Last night in a football field in Denver, Colorado, the first African American man accepted the nomination from the democratic party for president of the United States. Ten years from now, fifty years from now what happened last night would be no big deal. It would be business as usual.
But yesterday was not business as usual. It was history unfolding right before our eyes. It will be written in newspapers, blogs, magazines and textbooks. It will be discussed over family dinners, at watercoolers and in classrooms. It will become part of the annuals of American history. A history where less than 200 years ago, this county enslaved black folk, treated us with less dignity than property. They striped us of our names, our families, our language, our heritage. But still we rise.
We endured, survived and surmounted every obstacle that has been put in our path. And yesterday, on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's "I HAVE A DREAM," speech, Barack Obama became the embodiment of that dream.
It was his image, his conviction, his oratory, his essence that made us all believe, black, white, red and brown that there is a better tomorrow and we ALL are going to the mountaintop, together.
Our parents and grandparents never thought they'd live to see this day. The sense of pride filled us all.
There are no more excuses ya'll. It can no longer be the "white man's" fault. We are our responsibility and Barack Obama has proven without a doubt that YOU can be whatever you want. But you cannot wait for what you want to be handed to you. Go out and get it!
Be responsible in your home, for your children and your community. Take care of yourself and each other. We can do it.
YES WE CAN!!
Part Two
Part Three
1 comment:
This speech was very powerful and there is a lot to be gained from it on so many levels!
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