While listening to My President’s FIRST State of the Union address, the other night, I had an epiphany. I thought, “Hmmm. It’s been a year now, and he’s still the President of the United States.”
 

I can’t begin to tell you how excited and hopeful I was during his campaign. I listened attentively to every speech. I read some of his speeches online. I chatted almost daily with someone about this great man. I endured the negative ads, the put-downs by the other candidates, the accusations of wrong-doings, or that he was not a U S citizen. He persevered, kept his smile intact, pressed on and won the nomination for the Democratic Party’s candidate for President of the United States. He continued to press and won the election. What a night in the history of the United States!
 

Yes, he is still President of the United States of America. And, he’s a Black Man. The Bull Conners, Ross Barnetts and all others of that ilk and that generation, must have turned in their graves on November 4, 2008. I will venture to say, they are still turning like a rotisserie on a bar-b-que grill. They said integration would never happen…it did. And no doubt, they died without giving the idea of a Black President a single thought. The idea was too preposterous to even consider. In spite of them, their ideas, thoughts, beliefs, he is still President of the United States.
 

Oh, don’t think I’m not aware that there are those among us, smiling in our faces, working beside us, in our schools, churches, neighborhoods with the same ideas and politics of the Ross Barnetts and Bull Conners of the world. They are just a bit more subtle in their speech and actions. They still have these beliefs… in 2010, and will continue to believe they are superior until they die. They didn’t vote for him, not because they didn’t like his platform, or his ability to articulate his thoughts and ideas; they withheld their votes because he was, and still is the wrong flavor…a Black Man. No matter what they thought, think, did, or do. No matter who they voted for, he is still President of the United States.
 

I have read and heard some of the diatribes, ramblings, babblings and garbage of the Rush Limbaughs of the world, and their cronies. I have read and heard how the Republican hierarchies fight, rebel, disregard every idea Mr. Obama has. But at the end of the day, he is still President of the United States.
 

During one of Mr. Obama’s speeches on Healthcare Reform, he said something to the affect that ‘Healthcare Reform would not automatically provide coverage for illegal immigrants’. Joe Wilson, Representative from South Carolina, yelled out, in a joint session mind you, “You lie!” Unprecedented! Was he thrown out of the Chamber? Was he reprimanded? Did he lose his seat? Would he have done that and gotten away if the President speaking, at the time had been White? No, no, no and no. He “apologized” and being the gracious man he is, President Obama accepted his apology.
 

Since the outburst, the non-partisan organization FactCheck.org has done much research and has discredited the claim that health care reform would automatically authorize coverage for illegal immigrants. This clearly proves that not only was Wilson rude, disrespectful and discourteous, but he was also completely wrong, not to mention uninformed, misguided and ignorant. Even after and in spite of Wilson’s outburst, Mr. Obama is still President of the United States.
 

When President Obama went to Japan, and in the course of meeting with the Emperor, he bowed to him. The “self-proclaimed” pundits went ballistic. They said, “He should not have bowed. He showed weakness.” And they went on and on. Of course, the media became rabid. They reported the stories every possible moment. After it was brought to the light and forefront, that there are pictures all over the Internet of past presidents bowing to foreign leaders, most notably Eisenhower and Nixon, they were forced to give up that perceived bone of contention. Furthermore, it was brought to their attention that bowing it is not a sign of subservience, but a sign of diplomatic respect, recognized all over the world as a greeting, not a symbol of defeat. Then they said he bowed too low. What?! It is painfully obvious, that everything he does, or says will be scrutinized, analyzed, picked apart and gone over with a fine-toothed come, but he is still President of the United States.
 

Don’t let me get started on what they have said about the First Lady, his lovely and loving wife, friend and companion, Michelle. They tried to tear her down about being sleeveless inside the Chamber during his first speech there. Someone found photos of Jackie Kennedy in a sleeveless dress inside the Chamber during one of President Kennedy’s speeches. So, they had to back off that. The other night, when he made his State of the Union address, George Stephanopolis said, “Michelle is wearing purple because the President is going to speak right down the middle; not to Democrats, nor Republicans; so no red or blue.” I was taken aback. How could he presume to know why she wore purple? I used to have a lot of respect for George’s commentary, but I think he lost me on that one.
 

And oh my goodness, Michelle had the temerity to touch the Queen of England. Polite society almost went crazy. They had to rein it in however, because the pictures clearly showed the Queen returning the hug, having a little “girl-talk” and inviting Michelle to return to the Palace. Has the speculation, gossip, conjecture and negativity about Michelle derailed or deterred Mr. Obama from his mission? Not in the least, and he is still President of the United States.
 

Countries all over the world celebrated when Mr. Obama became President of the United States. Whenever he has the occasion to visit another country, the citizens gather with their cameras and autograph books as if he’s a rock star. Unheard of! The world recognizes his strength, his fortitude, his straightforwardness, his intellect, his leadership ability, his diplomatic skills, and his Presidential acumen. Yet here in his own country, he is being discounted, disregarded, disbelieved, distrusted and downright disrespected. Jesus said in Mark 6: 4 and Matthew 13: 57, “A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.”
 

I’m not remotely suggesting that Mr. Obama is a prophet, should be a prophet, or has prophetic qualities. It’s simply ironic that that particular scripture came to mind, and it was triggered by all the harassments and vituperations Mr. Obama has been subjected to since he became President. One expects a candidate to receive negative reviews, comments, etc., however, after the election, is it a fantasy to expect the country to unite behind their leader? How long can the bickering continue? He has 3 years left in this term, and if I have anything to say about it, he’ll run for and WIN a second term. Somebody is going to have a stroke or become apoplectic. That will be too bad and so sad, but in the end, he’ll still be President of the United States.
 

I often fantasize saying, “What if…?” What if at the end of Bill Clinton’s presidency, Al Gore had won? The economy was in good shape “back” then. Al Gore would have built on Clinton’s legacy. Then The Man…Mr. Obama, at the helm. Can you imagine how things would be today?
 

Our economy would be ultra strong. There would be so many available jobs that industries would send agents to colleges recruiting employees at a rate that would rival the NFL and NBA. Because of the recruiting, instead of college graduates pounding the pavement after graduation looking for a job, they would have a job already. Fathers and mothers would be able to choose from a plethora of good-paying jobs. Healthcare would be accessible to every American citizen. Our military personnel would be playing war-games, not thousands of miles from home dying every day, fighting a war that cannot be won. How great it would be. This is part of my dream for my country. This is why I voted for Mr. Obama, with him, there’s hope. I’m so happy he is still President of the United States.
 

THOSE PEOPLE would rather see this country perish than to support Mr. Obama’s vision and plans. They so vehemently oppose Healthcare Reform, not because it’s a bad idea, or that it’s not badly needed; they oppose simply because they will not allow history to record that President Obama, a Black Man, was first to get this bill passed. They are to be pitied. For in spite of their bickering, he is still President of the United States.

Yes, he is still there. He is still the charming, articulate, force to be reckoned with that he was this time last year. He shall succeed. He shall be well-remembered. Historians have no choice but to record his great decisions and achievements. At the end of the day, through it all, he is still and shall continue to be…President of the United States of America.

Tuesday night, November 4, 2008 @ 8:00 PM PST, Barack Obama, a Black man, was declared 44th President of the United States of America. That night, the emotions across the country were so intense they were almost palpable through the TV.
 

 

I don’t know what the historians will write about that night, nor do I know if I’ll be around to read it; but thank God, I’m here to witness it. I find myself at a loss for words to describe my feelings. Happy, invigorated, elated, blissful, hopeful all come to mind, but they don't quite explain it. For the moment, they'll have to suffice.
 

 

On that night, I received many texts from many people saying many things. One of the most memorable was sent to me by my niece, Nichet. It said: “My skin is no longer my sin.” She said she was going to make T-shirts with that slogan. I thought the slogan was so profound, poignant and provocative, that I would like to piggy-back on it and say: “The color of my skin is no longer my sin.”
 

 

Nichet is a young woman, born in Los Angeles, in 1981. She has heard about segregation/racism, read about segregation/racism, and seen movies on that subject. I, on the other hand, was born in 1945, in Mississippi; I was there. I saw it! I felt it! I am a product of that era. I was a victim of segregation/racism. I had done nothing wrong. My sin was just the color of my skin, but now I rise.
 

 

I grew up hearing my grandparents and parents say, “Yes-sir Mr. W/Man” and “Yes-mam Mrs. W/Lady.” Some of these w-people were younger than my grandparents and parents. I grew up knowing I was suppose to “have manners” and show “respect” to my elders, but I didn’t understand why they were showing such respect to these w-people who were often mere children. One day I knew, to remain alive, they had to do that. Their sin was the color of their skin. They were “down” a long time, but now they rise.
 

 

We were allowed/expected to work the w-folks’ field, clean their houses, shine their shoes, carry their baggage, chauffeur them around, cook their meals, and take care of their children. However, we couldn’t attend church with them, couldn’t go to school with them, couldn’t ride on the bus with them or attend any social function with them, we couldn’t even register to vote, let alone vote. Yet, we were good enough to care for their babies. This made no sense to me. Any person not good enough for me to socialize with, certainly would not, could not be trusted with my precious babies.
 

 

I remember “whites only” signs on restrooms, water fountains, pools, golf courses, restaurants, and almost every establishment known at that time. We could spend our HARD earned money in Woolworth’s, but we couldn’t sit at the counter and order a soda. Many restaurants and eateries had a window around back where we could order a meal to take elsewhere to eat. We weren’t animals or unclean in any way. Our sin was the color of our skin.
 

 

I was 17 when four (4) little Black girls were killed at a church in Birmingham AL. They hadn’t tried to integrate a “whites only” school. They hadn’t “sassed” some w-person. They hadn’t tried to drink water at a “whites only” fountain. They hadn’t even tried to buy and ice cream cone at a Woolworth’s counter. No, these babies were murdered because of their only sin, the color of their skin. They are gone, but now they rise.
 

 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said in August 1963 in his “I Have A Dream” speech, “I have a dream that one day, my little children will be judged by the contents of their character instead of by the color of their skin.” Dr King was assassinated in April 1968, not because of any crime he had committed, but because of the color of his skin. Therefore he did not see his dream come to fruition. However, he and his dream rise.
 

 

During the era of the Civil Rights Movement, Robert Kennedy said, “If any man claims the Negro should be content... let him say he would willingly change the color of his skin and go to live in the Negro section of a large city. Then and only then has he a right to such a claim.” He also said, “But suppose God is black? What if we go to Heaven and we, all our lives, have treated the Negro as an inferior, and God is there, and we look up and He is not white? What then is our response?”
 

 

A final quote from him, “There's no question that in the next thirty or forty years a Negro can also achieve the same position that my brother has as President of the United States, certainly within that period of time." Attorney General/U.S. Senator/ Presidential Candidate Robert Kennedy was murdered in 1968. He was not killed because of the color of his skin, but because he supported our cause. He didn’t see his predictions become realities, but now they rise.
 

 

“Crispus Attucks fell so that Rosa Parks could sit; Rosa Parks sat so that Dr. Martin Luther King could march; Dr. King marched so that Barack Obama could run; Senator Obama ran and won so that our children and grandchildren can fly.” Author Unknown (Paraphrased by me)
 

 

Tuesday night, November 4, 2008…as My President, President Barack Obama, gave his victory speech, I thought of all those who have gone on before him. Those who marched, those who walked to work during the bus boycotts, those who were attacked by dogs, those who had fire hoses turned on them, those who were beaten and yes, those who died. I’m sure he was thinking of them also. He has often admitted that he stands on the shoulders of many. Now they are all vindicated. Their dreams and purposes live on. Barack Obama, a Black Man, is president of the United States of America.
 

 

That night, that moment, was one unlike any moment we have witnessed in this country before. We, as a people, celebrated with a sense of pride like none we’ve ever known. We welcomed every race, creed and color to share our joy, and share they did, but in our heart of hearts, our secret place, we said, “YES!” Oh, what a happy day! A Black man is president of the United States of America. The color of our skin is no longer our sin. We rise.
 

 

Oh, if our forefathers could be awakened. If they too, like the Phoenix, could rise from the ashes to see what they did, and to be a part of our celebration. But alas, they can't. So let us, for their sake, hold our heads a little higher. Let us square our shoulders a littler more. Let us stick our chests out a little further. Let us walk a little more upright. Let us vow to be a little kinder. Let us love each other, on purpose, a little bit stronger. Let us know that we are all brothers and sisters, and exhibit that knowledge and realization daily.
 

 

My President’s election was a moment shared globally. There has never been an election shared and celebrated all over the world as this election was, and is. I know it is politically correct to say “President Elect Barack Obama.” I say, “Whatever!” I claimed him as my president many months ago. Now, I shall cling to his every word. “Hail To The Chief” will become my favorite instrumental. I look forward to seeing My First Family performing. I have such respect and adoration for my lovely First Lady. I haven’t felt like that since Jackie Kennedy.
 

 

Wednesday morning, it was difficult to impossible, to find a newspaper all over the nation. Everyone, people who have never purchased a newspaper in their lives, were out trying to get a paper. It wasn’t enough to have a button, a T-shirt, cap or other memorabilia, it appears a newspaper was needed also. I just heard the Editor of the Los Angeles Times say Wednesday’s paper was their biggest seller in the history of the paper. It was founded in 1881. They are now printing 200,000 additional copies because of the demand. WOW!!
 

 

Realistically, we accept the fact that President Obama is president to the masses. Please know that we MUST pray for him and his family. Ask God, in the Name of His Son Jesus, to be a hedge all around him. Ask God to strengthen him physically, mentally and emotionally. Ask Him to give him the wisdom needed to lead this nation. We also pray that he will be allowed to run OUR country in the same manner as he ran his campaign; with dignity, respect and so much class.
 

 

It is a new day, a joyous day. The words of our National Anthem comes to mind, “Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won.” We have marched, and the victory has been won. It's a NEW DAY y'all. We rise.