The nation that Barack Obama and many others feels can heal its racial wounds still has people that create images and craft messages of hatred and misunderstanding. With Kerry, it was patriotism. With Obama, it's Blackness.
This is the door that has been officially kicked open after Obama's "race speech." He could have locked the door permanently and thrown away the key had that speech been given earlier. Now, it is up to him and his supporters to overcome this mockery and mis-construction of the Black experience in this country and tell the story of a people who's hope and pride have made them the most resilient people on earth.
Is this video being circulated on the internet? I don't understand what its context is.
I DO understand this, however. Every single clip I saw in this video was intentionally taken out of context in order to mislead viewers.
Case in point: Michelle Obama's full quote: "For the first time in my adult life I am proud of my country because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback."
I'm a 55-year old white girl, and I feel exactly the same way. Her statement, when read in its entirety, is utterly provocative, and nothing about it is un-American or unpatriotic or untrue. How can it be that there are so many people in our society who are so completely ignorant of the reality of racial tensions in America?
Finally! We have a chance at having a first family that will begin to address this reality, instead of pretending that all we have to do is "get over it."