Get Down Or Lay Down

via The Beautiful Struggler - Me, Myself and Eye

Do you know it when see it?

It has come to my attention that some of my more militant brothers and sisters (those with whom I usually best identify) are not as excited about the Obama win as I. Gotta say, I find that to be rather disappointing. While I certainly can't expect everyone to be as excited as I am about the new President, I have serious issues with any comrades who can't see the true value that Barack's win has to both the African Diaspora and the global community-at-large.

Now, I stated long ago my concerns that an Obama presidency would lead a lot of stupid people of all races to believe that racism had been eradicated or that, some how, all Black people would miraculously find themselves on a level playing field in AmeriKKKa. Those of us who know what's really real are not taking our eyes off the ball: this is still a devilish country filled with a lot of devilish people who have asserted themselves as global terrorists, hatemongers and religious zealots since Christopher Columbus "found" this land in 1492. If you don't believe that to be true, please note that nearly 50% of voters pulled the lever for John McCain's half-dead ass. Note: thank GOD for the Electoral College saving the braindead yokels of the South and Midwest from having a real voice.

I tend to be a "glass is half-empty" kinda gal. I tend to see the bad side of things before I see the good. And I know that Barack is inheriting a country that is in a whole lot of trouble. However, I also know that before Mr. President-Elect became the global image of the African American male, the primary representatives of our men across the world were Tiger Woods, 50 Cent, Michael Jordan and Snoop Doggy Dogg. Atheletes, entertainers and/or embarrassments.

And now the entire world is singing the praises of our Brother Barack. A man from modest beginnings. An intellectual. A man who got his start in the streets of Chicago's South Side, working for OUR people. Speaking of, you DO realize that this biracial cat who was raised by his White mother and lived all over the world could have very easily chose to identify with his maternal side more than that of his largely-absent Black father. He could have took the naive "colorblind" approach to viewing the world and identified with the "global" community...and given his experiences, even I would have been hard-pressed to fault him. Barack could hardly pass for White, but the level to which he chooses to identify with the African-American community is certainly a result of his choices. I've seen Black kids with two Black parents who were raised in entirely Black community flee our ranks as if our culture were poisonous. But what did Obama do? He became the 79th-street-walking, Trinity Church-attending, Italian Fiesta Pizza- eating husband of Michele Robinson.

Obama may have been born in Hawaii, but he is a son of Chicago's South Side on so many levels. He's the real deal, a brother like us. His political achievements have placed a strong Black family on the global stage: two adorable, whip-smart Black girls, their stunning Black mother who's beauty is only matched by her intelligence and a doting husband and father clearly loves them dearly. Barack and Michelle have the chemistry of Cliff and Claire and the WORLD is seeing this. Most importantly, young Black CHILDREN are seeing this. Seeing that they don't have to be "baby mama" and "baby daddy", seeing that smart can be cool, too. The accomplishments of the Obamas are extraordinary, but what is most remarkable about them in my opinion is how down-to-earth and tangible they are.

The Obamas have, apparently, invited Michelle's mother to join them in the White House. Imagine that: three generations of Black women living in the White House. When Mrs. Robinson was a young woman, I doubt she imagined a sister on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue who wasn't carrying a mop or vacuum. While some of my "conscious" brothers are trying to intellectualize the Black woman in to subservience with pseudo-Africanisms, our Brother Barack is moving a tribe of sisters in to the White House. Imagine that.

And who have been our Black princesses before Michelle as of late? Mary J. Blige? Beyonce? Both those women are beautiful and talented, but they are entertainers! Now our children and our global neighbors see a REAL "Black Wonder Woman".

All hail the Mom-In-Chief.

What if Barack were White? Would these cynics have the same attitude, or would they just choose to focus on the fact that after eight years of misery, this country elected the best candidate for the job? That Black people came out and voted by the droves? The fact that the Republicans didn't steal the election this time?

Don't kid yourself in to thinking that Barack is the solution for all of America's problems. Just don't lose sight of the beauty that is this moment. Pictures of the Obama family have replaced images of dead rappers up and down the streets of the 'hood. Lately, I have heard many of the same street dudes who typically bump Lil' Wayne listening to recordings of Obama's speeches from the sound systems of their cars. Kids feel good. Brothers feel like they actually CAN 'work it out'. Sisters see one of their own shining oh so brightly. Elders who can remember legal segregation will see a Black man in the White House. People who marched with Dr. King or who were in the Black Panther Party or SNCC or who were simply Black and alive 40 years ago will see a Black man in the White House.

Aside from when our favorite sports teams win a damn trophy, when do you see Black people en masse feeling GREAT about something? Black people DESERVE a feel-good moment like this. When have we had the cause to be collectively excited like this in recent years? When Uncle Thomas was appointed to the Supreme Court? When OJ Simpson was got away with murder? When Denzel won the Oscar for "Training Day", but not "Malcolm X"? Negroes, please.