So who said electing the first African-American president was going to be easy? Anyone here?

[Faygo Kid]

Was there ever any doubt that the history of black America was going to factor into this race?

White America likes its history sanitized. A sanitized version of Rev. King is OK, but the truth about slavery, lynching, reconstruction and Jim Crow are not things they want to be reminded of. Especially from someone like Rev. Wright, who remembers the bad old days personally.

This middle-aged white guy remembers, too, and says, don't be deterred. Fight on. Yes we can. And we shall overcome.

[MadMaddie]

1. faygokid you nailed it... I was trying to figure out why people are

so offended when it is brought up that this country was built on the backs of black slaves and other migrants.

This is our history, we should acknowledge it, accept it and continue to improve America for everyone in America.

[WinkyDink]

2. Then don't you remember Rev. Jackson's primary campaign? I do, having voted for him.

Why is Obama suddenly "the" standard?

[Faygo Kid]

4. Why did it take dozens of Montgomery transit boycotts dating back to the 1800s?

Before one finally took hold? Why indeed? Because the time had come. But it took a dozen failed transit boycotts dating to the 19th century, long before there were cars or buses. You can look it up.

I remember back much further than Rev. Jackson's campaign, and I'm not sure the time has come. But I am going to fight like hell to see that it has.

[theboss]

3. I have noticed that the ONLY black icons that are allowed are MLK and maybe Jackie Robinson

It's really always a choice isn't it?

Joe Louis who was trained to never taunt a white opponent and never be seen in public with a white girl is beloved. Jack Johnson is a black monster (even though he was the more dominant fighter).

Jackie Robinson was told to eat shit from racist fans and opponents and not utter a peep. Satchel Paige is viewed as some sort of anamoly. Josh Gibson is pretty much completely forgotten.

MLK is acceptable. Not so much Malcolm X or Huey P. Newton or Marcus Garvey or anyone dangerous.

Only a safe, sanitized version of Muhammad Ali is acceptable.

Michael Jordan is okay. Jim Brown is scary.

[Faygo Kid]

6. You, my friend, are exactly right. And that's what this is about.

And maybe why no black person who is an actual human being can be elected, I am so very sorry to say. But, I'm not giving up by a longshot.

As Frederick Douglass said in his old age in answer to a young man asking what he should do, "Agitate. Agitate."

[blonndee]

12. You are right. The only reason this is such an "issue,"

IMO, is because of Wright's speaking style. "Scary." "Angry." "Radical." It's crazy that the majority of DUers would have agreed with what Wright said had it not been beneficial for them to get all twisty about it because of his connection to Obama. And if they hadn't SEEN it on video from an Angry Black Man. Now people HERE are echoing the rightwing thug media machine. It's hard to tell if they're simply using/buying into that prejudice for political purposes, or if it's really previously deep-seeded racism finally emerging. Or both. Whatever it is, it's disturbing.

[theboss]

15. Six months ago, the video would be in General Discussion with a demand that Wright run for President

We love lunatic radicals here.

[Voice for Peace]

23. I've had the impression some people here are FROM the rw thug machine

Not just echoing it.
"Now people HERE are echoing the rightwing thug media machine."

[madaboutharry]

5. It is so sad that we as a nation

are unable to move past this. Maybe it is because we have chosen not to acknowledge our own history truthfully.

I believe that Sen. Obama is a good and decent man who cares deeply about our country. There are millions who will see only a man with black skin. I think that Sen. Obama knew that this was going to be difficult and he chose to run regardless.

[Liberal Veteran]

7. Yep...and don't forget the genocide that created this country.

[meow mix]

8. leave it to the older "traditional" dems to be the most scared.

they are pathetic

[cbayer]

18. As an older, "traditional" dem who is not at all scared,

I find that comment pathetic.

[Enrique]

9. Obama is better than Wright

one part of the change Obama has the potential to bring is to progress past people like Wright.

[theboss]

10. Maybe we need more people like Wright

Wouldn't a message of pride and self-sufficiency and spiritual well-being be a good thing?

[Enrique]

11. maybe that's what Wright really represents

who knows? It's so hard to say. But hearing him talk about Hillary made it a lot easier for me. I'm pretty confident that Wright's a phony.

[theboss]

13. His 40-year-career was just a big scam to get a moment to trash Hillary

That's what he was building towards.

His comments against Hillary were obviously ill-advised. But, like I've said repeatedly, I suspect that if you go around to a thousand black churches, you will hear a lot of that.

[psychopomp]

14. Aaaaymen

I knew it would come to this and I believe that we are ready to confront the ghosts.

[Faygo Kid]

16. The ghosts of Mississippi. And millions of others.

We won't get through this election without confronting the awful history of race in this country. Read "The Bloody Shirt," a stunning look at the South after the Civil War. And what was done to blacks once Union troops left (hell, even before).

Yep, we do need to confront our past, and get beyond the ridiculous Sean Hannity version. The sooner the better.

[Barack_America]

17. So honored to send this to the Greatest Page.

And so, so true.

But I'm keeping the faith. Getting out, talking to and registering people in my neighborhood is tonic for the soul.

What is going on here now almost transcends this election.

We SHALL overcome.

[cbayer]

19. And no one said it would be easy to elect a woman in this country either.

Don't forget that african-american men obtained the vote before any women did.

And it looks as if we may just continue that tradition.

That's OK with me, I just want to point out how hard this is for Clinton as well.

[BumRushDaShow]

20. The problem with this argument about black suffrage vs. white female suffrage is that

black women didn't have the vote either. And white women, once women in general were allowed to vote, were not targeted to be disenfranchised afterwards. But blacks, particularly in the south, WERE and in some cases, still ARE. Otherwise why the need for a Voting Rights Act? Not in 1870, nor 1920, but a mere 43 years ago in 1965? Poll taxes, literacy tests, and other nonsense (e.g., most recently hurdles in establishing proof of residency/ID cards) served to disenfranchise the black voter.

[cbayer]

21. Point taken.

I don't disagree with anything you are saying. It has not been easy for any "not white male" people in this country to get the vote or break all the other barriers that the ruling white male class put in place very early.

I was just making the comparison because I hate any inference that this is just too easy for Clinton.

[stillcool]

22. Thank You!

that puts it all in perspective...Yes We Can!!

this moment brought to you by they who dared to dream.