I have read the story of Emancipation
Proclamation issued on January 1, 1863 by then United States President, Abraham
Lincoln and following that declaration, again on February 1, 1865, Lincoln
signs the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution that outlawed slavery in the
United States. It’s time for change!
Honestly speaking, as I lived thru lots
of stories of slaves and racial disparities, though faced with those
indiscriminately perpetrated innuendos, either deliberately or stereotypically,
then in 2008, I remarkably lived to see the first black president, Barack
Obama, elected and sworn into the highest office in the land.
Also, the story of Oprah, the media mogul’s meteoric rise from
tears to success was mesmerizing and stunningly nuanced as she battles an
alcohol addiction like many of her African American fellow men and women who
have resigned to alcohol, similar to that of the indigenous people in
Australia, to ease their intolerable suffering to go on in life with enormous
frustration and hopelessness.
Just to name a few, I also saw most of
Martin Luther King’s chunk of the prolific speech “I have a dream”, Rosa Parks
the “iron lady” who boarded the Montgomery City bus and refused to give up her
seat courteously, Malcolm X, some of his articulate and passionate moments to
cast off the shackles of racism "by any means necessary”. Jesse Jackson, the two time Democratic
presidential candidate, who became one of the most influential African
Americans, rose to prominence presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988 winning
16 state contests and millions of votes making him the first viable African
American Democratic presidential candidate before Obama. I remember “that one”
vividly; he mesmerized and shook everyone by delivering stunning speeches, but
it wasn’t the right time to be. Let’s face it credit to him for building
bridges for Obama to cross the highly torrential rivers.
My biggest message to my fellow
complaining comrades, if you think you are being discriminated and having rough
time considering what the past generations had endured, take their courage for
your contentment to go on. Don’t worry…the door is widely open now.
There are more lights to emerge. Enjoy
the ride wisely. After all is being said and done, no one lives forever; it’s
time for change and move forward irrepressibly and empathetically with no
hostility, understanding our human nature frailties that may creep in
occasionally.
Today, black candidates serve multiple
purposes, honoring the total legacies of Dr. King’s prophetic words that focus
on the issues of civil rights, highlighting the use of nonviolence to promote
change, calling people into public services and humanity to embrace and live
with one another without preconditions.
However, we can’t continue living in the
past anymore, whether we like it or not errors do happen. We have the choice to
move forward with a comprehensive social change, compromise, recognition and
resolution.
The greatest anti-apartheid hero and
philanthropist, Nelson Mandela, said, “No one is born hating another person
because of the color of his skin, his background, or his religion. People must
learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for
love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” True, we all have
learned from the society we have lived in.
Most importantly, that visionary and dream
story astonishingly fulfilled when Barack Obama became the first black President
of the United States of America.
“The difference between a dreamer and a
visionary is that a dreamer has his eyes closed and a visionary has his eyes
open.” –Martin Luther King, Jr.
“I will listen to you, especially when
we disagree.” –Barack Obama
I'm for truth, no matter who tells it.
I'm for justice, no matter who it's for or against.” –Malcolm X
I walk slowly, but I never walk
backward. - Abraham Lincoln
“If you're walking down the right path
and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress.” –Barack
Obama
“Whatever we do echoes for generations.”
–Barack Obama
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