Obama
This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that’s on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She’s a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing - Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn’t vote for two reasons - because she was a woman and because of the colour of her skin.
And tonight, I think about all that she’s seen throughout her century in America - the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can’t, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes, we can.
At a time when women’s voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes, we can.
When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes, we can.
When the bombs fell on our harbour and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes, we can.
She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that “we shall overcome”. Yes, we can…
The full text of Barack Obama’s victory speech here.
That was a moving speech.
I consider myself lucky to have been to one of his last pre-election rallies.
Comment by Arvindh — November 8, 2008 @ 7:51 pm
I was reading a book - “Black like me” by John Howard Griffin, the content of which incidentally relates to the deep racial divide in southern American Louisiana, Mississipi, Alabama and Georgia in 1950s.
Griffin, a white journalist, used medication to darken his skin to deep brown, and decided to travel among the black in Deep South and his experience was recorded as “Black Like Me”.
I have not found a better written non-fiction based on first-hand knowledge and analysis of the great American racial divide.
Comment by Jayanta Sarma — November 18, 2008 @ 5:21 am
I was incidentally reading a book by John Howard Griffin, a white American journalist, who used medication to darken his skin to a deep brown tone - that of a Negro. He traveled in the Deep South of America - Loisiana, Mississipi, Alabama and Georgia - and lived among the Black, being one of them, unnoticed in the year 1959 and recounted his understanding of the racial divide in those days.
I have not come across a better book on the subject yet. I am sharing this because I thought the book - “Black Like Me” - perhaps may interest you.
Comment by Jayanta Sarma — November 18, 2008 @ 8:05 am
It’s time now to walk the talk.
Comment by Anil — November 23, 2008 @ 5:49 pm
hope you and your family are safe.
Comment by blinkandmiss — November 27, 2008 @ 9:32 am
Uma, you do not know me. My name is Nandini and I was in college after you. I searched for you online and now, I read your blog every time you post something. Strangely, never commented.
I just remembered you when I saw the Mumbai carnage. I really really hope you and your family and friends are okay.
Comment by Nandini Vishwanath — November 29, 2008 @ 8:22 am