So, yeah. I have been proved wrong about America. And I'm glad I was. I stand corrected. But now that he's elected, what does he mean to me with regards to race? Well, you have all probably heard this particular forthcoming argument before, but as a mixed-race man, I thought it might be useful to go on record about the issue of race.
Well, for starters, I'm generally an person that tries to achieve my goals without thinking about race. In the long term, the issue of race pales in comparison to the problems this country faces - so first and foremost I'm a realist on the race issue.
However. Whether or not my Dad realizes he said it or not, I never forget one of the first few statements my Dad made to me as a boy regarding race. He said (in not so many words): "Michael, whether you realize it or not - whenever you meet someone for the first time, the first opinion that person will form about you, be it however innocuous, is 'this is a black man'. Don't forget that." And I never have.
So, what does Obama mean to me? It means that he represents a way to minimize this problem (not eliminate it). For example, when I look at a white person that I've never met before, I don't think: "This person is white" - I just think: "this is a person." It just comes naturally - as it should be for everyone. For me Obama means that this will bring a natural grey area to our segregated brains that we were not normally born with. It means that there will come a day when not only will we remember that we are standing on the shoulders of the struggles of our forefathers, but that each new relationship we make with the world will have one less barrier to break down. It means that the first time any American looks at me they will see me. Not a black man. (Or even mixed person). Just an American. Or better yet: just a human being.
Almost every one of my hobbies has practically been put on hold since I moved to New York. And it drives me crazy. Next year, that's all going to change.
So, I've been tossing this idea around of going to the peace corps. It's more likely that it would happen after a couple years of work first, but I really, really wanna do it. The application process is quite involved though. But of course, I have to graduate first =)
I recently returned from a family reunion. It'd be nice to have a genealogy put together in the form of a website for access by the rest of the family. There are a few linux based ideas to get it started, but it takes time and patience.
So, yeah. I have been proved wrong about America. And I'm glad I was. I stand corrected. But now that he's elected, what does he mean to me with regards to race? Well, you have all probably heard this particular forthcoming argument before, but as a mixed-race man, I thought it might be useful to go on record about the issue of race.
Well, for starters, I'm generally an person that tries to achieve my goals without thinking about race. In the long term, the issue of race pales in comparison to the problems this country faces - so first and foremost I'm a realist on the race issue.
However. Whether or not my Dad realizes he said it or not, I never forget one of the first few statements my Dad made to me as a boy regarding race. He said (in not so many words): "Michael, whether you realize it or not - whenever you meet someone for the first time, the first opinion that person will form about you, be it however innocuous, is 'this is a black man'. Don't forget that." And I never have.
So, what does Obama mean to me? It means that he represents a way to minimize this problem (not eliminate it). For example, when I look at a white person that I've never met before, I don't think: "This person is white" - I just think: "this is a person." It just comes naturally - as it should be for everyone. For me Obama means that this will bring a natural grey area to our segregated brains that we were not normally born with. It means that there will come a day when not only will we remember that we are standing on the shoulders of the struggles of our forefathers, but that each new relationship we make with the world will have one less barrier to break down. It means that the first time any American looks at me they will see me. Not a black man. (Or even mixed person). Just an American. Or better yet: just a human being.
