Over the last couple of days I've been observing white and black interactions in my daily business. For the most part I can report nothing unusual or racist has happened. The people were both courteous and respectful of the other person. This got me to thinking especially in today's political climate where a black man running for president has received overwhelming support from white people (according to a CNN poll more support than black folks).
Anyways this got me to thinking about the proverbial question that now rages across this land. Are we really past judging people by the color of thier skin? Better question which generation has gotten past the color of a person's skin? It would seem the answer is the younger generation-those that fall between the ages of 16-26. Have the past generations of parents really been able to teach their children how judge a person by thier content and not the color of thier skin? Part of me would like to say yes. Having two children that fall within that age group and watching thier peers. I would like to say yes it seems they look at a person for face value. This age group truly does not understand what and why things offend the older generations of blacks. They understand slavery, but since it has been whitewashed by the public school system and barely taught in the private school system...they don't get the resentment, anger and complete frustration of black folks. Part of me wants to say yes as I continue to watch this age group and I realize their politics and culture are far different then what my generation grew up with and my parent's generation. . (I grew up in the 80's parents grew up in the 60's). The lines weren't so blurred back then as they are now. Black culture was black culture and white culture was white culture the two rarely blended. But now that's quite a different story, as black culture has been bitten, branded and watered down to appeal to the white culture, which they have adopted with ferociousness. It's a proven marketing fact, that rap music is now purchased by more whites than blacks. They have adopted our clothing style--you see just as many of them with their pants hanging under their asses and caps turned to the side as you do black folks. Just pass by any local high school or better yet turn on MTV during spring break. They've adopted our slang terminology and some speak better ebonics than we do. They utter the word nigga with out flinching or batting an eye--it's common to them--they hear it all the time. Yet does this mean they better understand black life and therefore feel they look at black people from the inside out? Part of me wants to say yes. But I can't help but feel, that since our black culture has been adopted, bitten, branded and diluted, they are under a dangerous misconeption that they understand us, they get black culture. As our rap icons are now openly embraced and imitated by whites I believe they think this gives them a free pass into the black culture. As whites become more exposed to blacks through blacks moving into suburban neighborhoods(hell where I grew up ther was only a handful of us at my high school, now when I go back black folks are about equal to the whites.) more blacks on TV in more non traditonal roles and reality shows it has given this particular age group a false sense of knowledge of a group of people they only know superficially. This gives whites the appearance that they are color blind and they judge on face value. What's the cry when you accuse them of this "I have black friends" well let's explore this further. If this is true then where does the ignorance of hate come from? Does it come from the grandparents of the older generations--the fun loving hippies of the 60's and 70's. This group of people that vowed "lets make love not war". Parents truly want to believe they raised a generation of children that are color blind---that were exposed to the black culture through televised lens. My only response to these parents is how do they think that expsure substitutes for actual experience. I know the next question is how do I do that? Easy do you have black friends or for that matter any group of people darker than yourself? Do your children see you interact with people of color outside of a work situation? Has any person of color been invited to your house for any type of social situation,i.e. party, get togehter, neighborhood bbq? Do you speak with the people of color that live in your neighborhood? Do your children have black, or hispanic friends and if they do, have you introduced yourself to them? Have you the parent scratched beneath the superficial sterotypes and lead by example? Have you shown your children what it truly means to be colorblind? Children learn by example and usually that comes from the parents. Now I know the response from white people is to say--"why do we have do all the work" and my response to that is because of racism, prejudice and just the very fact that white's have dominated public culture for so long, we live in your world, are taught in your schools and are surrounded by you, we have no choice but to know you as we work, live and play in your world. So yes in order for it to change you must make the initial effort. It shows us you've made a choice and at that point we can meet you half way. So I ask myself the question again as I watch the 20 something in front of me speak with my mechanic. Have we achieved the colorblind status with the younger generation? I believe that the answer is no. We have not achieved this in the greater society. Yet I also believe it is slowly being chipped away by the younger generation and some of us oldheads. You might ask what do I teach my children. Well I walk what I talk I lead by example, my whole family does for not only do I have friends of different color, I also have family memebers of diffrent colors, I have a very rich and mixed cultural heritage. My family ranges from Spanish, African-american, Caribbean and Caucassian. My sons see me interact outside of work situations with people of all ethnicities and color as they have come to my house to break bread, and we eat, drink, laugh and teach. This does not mean my children are not keenly aware of the prejudice and racism that exists in the world, it would be negligent of me not to equip my boys for the world outside of my house, the one in which they must interact on a daily basis. Yet I have also given them the gift to make their friends and judge for themselves on the basis of a person's content. Do I believe we are raising color blind children? No not yet but in a few more generations I think we might. I think the tide could possibly turn.

I turned on my televison today to catch up with the news in politics and as always I check out FOX News first,( becaue we know just how fair and impartial they are) and then I turned to MSNBC and low and behold they are talking about the fist bump Michelle gave to her husband during one of his speeches. OMG people is this what this country has come to that we are going to scrutinzie every single gesture this man does. The extreme right is calling it a gesture towards terrosim. OMG White America are you telling me that you are so isolated from the popular trends of this world, you don't know what the hell a fist bump isand what it means. So I guess that means Micheal Jordan, Charlie Sheen, any athelete from any pro or college team including hockey and a politician are terroists. I say this becaue at any given time during any college game, pro game, and anyone under the age of 35 has given the fist bump at some point in time. What I believe this to be is another chance to point out just how black this man is, and OMG we don't want that exposed---white americans are not comfortable with anything that is remotely black. For them to like a black candidate of any type they must feel he is a non threat----that he doesn't wear his blackness openly for everyone to see. Many of the style trends started in this country are started by black youth....yet it is unacceptable until white teenagers embrace the culture. Snoop Dogg is a good example (we of course love him) they love him so much they invited him to Ozzfest (for those of you who don't know what that is think Ozzy Osbourne) It is a proven marketing fact that rap is purchased by white males between the ages of 17-34 more often than blacks in the same category. They've stolen our style stepped on our trends and claimed it as their own, and it is only at this point do they accept black culture, because now it is no longer deemed as threat.They may not like it, but hell they figure if little johnny listens to it, then it can't be that bad. What is a white man's worst nightmare......an educated black man. Obama must scare the hell out of them.

Never forget you were born to be free
To live, to laugh, to love to hate
To do as you feel in this democratic state
Never forget you were born to live free
To worship and pray for your soul's captivity
Never forget you were born to be free
To fight in a war for whose liberty?
Handcuffed, disenfranchised and systematically raped.
This all done for your people's fate
Our richness devalued, our history destroyed
Our legs spread open for the white man's toy
Never forget you were born to be free
To live your life in captivity
Our brains diseased by their illicit lures
As we forget our heritage and embrace their lore
We fell for their lies, their false respect, we laughed at their jokes
However circumspect
Never forget you were born to be free
We laid down our arms in our na ve minds
Treating them, as we wanted to be treated in kind
Bamboozled and hoodwinked they have our bodies,
but not our minds
Never forget you were born to be free
To pursue your happiness violently
Never forget you were born to be free
By any and all means necessary

Last night I flipped between MSNBC and CNN I wanted the results of the primaries in South Dakota and Montana. I wanted to know had he made it, did he have enough to finally put this thing in the bag. My heart fluttered, my stomach did flip flops was it possible that we could have our first black democratic nomination. Oh I listened to the pundits, the talk show host, and everyone state their opinion, but I needed to know and then their it was on TV those magic numbers he had done it. Oh my gosh I called my husband and yelled the news excited. He had to text me back but the chant was the same Obama! Obama! Obama! I had my children with me as we watched the speech given by him and was mesmerized. How did a black man win Montana we were amazed. I watched as the media began their frenzy on what would HIlary do, of course she would have to admit defeat, and concede. But no…there was the cold water to slap us in the face. She would not acknowledge defeat, but encouraged her supporters to contact her web site with ideas of what she should do. Are you serious!!!! What to do…..here' s an idea take the high road, concede and begin to unify this fractured and divided party. Show America that you aren't the bitch every one knows you to be…..show America that through this long arduous campaign you've grown beyond your normal boundaries. Wow was I asking for a lot. Instead she gave a self serving speech that down played a significant and historical moment. She didn't acknowledge this moment in history….she didn't even understand that she was a part of that history. When in America's political history has a black man and woman ever fought for the democratic nomination and be the front runners. But instead she decided to do something selfish and backstabbing. Yes backstabbing….Ms. Clinton showed her true colors throughout this whole campaign, she showed Black Americans that her loyalties lie with her. When she thought she had our support, and we were in her corner, we were her best friends. The moment she felt an doubt in our support for her she turned on us and kicked the Black vote to the curb, and turned us over to Obama, as though we were mindless people unable to formulate an opinion based on fact and truth. She ran a campaign based on identification politics, that she was an everyday blue collar white american and moved as far away from the black vote as possible. She showed her true colors in how she felt for Black Americans and what they stood for, and how important they were to her. She threw us under the bus people she no longer appreciated our support or what WE had done for her and her husband in the past. She no longer identified with the policies, concerns or causes. She has forgotten us and I suggest we begin to forget her. It was upsetting to see someone who had the respect of so many people decide to use her platform as a way to barter and use her 18 million plus votes as bargaining chips at a moment that should have been about the party and not about her. She has used this moment to demand and scheme her way onto a ticket that does not want her because she feels "entitled" to it. Entitlement does not make one a Vice president or even the president, it puts you right where she is now….on the losing side.

Last night I stood tall and proud of my country (yes I will say it for Michelle) I was proud of the fact, that a black man could win a state known as Big Sky, a state associated with hunting, sheep, horse ranches, and rifles. Last night I stood tall and proud of my country as they nominated a Black man to run for president of the United States….that this country has moved past color and are truly looking for a change. Do I believe that racism is dead….NO it's still there….West Virginia and Kentucky reminded us of that notion.
Yet I was able to shed a tear for country that was able to put its fear on the back seat and do something astounding for this country….now lets go after the whole thing. Elect this man PRESIDENT!!!!! Last night I stood tall and proud

Haven't had a chance to write and speak my mind. Of course there has been a feast of things to write about it, but the one thing on my mind right now is Obama. I listened to his speech last night. My that man can give a speech he is very good, plus it was a perfect stage to give his speech from there where it all started. Ok so now he has Oregon in his pocket, but lost Kentucky….is that a good thing? Is it a good thing if he wins the nomination and needs to pull Kentucky in November/ Remember it is going to take more than just black people to get him elected, he needs that white vote and it can't be just the upper middle class, it has also got to be blue collar workers, who for some reason feel Hilary is their best friend. This is something I do not truly understand, if anyone can sympathize with the plight of blue collar workers it is a black man. They pounced on himf or being elitest—is that their way of discounting an educated black man who has been able to better himself inspite of his surroundings. Why are they not calling slur to HIlary come on when has she every in the last 12 years felt the plight of the common man. This is a woman who loaned her own campaign millions of dollars…..please explain to me how rich do you have to be to be able to drop a more than 10 million dollars to yourself, but he is the elitest. It's funny how they always have a name for black people when they beleive they are acting out of their culture. They (white media) look for different ways to discredit and discount this man, it can't be the fact he is well educated and has a plan for this country no…they always believe there has got to be someone else who is pulling the strings. Oh I know the media has loved him more than Hilary…I heard the whining she did I get it, but now the tables have turned. I sit there and listen to these left wing mind sets and wonder what world do they see. They claim to want a better world, a united world, but then they do their best to cut him down at any means necessary. They don't like their own candidate but they hate ours more. Boy when this man wins the nomination and eventually the presidency it's going to be rough on black folks remember to white people one black person represents 12 million. Well I wonder ….I guess we have to wait and see.