Letter to a Son On Election Night

[bigtree]

WHAT does Barack Obama's election mean to you? It means many things. When you are older, we will talk about how African-American children, like their parents and grandparents, have struggled to overcome the feeling that no matter how hard they study and work and try, there are barriers—some visible, others hidden but still there—that block their way. The feeling that we can rise, but only so far. I did not want you to grow up believing that bitter remnants of the past could hold power over your future. I wanted to be able tell you that it wasn't true—that you could be anything you wanted to be. But I couldn't quite believe it myself. Now I do.

With Obama's election, I can mean it when I tell you that the world is available to you. Yes, I am waxing a bit emotional, so let me temper my exuberance. No election can wipe away racism, and bigotry will show itself to you in ways subtle and not. But it is easier today than it was yesterday to see that racism, once a barrier, is now more like a hurdle. What a fine new addition I have to my mother's arsenal of aphorisms: Son, I can (and probably will) say to you, Barack Obama faced hurdles but succeeded, and you can, too. You are only 4 months old, but already I dream of what a great rocket scientist you'd be. But if you want to be a cattle wrangler, that's OK, too. And if you want to be president? Well, we'll talk.

If you do become president, it won't be just because you won the votes of people who look like you. This election was such a triumph because it tested our nation's fundamental promise of equality—and we as a nation passed. Black Americans did not elect Obama. Americans did. Even if every African-American in the country had voted for him, it would not have been enough. He will enter the White House with the support and good wishes of millions of people of all races, colors and creeds.

Yet this break from the hold of the past, this hope of greater expectations for ourselves, comes with greater expectations on ourselves. We can no longer look to blame outside forces for our failures or rest our shortcomings in the cold comfort of bigotry. If you want to be like Obama, you have to work and work hard. He went to Columbia University and Harvard Law School. He traveled the world and opened his mind. He did not simply dream of being president; he summoned the discipline to get there.

If you could understand any of this, you'd be rolling your eyes at me right now . . .


read more: http://www.newsweek.com/id/167717

[geiger]

1. You're fine, just fine.

Hang in there.

[DoctorMyEyes]

2. A lot of us can relate to the letter writer.

For generations some of us have had to cross our fingers and say a little silent prayer that the little white lie we were telling our children would become the truth. You can be anything you want to be. If you work hard enough you can achieve your dreams.

While I know racism will still exist, like the writer says, it's just become a "hurdle" instead of a "barrier". I'm so happy to know that racial barriers will be, for my granddaughters, more of a history lesson than a life lesson.

[bigtree]

3. thanks for expressing that

That sentiment for your granddaughters is being echoed around the nation. It's a perspective which is unfortunately (and wonderfully) uniquely your own.