To my fellow DUers who happen to be of African-American descent...

[OneGrassRoot]

or who are perhaps married to someone or has a child of AA descent...

I can only imagine ~ for I certainly cannot know ~ but I can only imagine the emotions rising within you as we near what shall most likely be the election of President Barack Obama.

We've heard about the interactions with others "out there" in our daily lives as it involves race and racism/bigotry in this election, some positive and others appalling. There have been heartwarming stories, as well as encounters that have made our blood boil just to read of them.

But, please, I would be most honored to learn about YOUR story, your personal story of how Barack Obama and his candidacy have impacted you and/or your loved ones.

How did you feel when he became our nominee? How do you feel now? Can you even imagine how you shall feel November 5th?

What a journey!

This isn't a thread for anyone to critique. I respectfully request (I know, I know, it is a messageboard) that people be allowed to share their stories ~ the good, the bad and the ugly, as for many it has probably been an evolution of emotion ~ without anyone picking it apart or judging.

My hope is that this can be a space for sharing personal experiences, feelings and insights from a perspective not all of us can claim to know, but can certainly learn from.

This thread simply is. :)

Thank you in advance for sharing. :hi:

[DoctorMyEyes]

1. What a nice idea for a thread

I am white and was raised in a bi-racial family. My grown sons are bi-racial, my daughters in law are black and I have two little black grand daughters. I don't know what it's like to be black - only what it's like to be a white member of a multi-racial family. I do however know what it is to have your highest hopes and fondest dreams invested in the futures of those two tiny little black girls.



This is my own tall, skinny, big eared, funny named, bi-racial son, his lovely wife, beautiful daughters, and me. And we're voting for Obama - not because he's "just like us" - but, because he's the best and the brightest to offer himself to the task. But, I'd be lying if I didn't admit that somewhere in the background, somewhere in my heart, it isn't almost too much to bear sometimes when I really think about it and I choke up with tears. Tears at the very idea that I'm going to see something I didn't dare dream I'd see in my lifetime. That all the things I've told my children and they've told their children about being an American is true, that anything is possible. That with hard work and determination you can be anything you want to be. Because up till now I've always known, and so have they that there were "caveats" - that what we were saying was more hope than truth.

Conversely, I'm occasionally terrified that despite this being the right man at the right time who has done all the right things that his rightful victory could be denied and that I won't ever know how to get over the shame of being proven so wrong.

So, basically - I'm having some emotional mood swings... I think I'll be okay next Wednesday. :o)

[OneGrassRoot]

5. You are all so beautiful!!!

I'm seeing responses for the first time this morning...I was afraid I had offended by even asking the question in some odd way.

I know I'm going to be crying with each post, and I'm starting the tears with yours. Really, so very beautiful you all are.

I hear you about the "more hope than truth" thing, and being petrified of being proven wrong - again.

Holding hands with you and yours through this thing.....:hug:

[kickysnana]

2. I have tears in my eyes (Email to my son's wives today)

When I met and married T__ my marriage was still illegal in about 8 states. Jobs were still segregated into men's and women's. Before I married T__ I sat down to try to sort out how I felt about everything and ask myself if I was strong enough to live with the realities. One of the things I realized was that my children, at that time, could probably never be President. (Make no mistake I am very proud of the fine men, husbands and fathers they have become.)

Now I have tears in my eyes because my grandchildren, both boys and girls can possibly, no doubt, grow up to be President. We have overcome.

[OneGrassRoot]

6. Yes!!!!!!!!

Kickysnana, thank you for sharing here!!! I would love to know more about your journey if you are ever inspired to share...again, I just can't imagine.

But I admire you and your husband tremendously. You have overcome and shown your children and grandchildren the way!!!!

Thank you for being so brave. :hug:

[Ecumenist]

3. I was thinking about this potentiality and was stunned by what it means

to me and what it would have meant to my grandparents and my mothers, (Mom and MIL). I am of mixed African descent and I am married to a Bohemian Czech from deepindaharta Texas. He always teases me that he is a good ole southern boy who married a Yankee city girl. Wee have always thought about the fact that our marriage wasn't officially legal in California as recently as 1972. Although I'm not voting for him SIMPLY because he looks like me, it is a profound thing to be alive to see and I only wish that my mom and MIL had lived to see this. WE haven't gotten to where we should be but we sure are in a better place than where my grandparents were.

I think that despite what we may think, this proves that this country is a place filled to the brim with good and decent people.

[OneGrassRoot]

7. a chuckle....

"a Bohemian Czech from deepindaharta Texas" - wow, go figure! :)

Ahhhhh, it's nice to hear and feel your positivity. "...this country is a place filled to the brim with good and decent people."

I'll join you in holding that space that those good and decent people stand together and rise up together. :hug:

[Renaissance Man]

4. Thanks for asking!

To me, this presidential election takes me back to a time when I was in the first grade, and my mom bought me two things -- a puzzle of the map of the United States and a globe. This lesson was supposed to teach me that I could go anywhere in life that I wanted.

I'm also reminded of the cadre of old photos that I have that detail the history of my family, and knowing the trials that my great-grandfather experienced growing up in the Jim Crow South shows just how far America has grown and the work that we still have left to be done.

I still hope and I'm cautiously optimistic that America will embrace Sen. Obama so that we can all reach that level of humanity where we begin to look for the better angels in each other and cross the threshold of race and division and look for the humanity in each other.

[OneGrassRoot]

8. And, thank you, Renaissance Man :)

It must be a very powerful time. Your family photos and memories must be especially poignant now as you see how far America has come. You're right though...we have so far to go still. Sadly, Palin's mobs have shown that clearly (the good news is that they seem to be rejected by the majority of people - thank goodness!!!).

I love what you said here:

"I still hope and I'm cautiously optimistic that America will embrace Sen. Obama so that we can all reach that level of humanity where we begin to look for the better angels in each other and cross the threshold of race and division and look for the humanity in each other."

Just beautiful.

:hug:

[DoctorMyEyes]

10. Son?

To me, this presidential election takes me back to a time when I was in the first grade, and my mom bought me two things -- a puzzle of the map of the United States and a globe. This lesson was supposed to teach me that I could go anywhere in life that I wanted.

Joke!

I guess all us moms do that. :hi:

[OneGrassRoot]

9. kick :) n/t

[jules1962]

11. Although my family is white

we totally embrace the wonderful idea of Barack being President. My mom made the comment the other day that she couldn't wait to see those beautiful little girls playing on the White House lawn. This family is so endearing and fun. I know that we have a long way to go in educating the ignorant about racism, but I am really proud of my fellow citizens for choosing Barack. In case you missed it, there is a beautiful bumper sticker on here that says:

Rosa sat so Martin could walk
Martin walked so Barack could run
Barack ran so we could fly.

:grouphug:

[OneGrassRoot]

12. Hi, Jules :)

"Rosa sat so Martin could walk
Martin walked so Barack could run
Barack ran so we could fly."

This is becoming a beautiful mantra for us all. :)

[bdamomma]

15. that bumper sticker is so true

this is our chance.

[tpsbmam]

13. OMG, what a beautiful thread! I'm already in tears reading it ...

just going grab a box of Kleenex and leave it next to the computer as the replies come in. Thanks so much for starting the thread and for all who've shared here, now and in the future. I love this. Damn, I've been moved to tears more during this election than I have in the last 10 years!

k&r

[OneGrassRoot]

14. I'm with you. I go back and forth between being....

furious at the McPalin/BushCo/Hannity types, and a blubbering idiot seeing the images of the Obama rallies, listening to inspiring stories, and oh so much more.

:hug:

[Baldameer]

16. I think it's a beautiful thing

We have nothing to fear from a black president, but alot to learn. Barack is a prime example of a man who never let the color of his skin undermine his integrity, brilliance and honesty as an American. He is especially attentive to people in need. You only have to look at the Obama family to see the love, hope and it really is like looking into a mirror of our own souls of what family really means. Obama is a part of everyone's family, the American family and I'm proud to call him family. You can look at Obama's daughters and you can see that he doesn't throw money at them, instead he throws his love, his values, he pours his heart into them and I do believe that he will pour his heart into all of us and help make us all better for it. :)

[OneGrassRoot]

17. Wow.....

A HUGE welcome to DU, Baldameer!!! :hi:

Such a beautiful post, and so true. Thank you. :hug:

[RainDog]

18. This headline brought me to tears: 103 year old daughter of slaves votes for Obama

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/10/27/1027jones.html

Monday, October 27, 2008

Amanda Jones, 109, the daughter of a man born into slavery, has lived a life long enough to touch three centuries. And after voting consistently as a Democrat for 70 years, she has voted early for the country's first black presidential nominee.