Eugene Robinson: What He Overcame

[ellisonz]

What He Overcame
By Eugene Robinson
Friday, June 6, 2008; Page A19

There will be plenty of time to chart Barack Obama's attempt to navigate a course between the exigencies of the old politics and the promise of the new, between yesterday and tomorrow, youth and experience, black and white. For now, take a moment to consider the mind-bending improbability of what just happened.

A young, black, first-term senator -- a man whose father was from Kenya, whose mother was from Kansas and whose name sounds as if it might have come from the roster of Guantanamo detainees -- has won a marathon of primaries and caucuses to become the presumptive presidential nominee of the Democratic Party. To reach this point, he had to do more than outduel the party's most powerful and resourceful political machine. He also had to defy, and ultimately defeat, 389 years of history.

It was in 1619 that the first Africans were brought in chains to these shores, landing in Jamestown. That first shipment of "servants" did not include any of Obama's ancestors; it's impossible to say whether some distant progenitor of his wife, Michelle, might have been present at that moment of original sin. Ever since -- through the War of Independence, the abolitionist movement, the Civil War, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, the great migration to Northern cities and the civil rights struggle -- race has been one of the great themes running through our nation's history.

I'm old enough to remember when Americans with skin the color of mine and Obama's had to fight -- and die -- for the right to participate as equals in the life of the nation we helped build. Watching Obama give his speech Tuesday night marking the end of the primary season and the beginning of the general election campaign, I thought back to a time when brave men and women, both black and white, put their lives on the line to ensure that African Americans had the right to vote, let alone run for office -- a time when Democrats in my home state of South Carolina were Dixiecrats, and when the notion that the Democratic Party would someday nominate a black man for president was utterly unimaginable.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/05/AR2008060503433.html

:kick:

[ellisonz]

1. The Ending is Dynamite

Kick.

[TexasObserver]

2. Eugene is awesome. Good stuff.

[myrna minx]

3. I always enjoy Eugene's insights.

Great article.

[ProSense]

4. Beautiful!

When they say this race was an even split, I say BS. This primary brought out the worst in the status quo defenders and racists, and Obama won despite them.

[K Gardner]

5. I wish the media were more focused on what this nation has just done.. instead of Hilarmememe... but

hopefully this will pass. Beautiful article !

[Grandrose]

6. Brilliant! (K&R)

As a African-American these are the words I had desperately wished to say... THANK YOU Mr. Robinson!:thumbsup:

:toast: :bounce: :yourock: :applause: :patriot:

[Bullet1987]

7. Great stuff by Eugene...

[BeyondGeography]

8. It's true this nation won't be the same

It's a nation of immigrants who come from increasingly diverse backgrounds. Nominating someone with Obama's name is in some ways as profound a change as his skin color. Americans with all sorts of "funny names" (very clever that Obama so often layers that phrase in) will feel a sense of inclusion that didn't exist before, and we'll have access to a whole new set of talented people in our politics as a result.

[mzmolly]

9. Very thoughtful and touching perspective.

Thank you for sharing it.

[ellisonz]

10. Kick.

[scheming daemons]

11. Powerful..... made this 41-year-old white man's eyes well up.

[BklynChick]

12. love Eugene K/r

[SeattleGirl]

13. Well said.

I love Eugene Robinson's pieces.

[AtomicKitten]

14. Beautiful.

[Spazito]

15. Wonderful read!

Thanks for posting this, it is much appreciated!

Recommended.

[ellisonz]

19. You're welcome!

[Hamlette]

16. check out the comments... that's some scary racist hatred in those comments

I didn't read too many but the ones I read were dreadful. Sad.

Let's hope Gene is right and we can overcome.

[genna]

26. I spent about an hour or more reading the comments...I tried to refute some of them

If each one of us takes 10 minutes, at least that is 10 less minutes of hate spoken in support of love.

[rndmprsn]

17. Beautiful stuff Eugene Robinson!

you get my respect K&R

[Swamp Rat]

18. AND, Obama won the popular vote!!

Thank you Eugene Robinson! :applause:

[Lugnut]

20. K&R n/t

[ClayZ]

21. Eugene Robinson is awesome!

K and R

[Norrin Radd]

22. kr

[Skidmore]

23. Watching Eugene Robinsons face light up on television appearances and that broad,

engaging smile come to it when talking about this election has been wonderful. He so openly reflects the joy many feel with this nomination. We always look forward to hearing him take on the naysayers and detractors.

[Kahuna]

24. I love Eugene. I mean, I seriously love Eugene. He does have

a lovely face. :loveya:

[ellisonz]

25. Agreed.

Eugene is always zen-like, intelligent, and insightful:applause: