Barack Obama sweeps the Potomac primaries. Thats what the headlines read tonight when I got home from a lecture entitled "Race & National Politics in America" at The New School, given by Greggory Keith Spence, Professor in Professional Practice at The New School (Milano Faculty).
The lecture began with the idea that "Race has played a major role in national politics since the founding of the United States." A historical perspective approach was applied which led us to, of course - and the main reason that most folks attended - the possibility of a black democratic Presidential candidate.
As it turned out, as I had expected it to turn out, what was discussed was aligned with my intellectual fascinations - the idea of re-telling history as it really were, which lends itself to unraveling the social, political, and cultural conundrums of the 21st Century here in America.
Talk of "race" thus far from or about Obama has been at a very minimum, however, be assured that it is coming. Particularly, from those politicians and political archetypes right of center, you can expect open talks, or behind the curtain rumor mills. They will stop at nothing to cause divide amongst us, Americans.
Does it come as any surprise that I support the candidate whose campaign slogan, from the beginning, speaks of change and hope? But, change means a lot of things now. For example, not every black person is voting for Barack, not every black politician is voting for Barack. Many of these Washington politicians have close ties to the Clinton's, and they are not about to sever them. Favors received, are debts unpaid, now they're paying their debts to Hillary. The same goes for a few black organizations and churches here in New York City. Hillary and Bill were very visible politicians, especially in Harlem.
The lecture much like my blog entries ended segments and its entirety in positivist fashion. The focus was not here is the bad news, and that means more bad news. Mr. Spence simply discussed how things really were, and how they really are today - sending folks home with knowledge to spread so that we may avoid repeating mistakes from the past (i.e. the"Bradley Effect").
I close this entry repeating an idea Greggory Spence closed his lecture with, which is a thought I had written in my own journal when Obama won the Iowa primary. Regardless if Barack succeeds in getting the democratic nomination or does not, regardless if he does and then does not get elected president, he has already made history. The fact that a black candidate has garnered support from Americans of all backgrounds, has earned 1,242 Delegates, and shows no signs of waning is progress that can not be erased!
We are making history, we are changing what we want changed.
