Subscribe to Breaking NewsWithers: Obama wins and the struggle continues
A chapter has closed. After two years of chicken dinners, shaking countless hands, traveling to and speaking in small towns and large urban areas, Barack Hussein Obama is president elect of the United States. For some that is a nightmare, others the culmination of what Langston Hughes called ” a dream deferred.”
Actually it’s neither dream nor nightmare. To dismiss the history making election is foolhardy, but if you have been paying attention to the Obama campaign race is not the game the future 44th president plays. He knows the history of course, probably better than most, but being first only goes so far. If Jackie Robinson wasn’t a great ball player, his place in history would be negligible at best. If W.E.B. DuBois wasn’t a scholar of the finest order, no one would remember him as the first black man to get a doctorate from Harvard.
So when the novelty fades, Obama needs to govern and that is where we will judge him.
Ahh but whenever there is a celebration after an election, it also means some are disappointed. It was a difficult night for same-sex marriage advocates. Florida and Arizona voters supported same sex marriage bans. Out in California, Proposition 8 numbers are still coming in and it’s going to be tight.
Sure this is a loss and I can imagine the comments we are going to get today. With that said, all freedom struggles face obstacles. Being angry today is okay, but the larger question is once the anger subsides what are our next steps for marriage equality. That’s what I want to hear and you should only listen to folk who are talking the future.
Eddie,
So Cornel West does not meet your high standards?! Neither does Gates? Oh, really? Okay. I’m done with you brother. You’ve shown what you are really about. Peace to you and yours.
Sincerely,
James
ps: let us know how your eviction plan works, okay? Can’t wait to hear.
I see a lot of people lashing out at the black and latino communities.—
African Americans voted to deny gay people our equality, that is a sad FACT. 70% of Blacks, and an astounding 75% of Black women voted against gay equality. Below is a link to a video showing a prominent African American “Yes on Prop 8″ advocate actally accusing gays of being pedophiles who target America’s children. This type of blatant anti-gay bigotry is sadly common in many Black churches in America and was used quite effectively to pass Prop 8. And you want to blame Gay people for the anti-gay bigotry in the Black community? Wow.
Below is a Video link showing a prominent African American “Yes on Prop 8″ advocate shilling for the passage of Prop 8 by preaching that Gays are pedophiles:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrwj7SVWBMA
Lala – you may have a point that the Gay Community needs to continue to work on full inclusion – however, we have and do reach out to all gays regardless of race. We have many many sub-cultures in the gay community as you are aware we should be accepting and open to all – and yes, we have work to do there be it butch, femm, bear, twink, leather daddy, jock etc. etc. etc. You claim you are viewed as a “sexual conquest” how lucky for you…if so many want you for sex are you really being shunned? It is each and every one of our responsibilities to get in there, demand to be seen and heard, and continue to fight for inclusion and acceptance. You state, “Why should I help YOUR cause”…well, because Equality should be all our cause. While we may not be perfect within the community, we certainly can multi-task and continue to work both internally on ourselves within the gay community and at the same time demand our Equality from the Country we belong to, the government we all pay taxes too, our fellow citizens who we all impact in one way or another. Working toward inclusion and equality is a task both within/without the “community” – these are not mutually exclusive tasks.
lala – I can sympathize with your position. I was originally from a very tiny town in the Midwest, and it wasn’t easy for me to come out either. I know there is no support for gay people who are black in the black community, that’s a double tragedy. It still doesn’t excuse this, and I’m tired of hearing that the gay community is racist – that’s the biggest bunch of crap I’ve ever heard.
James – what I mean exactly is – don’t hire, only fire, don’t rent – only evict, don’t give service or even speak to them. I read through your list – not exactly a who’s who. Where is Barack Obama? Where is Jesse Jackson? Their silence is deafening. This is a horror to the gay community and the black community keeps on celebrating.
I see a lot of people lashing out at the black and latino communities. However, the gay community needs to take a look in the mirror. Did the gay community try to include gay blacks and latinos in this endevor? NO.
Minority gays have it tough on both sides. We catch hell from our families and the gay community as a whole only looks at us as some “sexual conquest” based upon a thin stereotype. Why should I help your cause when I’m only seen as a notch in the belt?
GAys need to work toward equality and acceptance in our own community before demanding the same from others.
Eddie,
Don’t take this personally, but you need to read a few more books. Or at least get out of the house. “Everything in your power?” What the heck does that mean?
By the way: here is an answer to your question:
Cornel West, Henry Louis Gates, Gerald Early, Ta-Nehisi Coates, bell hooks, Julianne Malveaux. You want me to continue?
Sincerely,
James