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Thursday, January 15th
I rolled out of bed at 12:30 this morning, eager to get on the road after just a few hours sleep. Left my house by 1:11 (yes, I looked at the clock for the exact time) and set out on the road. It was pitch black, except for the shimmering snow that started to fall, so I took my time... already knowing that the 6,7 hours drive was going to be more like 8,9 hours if that.
Of course, people had warned me about the crowded highways...how millions upon millions of people would be getting on the road on Friday and how I better get there on Thursday at the LATEST. As I drove, I snacked on a candy bar and Vitamin water, listened to passing radio stations from town to town (which of course I kept comparing to DKX. I almost felt bad they couldn't be has hot as we are! LOL!), and thought about what it was exactly that I was driving TO.
And then it hit me: I was literally driving into the FUTURE. The midnight sky, luminated by just the snow and my headlights, was almost like a metaphor for what was happening. I couldn't see but 15 feet or so in front of me for most of the way, but I knew that if I took my time, proceeded with caution, and was mindful of the few feet I COULD SEE, I would get to where I was going.
I feel like everyone who fought in the Civil Rights movement saw life this way then.... that if they kept on going, kept being persistant against evey obstacle, they would get to where they were going. At the time, I am sure that they felt EQUALITY alone would be a most magnificant goal to achieve, never realizing that the path would lead to January 20, 2009 and beyond.
That time was NOT THAT LONG AGO.
I'm just 28 years old and I never thought I WOULD SEE THIS DAY in MY lifetime. I can only imagine how my grandparents and parents feel. As you know, my mom is from the South... Alabama to be exact. Hueytown. She was young at the time, but she remembers segregated waiting rooms and racial epithets hurdled at her. And now? Well... JANUARY 20, 2009.
What I love about this election is that Barack Obama truly is a reflection of all people who have struggled and of all their successes. He is Black. He is white. He was not wealthy. He grew up without a dad. His grandparents toiled to provide for him. He toiled to provide for himself. He made a way for himself and blazed down that path our civil rights forefathers started decades ago.
I've been in D.C. just a few hours now and I can already feel the energy. Driving down, I heard a remix for "Pop Chamagne" called "Barack Campaign." (Yep -- already emailed it to Tariq! LOL! The video should be posted soon too, if not already). I heard the song and I thought, "WOW! People are about to go NUTS!" Never had I had that thought about a president getting sworn in -- well, maybe... but not in a good way.
We have gone through so much as a nation within the last decade. It IS time to celebrate, especially us as BLACK PEOPLE. NEVER have I seen all of Black America collectively celebrate so jubliantly before -- this almost palpable sense of "MAN!!! Can you believe this??" Sometimes I can't. Often times I can't. Even now. It'll all be real in a few days though :) Stay tuned!
Miss you guys!
Liz
