Yankee Girl Speaks
When I was a little girl, and my siblings teased me for being a "Yankee Girl", there was something within me that wouldn't give, that wouldn't allow it to bother me.
It had something to do with the African Americans I had found myself around in Brooklyn. It had something to do with the pride they had in their history, in themselves, the strength in the day-to-day struggle and refusal to let anyone bring them down. It had something to do with the picture of Martin Luther King Jr. my father had in our living room. It had something to do with how my classmates, even in the first grade would place arms akimbo and say, "When I grow up, I want to be President" and how we would all say, "I'm Black and I'm Proud!" It has something to do with the fact that I was born in Brooklyn and also identified as African American, and the warmth in which I was received by this community.
And when I traveled to Trinidad, and saw Black heads of states, and read about men like Marcus Garvey and women like Harriet Tubman, I was never in doubt about what we, as human beings could accomplish. Especially by the fact that we have accomplished so much despite. Further reading about African and Indian anti-colonial struggles and a realization that, "hey, We are NOT a MINORITY," made me realize that things would, eventually improve. I guess you have to experience racism to believe it exists--and I've had my share--but deep down, you know that there is another way.
I never thought the U.S. had it in us to vote for an African American Male. I am so happy to be proven wrong. I know that the election is not about Race (or so we say) but about issues--but I know what I witnessed thus far on the news is historic in more ways than one.
The fact that my son has been born in a time when he could look at me and initiate a conversation that ends somewhat like this, "I hope Obama wins," speaks volumes and it is with hope that I begin my day here in Copenhagen, so far away from home, yet so much closer to those, around the world, who demand change.
When I started this blog three years ago, I knew something was in the air: But to be honest I had never envisaged a change so radical as this. What a joyous surprise.
farvel,
the lab
It had something to do with the African Americans I had found myself around in Brooklyn. It had something to do with the pride they had in their history, in themselves, the strength in the day-to-day struggle and refusal to let anyone bring them down. It had something to do with the picture of Martin Luther King Jr. my father had in our living room. It had something to do with how my classmates, even in the first grade would place arms akimbo and say, "When I grow up, I want to be President" and how we would all say, "I'm Black and I'm Proud!" It has something to do with the fact that I was born in Brooklyn and also identified as African American, and the warmth in which I was received by this community.
And when I traveled to Trinidad, and saw Black heads of states, and read about men like Marcus Garvey and women like Harriet Tubman, I was never in doubt about what we, as human beings could accomplish. Especially by the fact that we have accomplished so much despite. Further reading about African and Indian anti-colonial struggles and a realization that, "hey, We are NOT a MINORITY," made me realize that things would, eventually improve. I guess you have to experience racism to believe it exists--and I've had my share--but deep down, you know that there is another way.
I never thought the U.S. had it in us to vote for an African American Male. I am so happy to be proven wrong. I know that the election is not about Race (or so we say) but about issues--but I know what I witnessed thus far on the news is historic in more ways than one.
The fact that my son has been born in a time when he could look at me and initiate a conversation that ends somewhat like this, "I hope Obama wins," speaks volumes and it is with hope that I begin my day here in Copenhagen, so far away from home, yet so much closer to those, around the world, who demand change.
When I started this blog three years ago, I knew something was in the air: But to be honest I had never envisaged a change so radical as this. What a joyous surprise.
farvel,
the lab
Comments
Thanks for keeping me posted. I really appreciate it.
lab