I grew up with a Father who staunchly supported my dreams no matter how silly or unrealistic. My dreams were filled with bright lights, big screens, and Broadway bill boards bearing my name! When I wanted to be a Singer, my Daddy let me play my records as loud as I wanted. When I thought I would be the first female Break Dancer to make it big, my Daddy brought home the biggest cut of card board he could find. As my dreams moved to being a Rapper, he bought me a microphone, notebooks, and never winced when I scratched up our records trying to D.J. in our tiny Living Room. I knew without a doubt I could reach the stars, so of course when I began raising my kids I even went a step further. I’ve been Team Mom too many times to count, Assistant Basketball Coach, loudest Mother in the stands, snack person and transportation. 3 of my sons loved sports and wanted to be bigger than Michael Jordan, Kobe, the Barber twins, etc., and my 4th son found his gift in academics. He was the only one who never expressed his dreams or talked about what he wanted to be when he grew up.
Then one day, my son told me he wanted to be the first Black President of the United States of America. I shook my head in agreement and support of his dream knowing I was telling him a lie!
I knew this country, with all its freedoms, democracy, beauty, and protection of its own, this unspeakably wonderful land of opportunity for all men of all races would allow my son to be anything he was capable of reaching for, but President was not one of them.
I hoped and prayed my son would find another dream to strive for. One without a meaningless purpose. As my son entered High School he did shift his focus. Even he opened his eyes realizing he may never see a Black President of the United States in his life time.
So, today as I intently scrutinize the Presidential election, I stand speechless, proud, shameful, and vindicated. Shameful that I didn’t have enough confidence in America to believe I would see a Black President and vindicated that I no longer have to lie. When my little Nephews and Nieces tell me they want to grow up and be President, I can look them straight in the eyes and PROUDLY tell them they can be anything they want to be……… including President of the United States of America…Let’s vote for a Change We Can Believe In.
~GodSpeed~
Latoya
We as parents have a responsibility to be honest with our children, to guide them in the right direction, and let them know they can be anything in the world they want, but it will take hard work and determination.
We as African-Americans have a very rich history full of firsts. For example, take Shirley Chisholm the first African-American woman elected to congress, and the first major party African-American candidate for president of the United States. Garret Morgan invented the gas mask, and the first traffic signal, and Madam C J Walker, the first self-made American businesswoman, yes American.
Don’t miss understand I will be happy to see Senator Obama become the first true African-American in the white house but let’s not forget the other’s that can before him. Our children need to know education is the key, along with making positive choices. I heard someone once say. If you want to see your child’s future, take a look at their friends.
WHEW!!! THAT ALMOST BROUGHT ME TO TEARS, I AM VERY PROUD OF THIS , THAT I AM ABLE TO SEE THIS DAY TO SEE A BLACK PRESIDENT, YOU KNOW WHAT I LOVE TO SEE IS WHEN HE HUGS AND KISSES HIS WIFE, HIS HANDS REST ON HER BACKSIDE BECAUSE SHE GOT JUNK IN THE TRUNK, TO SEE A WOMAN THAT LOOK LIKE ME, HAIR LIKE MINE, KIDS LOOK LIKE MINE, WEAR BRAIDS LIKE MINE, LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE PRESS AND PERMS, BUT WITH CLASS, BUT SO REAL, IT DOES HAVE ME TO BELIEVE ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT SOME BLACK PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY ANGRY BECAUSE THEY SAY HE IS NOT ALL BLACK, BECAUSE HE WAS RAISED BY WHITE PEOPLE….BUT HE WENT OUT AND GOT HIM A BLACK WOMEN, DIDN’T GO FIND HIM NO BLONDE HEAD GIRL, IT’S FUNNY THAT IF HE WASN’T SEN.OBAMA THOSE BLACK WOULD EMBRACE HIM, BUT THIS IS WHAT IS WRONG WITH US, WE GET JEALOUS AND WANT TO FIGHT AND BASH EACHOTHER, HE PROBABLY HAD IT WORSE, CAN YOU IMAGINE, BEING HALF BLACK, LOOKING BLACK AND LIVING IN THE WORLD WITH OLDER WHITE GRANDPARENTS.? HE HAD NO BROTHERS TO HAVE HIS BACK OR ANYTHING, HE PROBABLY HAD IT WORSE THAN US AS REGULAR BLACK PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN BLACK HOME, SO TO ALL MY HATERS, GIVE US A CHANCE, BAD ENOUGH WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS WITH THE WHITE MAN, BUT FIGHT OUR OWN PEOPLE AGAIN, REMEMBER THIS IS HOW WE BECAME ENSLAVED , OUR OWN PEOPLE GAVE US UP……
MS. NAY “KEEPING IT REAL”