A Letter To A Son...
So after this historic election, a friend of mine wrote and posted a letter to his son. I thought it was hella deep and just all around great so I'm sharing it here as well.
Nicholas, you will ask me in years to come, "Where was I when Barack Obama was elected President of the United States?" As the years go by, you will learn that your father will not spare your feelings nor intellect..... and I will tell you that I was drinking Remy Martin Trek and smoking Cohibas across the street with our neighbors. You were on your mother's laptop drawing "Wow, Wow, Wubzy" in Microsoft Paint... then took it old school and drew pictures for all the partygoers. Was your father nervous? There was only one time in my life that I was ever nervous... and that was when you were born. I was never nervous when Obama was elected President. Why? Because I believed in change. Son, may you never understand what transpired before you were even born. Your grandparents have passed on the struggles they experienced to even HAVE the opportunity to vote. Your parents will pass on to you the struggles we experience to uphold the strength and intelligence of our family/cultural heritage, let alone change the behavior of some of our ignorant, distasteful and uncouth brothers and sisters. To see a man transcend so many obstacles... it will inspire you to seek great things out of each and every one of your family members and friends.
Son, your parents found it hard to break away from the racist mindset that pervaded our daily intercourse with our fellow man. Your mother never experienced blatant racism. Your father grew up with subtle and overt racism. We both have done our best up to the time of this blog to change our mindset about the human dynamic. It is hard, son. To this day, some people feel necessary to generalize us, regardless of our education... regardless of our upward mobility... regardless of our desire to feel the same privilege that seems to evade us. I NEVER want you to feel that from anyone. You are a child of change. You are a child of honor and respect. Your father was known as a "renaissance man" upon his high school graduation. Your mother was always known as an intellectual and a fighter. We will teach you to love your fellow man in spite of their shortcomings or failed mindsets.
Understand that President-elect Obama is more than just an African-American. He is a MAN first. His wife and kids are his lifeblood, just as much as you are to us. Never allow folks to compartmentalize you simply on race. You will hear of the stories of how Obama was a terrorist, Socialist, Muslim, it runs the gamut. He and his family were thoroughly vetted.... and not one thing stuck. He was upfront, honest and willing to admit his shortcomings. Senator John McCain was also well vetted, upfront and honest. That is what seemed to make this election so contentious. Both men were capable of running our country. But son, from your father's mouth.... partisan politics will drive wedges that ultimately polarize the collective. Obama was simply able to break the cycle this day. We can only PRAY that he will do his best to stay bi-partisan. Your mother is a staunch Democrat. Your father has been a moderate from day one. Ultimately, we must work TOGETHER to build a greater good. This is a new generation, built from the bottom up. This is an INCLUSIVE America. Be not dismayed of the potential conflicts and disagreements you will surely experience. We are one. That is my sole expectation I have for you. I pray that you will continue to break down these barriers.
Son, I could write more, but at the end of the day, we will have to live day by day and learn through our own life experiences. I can only give you the aforementioned words. I am so happy that you are living in history. Your mother and I will ensure that you are given the WHOLE truth of this historic day and do our best to not paint a rosy picture for you to glamorize. If in our power to perform, we will show you the contention and the joy juxtaposed so you will appreciate what it is to be part of a new America. Good night. God Bless you.
It will be awhile before he understands it, but all the same....Great Parents STILL exist!!
And had I known there woulda been a party downtown I woulda went and celebrated with the masses. Dah Well, history was still made!
America Baracked The Vote!
Nicholas, you will ask me in years to come, "Where was I when Barack Obama was elected President of the United States?" As the years go by, you will learn that your father will not spare your feelings nor intellect..... and I will tell you that I was drinking Remy Martin Trek and smoking Cohibas across the street with our neighbors. You were on your mother's laptop drawing "Wow, Wow, Wubzy" in Microsoft Paint... then took it old school and drew pictures for all the partygoers. Was your father nervous? There was only one time in my life that I was ever nervous... and that was when you were born. I was never nervous when Obama was elected President. Why? Because I believed in change. Son, may you never understand what transpired before you were even born. Your grandparents have passed on the struggles they experienced to even HAVE the opportunity to vote. Your parents will pass on to you the struggles we experience to uphold the strength and intelligence of our family/cultural heritage, let alone change the behavior of some of our ignorant, distasteful and uncouth brothers and sisters. To see a man transcend so many obstacles... it will inspire you to seek great things out of each and every one of your family members and friends.
Son, your parents found it hard to break away from the racist mindset that pervaded our daily intercourse with our fellow man. Your mother never experienced blatant racism. Your father grew up with subtle and overt racism. We both have done our best up to the time of this blog to change our mindset about the human dynamic. It is hard, son. To this day, some people feel necessary to generalize us, regardless of our education... regardless of our upward mobility... regardless of our desire to feel the same privilege that seems to evade us. I NEVER want you to feel that from anyone. You are a child of change. You are a child of honor and respect. Your father was known as a "renaissance man" upon his high school graduation. Your mother was always known as an intellectual and a fighter. We will teach you to love your fellow man in spite of their shortcomings or failed mindsets.
Understand that President-elect Obama is more than just an African-American. He is a MAN first. His wife and kids are his lifeblood, just as much as you are to us. Never allow folks to compartmentalize you simply on race. You will hear of the stories of how Obama was a terrorist, Socialist, Muslim, it runs the gamut. He and his family were thoroughly vetted.... and not one thing stuck. He was upfront, honest and willing to admit his shortcomings. Senator John McCain was also well vetted, upfront and honest. That is what seemed to make this election so contentious. Both men were capable of running our country. But son, from your father's mouth.... partisan politics will drive wedges that ultimately polarize the collective. Obama was simply able to break the cycle this day. We can only PRAY that he will do his best to stay bi-partisan. Your mother is a staunch Democrat. Your father has been a moderate from day one. Ultimately, we must work TOGETHER to build a greater good. This is a new generation, built from the bottom up. This is an INCLUSIVE America. Be not dismayed of the potential conflicts and disagreements you will surely experience. We are one. That is my sole expectation I have for you. I pray that you will continue to break down these barriers.
Son, I could write more, but at the end of the day, we will have to live day by day and learn through our own life experiences. I can only give you the aforementioned words. I am so happy that you are living in history. Your mother and I will ensure that you are given the WHOLE truth of this historic day and do our best to not paint a rosy picture for you to glamorize. If in our power to perform, we will show you the contention and the joy juxtaposed so you will appreciate what it is to be part of a new America. Good night. God Bless you.
It will be awhile before he understands it, but all the same....Great Parents STILL exist!!
And had I known there woulda been a party downtown I woulda went and celebrated with the masses. Dah Well, history was still made!
America Baracked The Vote!