One of my life's Great Days

[stoney321]

Dear U.S. voters that exercised their right, no matter how you voted this 2008 election: thank you.


I am a white woman with a line back to England and a smoke signal back to the Choctaw Indians, but let's face it: I'm white.

I was born after the Civil Rights movement, after the laws were changed, when people were forced to look at what they were raised to believe was Right was now considered Wrong. I was born in the era of Blackspoitation movies, of the first TV shows about black people, cast entirely of black people, and watched by all.

I had a Whites Only water fountain in my first elementary school.

I had a mother that played Motown in my house and had black friends that hung out and taught my sister and I how to dance, and I didn't know that people were to be judged by the color of their skin.

I went to college in the whitest state in the union and could count the black kids on both hands - there wasn't a single black woman there. I went to a college that had a confederate flag and mascot, but didn't know that until I arrived on campus with my bags. I wrote to Jesse Jackson and asked for his help in addressing change at my college. I wasn't the only one that wanted change, nor was I the only person that spoke out against hatred and injustice.

I was spat on and had my life threatened; the school changed its flag and mascot and I was no longer ashamed of my college.

I am a white woman that can't begin to understand the sorrows, the pains, and the new joys of being a black American. I've seen the pictures of our past, I've heard the ugly words used to denigrate others because of fear, and all I can do is to feel sorrowful for the sins of the past and do my best to contribute to the betterment of humanity in any capacity that I can.

I cannot fathom the absolute pride and righteous conviction that must be coursing through every proud American with a black heritage, but know this: I have never been more proud to be a fellow American.

I reach my hand out to you, regardless of your color, your race, your sex, your religious affiliation or lack therein, your orientation, your level of education. I feel as if our hands are up in the air, jubilant at the promise our future holds.

I'm no essayist, I'm not any kind of brilliant writer, but I'm feeling - as I'm sure so many of you are right now - like there's nothing that can't be done and that the dark shadows of hatred's past is becoming a distant memory.

I am so proud to be an American. I always have been, because I've always believed in our ideals, but well. Today is an amazing day for humanity all over the world.

And to the rest of the world: You're welcome. ;)

Comments

[drusplace.livejournal.com]

From the rest of the world, Thank you.

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

It is an amazing day. History in the making and all that. :-) But I can't help but feel a bit sorry for the man. Why, you ask? Because he has SOOO high expectations on him from all over the world... I wonder what happens when he can't live up to all those expectations? *ponders slightly* I am an optimist, but a careful one. ;-)

Congratulations on your new President. And I DO mean that with all off my viking heart!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

A magnificent day. Just the hope he's inspiring, the renewed pride and determination is worth it, you know? <3

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Oh, sure - and I will say that he appears to know that the expectations are crazy high. But seeing as you're not here, I'll describe the energy racing through the country: people are hopeful, people are yearning for change, people want to act.

THAT is what will make the change. One man alone can't do it, but he sure can inspire the masses!

[cityphonelines.livejournal.com]

You are a white woman who listens to the Roots. And we blacks are okay with you doing it. YOU'RE WELCOME STONEY.

♥

Today? It's a good day.

[bitchygrrl.livejournal.com]

You write quite well my dear. I always enjoy how truely hearfelt your posts are. *hugs you* I think this nation has a lot of work to do, but I feel now that at least we are on the path to correction our problems. It's a great day.

[floweringjudas.livejournal.com]

Oh, ♥, Stoney. This post was beautiful.

WTF, Barack Obama, is he going to make me cry EVERY DAY THIS WEEK? 3-0 in his favor, so far. >:|

[copykween.livejournal.com]

This day is just....spectacular! I loved every minute of his speech earlier, and am filled with hope for the future.

*fist pump*

\o/

[shadowvalkyrie.livejournal.com]

That's a lovely post! Thank you for sharing your perspective!

I've just been watching Obama's speech on the news, and for the first time in years, I can think of America as other than something to fear and to hate for its idiots in power. I'm hoping and crossing my fingers for you and for the rest of the world that things will change for the better and that Obama can overcome the all the problems he has inherited.
It truly felt like watching an historic moment!

In that vein: *cheers with you from across the ocean*

[arcana-j.livejournal.com]

An excellent post, m'dear.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC I LOVE, VINNIE. <3

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

There's a LOT to do, but I just feel that it's going to happen - that people are finally getting their heads out of their butts and looking beyond their own noses.

It's a GREAT day.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

OMG he's making me cry over and over!! I'm smiling while I'm doing it, but damn. I have such a crush on him, and his family, and the Bidens.

<3 <3 <3

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

The realistic commentary on the state of things wrapped up in hope and a challenge to be better people = one of the better speeches I've ever heard.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

As a true believer in democracy, I can't begin to tell you how sad I've been to have people hate my country because of one administration. I've never stopped being proud of my nation, but it's sure wonderful to have others be proud of us again!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Your icon is a thing of beauty!!! I love that man and the spirit of YES that he inspires!

[kita0610.livejournal.com]

We done good today, Stoney. We done good.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

We done real good!! oh, I was so happy to see his family beaming as they stepped outside! <3

[kita0610.livejournal.com]

I just.

ARETHA'S HAT.

[warrior-woman.livejournal.com]

Well said.

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

Thats true. :-) I truly hope he can continue to do that during all off his four years. :-)

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

Election day meant more to me. I walked into the voting area and realized mine was the only white face in the room. For the first time, everyone there could vote for someone who looked like them for president.

[bitchygrrl.livejournal.com]

We are and it is. I think people are ready to change.

[a-mistletoe.livejournal.com]

Thanks to jackassery on my part (now in plaster) I was able to watch the Inauguration in all its glory at home, rather than miss it at work. An historic day. I remember the JFK inaugural speech and how warm that made me feel. This was just as heartfelt. Favourite bit (apart from Aretha's hat of course) was the benediction. What an old school preacher he was and this hope for the new and for change is firmly grounded in the roots of family and faith. I feel renewed. Good luck to us all in these challenging times.

[arcana-j.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I can only take credit for displaying it, however, as it was made by another on LJ during the campaign. :)

[chantal87.livejournal.com]

My heart is full of hope and pride for our country.
It's a weird feeling. I kinda love it.

[lynnenne]

I had a Whites Only water fountain in my first elementary school.

Wow. I can't even begin to wrap my head around that.

I was spat on and had my life threatened; the school changed its flag and mascot and I was no longer ashamed of my college.

You done good, honey. <3

[absinthe-gypsy.livejournal.com]

I am both weepy and so proud today. I LOVE our new president

[soulwhispers.livejournal.com]

It's amazing, such a day. CNN has made me choke up multiple times.

[supremegoddess1.livejournal.com]

yes, we can.

[midnightsjane.livejournal.com]

Wonderful post, Stoney.
Canada, and the rest of the world joins you in the hope for better things to come.

[denelian.livejournal.com]

why do you say you are not a great writer? this was fantabulous.

i was raised mostly cherokee. i was always "the indian" in the class - i don't know how many times i played Pocahontas (but i can't spell her name anymore? wtf, brain? erm. anyway)

then.. over the course of about 8 years, the porphyria leeched the melanin out of my skin. but i was still "the indian", i mean, everyone knew me.

then i moved to Alabama, when i was 16.

all the sudden i was *white*. oh, GODS, how fucking different it was!!!

i am almost 32. most of the people who i now know casually, think i am white. i guess i am "passing". i often feel crippling guilt over this. i am not punished as members of my family are. as old friends are. as i *used* to be.

it's a thing. when i talk about my *white guilt* that's what i mean. (i know everyone else has this totally different definition of white guilt). i hope that in the future, everyone can go through that accidental change that i did, that everyone can be seen as "white", and by that i mean that everyone can stop being punished for NOT BEING white. if that makes sense...

[jadeddm.livejournal.com]

It's a momentous day. Unfortunately, half of my family is Southern and the other half are Mormon, so all I keep hearing lately is how the country is going to go down the tubes because 'one of them' was put in charge. x_x

Why did I choose this year to make the resolution to try and reconnect with my family?

[kaydee23.livejournal.com]

I know we're not on each other's lists anymore, but a lot of my friends are still reading you and link you a lot, so I keep up:) I saw this post several days ago, and I kept wondering about something you said in it, so I'll go ahead and ask. My MS students are doing a research project on Jim Crow Laws for Black History Month, and I was kind of surprised by something in this post. You shared that your first elementary school had a Whites Only fountain. My question is, was that a historical artifact preserved for history, or were they still segregating Whites and Black at your school? Was this in Texas, somewhere else in the South of the US or South Africa? I'm trying to grasp the timeline.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I honestly couldn't tell you if it was preservation of history, or neglect - I only went to that school for K and 1rst, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was neglect in taking it down. I used to go to an advanced reader class in 1rst grade and the teacher was a black woman, so...

But it was there. And it was DISD, if that helps? (Dallas ISD) I was in first grade in ... 1977.

[kaydee23.livejournal.com]

I was living in Grand Prairie, Texas (after 1985 and before 1990 is the best time I can give) and I remember a black student fighting to save the mascot, "The Rebel" at a high school in Grand Prairie. He was the first minority elected for mascot since the founding of the school. He was greatly disappointed that people were fighting to abolish the mascot rather than fighting to claim it for everyone. I do think they abolished it his senior year or the next. I remember wavering between wanting the mascot changed and wanting him to win.