that revealed the new secret service names for the obama family.

the faces of the kids on america's front lawn are young african american girls. they'll be reading books and doing their homework and hugging their mom and dad. they'll be young and strong and fun and all over the place. they'll just be regular little girls and they'll like whatever they like and they'll do whatever they do and they'll be the president's daughters. and they'll be black.

now, that's deep.