There is so much in this event and so much of it speaks for itself. This is one of those few instances where for me, less commentary is more.
I see Senator Obama becoming the presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee as a great symbolic victory. As I was growing up ( I was born in 1959) I was told that I could be anything that I set my mind to. The world was my oyster. I was told in theory, "You can even be President of the United States."
Last night my son, Wilmer, IV (who is 6) and I watched as Senator Obama gave that blistering speech in MN. At one point during the speech I pointed to the screen and said to my son, with a tear in my, "One day, that can be you! His skin is the same color as yours, his hair the same texture, and he's one brilliant man!"
Wilmer, IV was able to see on the screen, not in theory but in fact, "You can even be President of the United States." That possible reality meant a lot to me. To be able to show my son in FACT, not in theory was a very powerful moment in the Leon household last night.
What we can't do, what we have to guard against is placing too much responsibility on Senator Obama. Expecting too much from the symbolic. If elected, Senator Obama is one man and will still be a functionary of the United States government.
If we look to him, expect him to become the "be all and end all", we, as African American's, African's in America, Black People, Negro's, people of color, what ever you consider yourself to be will have failed him as he is risking his life and the life of his family to uplift us!
It's not up to him; it's up to us because in spite of this great moment, racism is alive and well and living in America. In the words of Imam Jamil Alamin (H. Rap brown) "It's as American as cherry pie!"
Peace and Blessings,
Wilmer
Comments
Cherry Pie? Not Racism... Violence!
H. Rap Brown stated that "VIOLENCE is as american as cherry pie". Brown must have gotten cherry pie and apple pie mixed up. Brown, who converted to the Muslim religion, is now serving a LIFE in PRISON sentence, for killing an African- American sheriff's deputy who was a father and family man. Brown-Alamin also wounded another African American deputy sheriff in the ambush as well. Brown-Alamin is serving his LIFE sentence at the "Super Max" prison in Colorado.
You Stand Corrected!
This quote was given a number of times by then H. Rap Brown. Read 'Out Damned Spot
Under the ‘stain’ lies a truth about race in America, Wednesday, April 09, 2008
By Del Walters" from Ebony.com.
I've heard him say it at least twice in my life.
Even though I don't always cite my sources, they exist.
Dr. Wilmer Leon is the Producer/ Host of the nationally broadcast call-in talk radio program “On With Leon”on XM Satellite Radio Channel 169, a regular guest on CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight; and a Teaching Associate in the Department of Political Science at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Go to www.wilmerleon.com or email: wjl3us@yahoo.com.
Cherry vs. Apple (pies)
References to U.S. culture is APPLE PIE, not Cherry Pie. I always knew H. Rap was not that smart. With Brown-Alamin serving a LIFE SENTENCE for MURDER proves my point. Thanks for the correction and reaffirmation on Brown's menatal capacity.