Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at 7:07pm
The March of Obama
Column: My Day
Why is it so difficult for Americans to believe that an African American can indeed occupy the White House? I hear so many people saying that ‘I thought I would never see this day’. That tells me instantly that you do not know your history, especially your African American history nor any World History. Further, it is a clear testimony that you believe everything that is written, printed about African Americans, how dismal our fate is, without the benefit of the truth. Obama is a “destined designed movement” standing on the shoulders of generations of African Americans men and women who have contributed and demonstrated our progress for decades in this great nation.
I think Obama, who happens to be an able African American, will occupy the White House, because “we, the people”, red, white, black, yellow and brown, have spoken and our creator has ordained yet another blessing.
But more importantly, I think that the African American is a mighty race. And regretfully, we tend to forget our own accomplishments. We have even stopped talking about our awesome and remarkable heritage and the progress of power that it embodies. We have always been a progressive nation, fighting slavery, segregation, fighting for change. As far back as 1526, Negro slaves in a Spanish-ruled colony staged a revolt and fled to the Indians. In 1704 in New York City, Elias Neau, a Frenchman, opened a school for Negro slaves. In 1739, in Stono, South Carolina, an early slave revolt led by Cato resulted in the death of 30 whites and many more slaves, some escaped to freedom. In Philadelphia, 1787, Negro preachers Richard Allen and Absalom Jones organize the Free African Society. In 1793, in Mulberry Grove, Georgia, Eli Whitney patented his invention of the cotton gin. In 1811, in Louisiana, U. S. troops suppressed a slave uprising in two parishes about 35 miles from New Orleans. The revolt is led by Charles Deslandes, a black man.
In 1845, Macon B. Allen becomes the first Negro formally admitted to the bar in the United States. In 1855, in Paris, France, James Augustine Healy, an American Negro Roman Catholic Bishop, is ordained a priest in Notre Dame Cathedral. In 1862, in Charleston, South Carolina, Negro pilot Robert Smalls, later a Reconstruction Congressman, sails a Confederate steamer out of Charleston harbor. In 1881, Booker T. Washington, opened Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama. What do you mean you thought you would never see this day?
With the revival of the Ku Klux Klan in 1915 in the South, and their membership of some four(4) million in the 1920’s, marches continued, well-planned revolts persevered and in 1917, some 10,000 Negroes paraded down 5th Avenue in New York in protest against lynchings in the South. In 1928, Illinois elects Oscar DePriest, the first Negro Congressman from a Northern state. Jesse Owens wins four gold medals in the 1936 Olympics and Joe Louis became heavyweight champion of the world in 1937.
During WWII, James Sadler, my Dad, is contracted by the government to cut and haul wood to the mill, clearing most of the timber between Conroe and The Woodlands in South Texas, hiring young black ministers from Conroe College. He and his brothers, my uncles, owned the trucks. In 1945 Benjamin O. Davis, is named commander of Godman Field, in Kentucky. In year 1948, Ralph Bunche is confirmed by the United Nations and is named winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950. A major turning point in the course of Negro/African American history came in 1954 when racial segregation in public schools was ruled unconstitutional. The Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955, a 382 day-long protest movement, had numerous concrete results and even more important psychological ones. What do you mean you thought you would never see this day?
From the bus boycott to sit-ins, the Albany Movement, integration of the University of Mississippi, the Birmingham Crisis, and . . . the march on Washington , the progress in the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and the new millennium. Afterall, this is our seventh(7th) African American candidate for President. Make me understand this statement “why do you think you would never see this day? Oh, yea of little faith.
Now, the registration of voters and the vote remains. Do your part and you will most assuredly see ‘this day”
— — —
Ester Davis is a writer and an award winning television host/producer. She can be reached at esterdavis.com.
I think Obama, who happens to be an able African American, will occupy the White House, because “we, the people”, red, white, black, yellow and brown, have spoken and our creator has ordained yet another blessing.
But more importantly, I think that the African American is a mighty race. And regretfully, we tend to forget our own accomplishments. We have even stopped talking about our awesome and remarkable heritage and the progress of power that it embodies. We have always been a progressive nation, fighting slavery, segregation, fighting for change. As far back as 1526, Negro slaves in a Spanish-ruled colony staged a revolt and fled to the Indians. In 1704 in New York City, Elias Neau, a Frenchman, opened a school for Negro slaves. In 1739, in Stono, South Carolina, an early slave revolt led by Cato resulted in the death of 30 whites and many more slaves, some escaped to freedom. In Philadelphia, 1787, Negro preachers Richard Allen and Absalom Jones organize the Free African Society. In 1793, in Mulberry Grove, Georgia, Eli Whitney patented his invention of the cotton gin. In 1811, in Louisiana, U. S. troops suppressed a slave uprising in two parishes about 35 miles from New Orleans. The revolt is led by Charles Deslandes, a black man.
In 1845, Macon B. Allen becomes the first Negro formally admitted to the bar in the United States. In 1855, in Paris, France, James Augustine Healy, an American Negro Roman Catholic Bishop, is ordained a priest in Notre Dame Cathedral. In 1862, in Charleston, South Carolina, Negro pilot Robert Smalls, later a Reconstruction Congressman, sails a Confederate steamer out of Charleston harbor. In 1881, Booker T. Washington, opened Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama. What do you mean you thought you would never see this day?
With the revival of the Ku Klux Klan in 1915 in the South, and their membership of some four(4) million in the 1920’s, marches continued, well-planned revolts persevered and in 1917, some 10,000 Negroes paraded down 5th Avenue in New York in protest against lynchings in the South. In 1928, Illinois elects Oscar DePriest, the first Negro Congressman from a Northern state. Jesse Owens wins four gold medals in the 1936 Olympics and Joe Louis became heavyweight champion of the world in 1937.
During WWII, James Sadler, my Dad, is contracted by the government to cut and haul wood to the mill, clearing most of the timber between Conroe and The Woodlands in South Texas, hiring young black ministers from Conroe College. He and his brothers, my uncles, owned the trucks. In 1945 Benjamin O. Davis, is named commander of Godman Field, in Kentucky. In year 1948, Ralph Bunche is confirmed by the United Nations and is named winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950. A major turning point in the course of Negro/African American history came in 1954 when racial segregation in public schools was ruled unconstitutional. The Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955, a 382 day-long protest movement, had numerous concrete results and even more important psychological ones. What do you mean you thought you would never see this day?
From the bus boycott to sit-ins, the Albany Movement, integration of the University of Mississippi, the Birmingham Crisis, and . . . the march on Washington , the progress in the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and the new millennium. Afterall, this is our seventh(7th) African American candidate for President. Make me understand this statement “why do you think you would never see this day? Oh, yea of little faith.
Now, the registration of voters and the vote remains. Do your part and you will most assuredly see ‘this day”
— — —
Ester Davis is a writer and an award winning television host/producer. She can be reached at esterdavis.com.