I call bullshit on the "America's not ready for a Black president" meme

[beaconess]

America wasn't ready to end slavery. America wasn't ready for Jackie Robinson. America wasn't ready for the armed forces to be integrated. America wasn't ready to outlaw school desegregation. America wasn't ready for a Black Supreme Court justice. America wasn't ready for a Black cabinet member. America wasn't ready for a Black presidential candidate. America wasn't ready for a Black governor. America wasn't ready for a Black national party chair. America wasn't ready for a Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. America wasn't ready for a Black billionaire.

America wasn't ready for any of those things, but because people took a chance, pushed the envelope and EXPECTED America to do better, they happened.

When will America be ready for a Black president? Are we supposed to wait around until the magical day when America finds itself ready?

No. America will be ready when we MAKE it ready. And we make it ready by making it happen.

It's time to stop telling Blacks to wait a little while longer since America is not ready for us to do this or to do that. We need to MAKE America ready.

As Thurgood Marshall said 1954 when asked why Blacks didn't approach civil rights with a more gradual approach. "I am for a gradual approach 91 years since the emancipation proclamation is gradual enough."

I don't know whether Obama will be the right candidate in 2008 (or if he even wants to run). I don't know if I'll support him in the primaries if he does. But I do know that the "America isn't ready for a Black president" argument is bullshit. I have higher expectations of my America and I will work like hell to see that she lives up to them.