DNC 2008: Know Your Power: Don’t Let Anyone Discount Who You Are
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At this moment, I sit here listening to The Honorable Elijah Cummings give a speech at the Maryland Delegation Breakfast. To say that his speech gives me anything short of chills is an understatement. I remember asking my husband earlier this week, “who is he?“ I’m familiar with the name but really this week I get to put together faces with the names Ive heard within MD politics.
After giving me an incredulous look, he explained who this man is, what he’s done and I understand more now through this speech why he is so honored and respected throughout this delegation.
Just now he said: Don’t let anyone discount who you are. Let me repeat that for you: DO NOT let anyone discount who you are. I love it. I LOVE THAT! He made that comment in reference to the Obama’s background in relation to others who were born with a silver spoon and you know, that just resonates deep with my soul. I can’t tell you how inspired I am and how fired up and ready to go I am to work for this party. I don’t care about what party YOU belong to but this is something that means so much to me. And, since this is the only blog that I can share this sentiment, I hope you don’t mind.
You see, before the Obama candidacy, I wrote him off as just trying to blaze a trail. Who knew the man would show us how it’s DONE! I talked with a woman over the weekend who simply wrote my going to the Convention as …”well you can go on and get involved with that I don’t get too much involved with politics“…. I wish she could be here. She is an older African-American woman in her 60s who has to her credit, been there done that and has been disappointed. But I want her to know that change, real change is on the horizon.
Even if Barack doesn’t win this election, just being able to have these open and frank conversations about race and it’s place in America today has connected me with people from all over. Especially here in Denver. We have come far as a country, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Words cant express how proud I am of this country. Even though I don’t belong to any one’s political party this election season has inspired me to want to do more in my/our community to continue to inspire this momentum of change. It’s inspired so many to open up dialogue with people you wouldn’t have looked at twice but we’re now opening up and having frank conversations about race and it’s place in America today.
Just earlier today I was talking to a fraud investigator from Bank of America, now, he and I have nothing in common outside of our background in forensics and white collar crime and we had a 1 hour conversation about this nomination process as it was going on while he was at WORK on the phone. I don’t know him outside of calling about a separate fraud related issue.
I said, do you realize that were it not for this whole process we would not be on the phone here today talking about our differences, hope for change for a better America and what that means for you as a white man and for me as a black woman?
We laughed and it’s something that I don’t think I could have or would have experienced were we not here today. My husband is a Republican, DIE HARD, and even stated that he was so proud of this party that he would consider “coming home”. I got that on TAPE!
Our organizer has worked HARD for us this week, in both large and small-making sure above all that we relish the EXPERIENCE. I appreciate her for doing all she has for us with the credentials but most of all her telling us to go inside the arena and just standing there, take it all in and remember that we were here. Remember that we were here making history and no matter our party divisions and ideals, we are one TODAY even if no other day. Just as with my wedding my BFF told me to relish the MOMENT and the EXPERIENCE, forget the mishaps that will happen but catch and hold on to the moment. Today, I did. I didn’t at my wedding but today I remembered her advice and I did and I am glad that I will be able to look back and say we were here.
We made history and I, a woman born in Jamaica, living here in the States, can say that I am truly proud of this country. And, yes, for the first time. I didn’t take politics here serious before meeting hubby in 2004 but now it means much more than voting or pissing and moaning about George Bush.
This could not happen in Jamaica. They wouldn’t allow it and so being able to experience this day knowing and having experienced the tumultuous elections times in Jamaica with the PNP and JLP parties and ducking gunshots and shutting windows when opposing parties collided on election day, I truly appreciate this process that happened before our eyes today in Denver.
So, yes, if no other day, today I am proud of America and never again will I let anyone discount who I am or forget where my power lies, within.
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