our super "SHERO"???
I mean climbing up dat, cold,cold
"POLARITY-POLE"
took a lot of "mother courage"
So what up....
is it dat it's "COLD" down south
THE SOUTH POLE...
or wat,wat,???
but you go Girl, go...
, 5/23/15, 3:35 PM ET
Monday, June 29, 2015
The Super "SHERO-ZONE"
Friend, how do you "like"
our super "SHERO"???
I mean climbing up dat, cold,cold
"POLARITY-POLE"
took a lot of "mother courage"
So what up....
is it dat it's "COLD" down south
THE SOUTH POLE...
or wat,wat,???
but you go Girl, go...
our super "SHERO"???
I mean climbing up dat, cold,cold
"POLARITY-POLE"
took a lot of "mother courage"
So what up....
is it dat it's "COLD" down south
THE SOUTH POLE...
or wat,wat,???
but you go Girl, go...
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
the COLOR OBSESSION ???
Okay, dim dat got say it's about
RACE,RACE,RACE.
But slow down a minute will you???
It's much, much "MOORE" about
COLOR,COLOR,COLOR.
And it's and,... should I say it..
an OBSESSION, OBSESSION,OBSESSION...
the LIES, LIES, LIES have it:
I remember what "dim" dat got, SAID AND DID,
to brother "MJ".
He tried to tell "dim" it just doesn't "MATTER" ..
"IF'N" or not you be
BLACK OR YOU BE WHITE.
but, but, he CHOOSE TO BE "WHITE".
and, and, "dim" dat got TRASHED HIM.
Real good, or real bad.
I think it was ALL ABOUT ELVIS...
Anywho, the beat goes on, and on,...
Now the situation with the woman from
the NAACP, well she could have or should have
REMEMBERED what MLK said, about
THE CONTENT OF YOUR CHARACTER...
RACE,RACE,RACE.
But slow down a minute will you???
It's much, much "MOORE" about
COLOR,COLOR,COLOR.
And it's and,... should I say it..
an OBSESSION, OBSESSION,OBSESSION...
the LIES, LIES, LIES have it:
I remember what "dim" dat got, SAID AND DID,
to brother "MJ".
He tried to tell "dim" it just doesn't "MATTER" ..
"IF'N" or not you be
BLACK OR YOU BE WHITE.
but, but, he CHOOSE TO BE "WHITE".
and, and, "dim" dat got TRASHED HIM.
Real good, or real bad.
I think it was ALL ABOUT ELVIS...
Anywho, the beat goes on, and on,...
Now the situation with the woman from
the NAACP, well she could have or should have
REMEMBERED what MLK said, about
THE CONTENT OF YOUR CHARACTER...
Thursday, June 11, 2015
POWER WALK...
Okay, it's an up hill journey but,....
I know you can, can...
Anywho, I have a question. Now don't get all hot and bothered...
BUT???
For "dim" dat's got too "SWITCH" or would rather "SWITCH"
than walk like a "man-man"...
cause they "GOT IT" like dat. (money matters)
Here's my question:
For dim dat "rather"
the question is "WHEN"???
Yes, when is "dim" dat rather
going to pay some "WOMAN DUES"...
TO JOIN THE CLUB OF US WOMEN???
I mean what about STANDING UP
for "poor-POOR" BATTERED WOMEN..
for"poor-POOR" RAPED WOMEN..
for "poor-POOR" WOMEN TO GET EQUAL PAY..
and for "poor-POOR" WOMEN DAT'S BEING
DONE IN BY "MISOGYNY AND MALE SEXISM"
when, when,when, and
WHAT IS DIM WAITING ON???
OKAY, DO US WOMEN A FAVOR..(listen to the above video).
Friday, May 29, 2015
The "HIS-STAIR-IC-COLD" man....
The Problem is the "HIS-STAIR-IC-COLD" mans nervous system....
His nervous system, and His nervous brain..
(note all rights reserved (c) slc 5/29/15 lady blah blah's glossary/original word choices)
His nervous system, and His nervous brain..
(note all rights reserved (c) slc 5/29/15 lady blah blah's glossary/original word choices)
Cleveland officer Michael Brelo found not guilty in car hood shooting
—Updated
A Cleveland police officer has been found not guilty of voluntary
manslaughter in the killing of two unarmed passengers whose car hood he
mounted, sending a barrage of bullets into their windshield.
Michael Brelo, 31, who is white, was charged with killing Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams — both of whom were black — after a car chase in November 2012. Brelo rubbed his face and nodded his head as the judge read the verdict, and then wept.
Shortly after, the Department of Justice announced it would review Brelo’s case.
The high-speed pursuit started after Russell’s 1979 Chevy Malibu backfired while driving past police headquarters. Officers thought the noise was a gun going off inside the car, and 13 cops responded by firing shots.
Brelo, who joined the Cleveland Police Department in 2007, was the only officer to face criminal charges. Prosecutors say he waited until the car had stopped moving and no longer posed a danger to fire 15 rounds into the windshield, firing a total of 49 rounds into the car.
Defense attorneys claimed Brelo was fearful for his life, believing Russell and Williams had a gun. The judge agreed that he acted accordingly.
“Brelo reasonably perceived a threat,” said Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge John O’Donnell.
Altogether, the officers fired 137 shots. Experts testified at the trial that Russell had 23 bullet wounds and Williams had 24, reported NBC affiliate WKYC.
O’Donnell said that while he found beyond a reasonable doubt that Brelo caused at least one fatal wound to Williams’ chest, he couldn’t determine that the other fatal shots came from his gun.
“One or two other officers inflicted” the others, O’Donnell said, and therefore, he couldn’t find Brelo guilty of Williams’ death.
Nevertheless, he said, Brelo “ran afoul of the Constitution”
when he got on top of the car, taking action that officers are not
trained to do. But, he added, Brelo could still face lesser charges.
Brelo’s attorneys argued that it wasn’t possible to prove who fired the fatal shots, while prosecutors claimed that Russell, 43, and Williams, 30, were still alive until Brelo ambushed them.
The Iraq war Marine veteran faced as many as 22 years in prison. He will remain on unpaid suspension while an administrative review continues of him and the other officers involved, Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said.
Brelo’s attorney, Pat D’Angelo, said on Saturday he was “elated” with the verdict.
“We didn’t do anything illegal. We didn’t do anything wrong. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to let any bully push us around,” he said. “We stood toe-to-toe with an oppressive government trying to put away a law-abiding citizen.”
Malissa Williams’ brother, Alfredo, slammed D’Angelo, the verdict and the police department.
Michael Brelo, 31, who is white, was charged with killing Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams — both of whom were black — after a car chase in November 2012. Brelo rubbed his face and nodded his head as the judge read the verdict, and then wept.
Shortly after, the Department of Justice announced it would review Brelo’s case.
The high-speed pursuit started after Russell’s 1979 Chevy Malibu backfired while driving past police headquarters. Officers thought the noise was a gun going off inside the car, and 13 cops responded by firing shots.
Brelo, who joined the Cleveland Police Department in 2007, was the only officer to face criminal charges. Prosecutors say he waited until the car had stopped moving and no longer posed a danger to fire 15 rounds into the windshield, firing a total of 49 rounds into the car.
Defense attorneys claimed Brelo was fearful for his life, believing Russell and Williams had a gun. The judge agreed that he acted accordingly.
“Brelo reasonably perceived a threat,” said Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge John O’Donnell.
Altogether, the officers fired 137 shots. Experts testified at the trial that Russell had 23 bullet wounds and Williams had 24, reported NBC affiliate WKYC.
O’Donnell said that while he found beyond a reasonable doubt that Brelo caused at least one fatal wound to Williams’ chest, he couldn’t determine that the other fatal shots came from his gun.
“One or two other officers inflicted” the others, O’Donnell said, and therefore, he couldn’t find Brelo guilty of Williams’ death.
Melissa Harris-Perry, 5/23/15, 11:00 AM ET
Not guilty verdict in Cleveland police trial
Brelo’s attorneys argued that it wasn’t possible to prove who fired the fatal shots, while prosecutors claimed that Russell, 43, and Williams, 30, were still alive until Brelo ambushed them.
The Iraq war Marine veteran faced as many as 22 years in prison. He will remain on unpaid suspension while an administrative review continues of him and the other officers involved, Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said.
Brelo’s attorney, Pat D’Angelo, said on Saturday he was “elated” with the verdict.
“We didn’t do anything illegal. We didn’t do anything wrong. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to let any bully push us around,” he said. “We stood toe-to-toe with an oppressive government trying to put away a law-abiding citizen.”
Malissa Williams’ brother, Alfredo, slammed D’Angelo, the verdict and the police department.
Cleveland officer Michael Brelo found not guilty in car hood shooting
—Updated
A Cleveland police officer has been found not guilty of voluntary
manslaughter in the killing of two unarmed passengers whose car hood he
mounted, sending a barrage of bullets into their windshield.
Michael Brelo, 31, who is white, was charged with killing Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams — both of whom were black — after a car chase in November 2012. Brelo rubbed his face and nodded his head as the judge read the verdict, and then wept.
Shortly after, the Department of Justice announced it would review Brelo’s case.
The high-speed pursuit started after Russell’s 1979 Chevy Malibu backfired while driving past police headquarters. Officers thought the noise was a gun going off inside the car, and 13 cops responded by firing shots.
Brelo, who joined the Cleveland Police Department in 2007, was the only officer to face criminal charges. Prosecutors say he waited until the car had stopped moving and no longer posed a danger to fire 15 rounds into the windshield, firing a total of 49 rounds into the car.
Defense attorneys claimed Brelo was fearful for his life, believing Russell and Williams had a gun. The judge agreed that he acted accordingly.
“Brelo reasonably perceived a threat,” said Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge John O’Donnell.
Altogether, the officers fired 137 shots. Experts testified at the trial that Russell had 23 bullet wounds and Williams had 24, reported NBC affiliate WKYC.
O’Donnell said that while he found beyond a reasonable doubt that Brelo caused at least one fatal wound to Williams’ chest, he couldn’t determine that the other fatal shots came from his gun.
“One or two other officers inflicted” the others, O’Donnell said, and therefore, he couldn’t find Brelo guilty of Williams’ death.
Nevertheless, he said, Brelo “ran afoul of the Constitution” when he got on top of the car, taking action that officers are not trained to do. But, he added, Brelo could still face lesser charges.
Brelo’s attorneys argued that it wasn’t possible to prove who fired the fatal shots, while prosecutors claimed that Russell, 43, and Williams, 30, were still alive until Brelo ambushed them.
The Iraq war Marine veteran faced as many as 22 years in prison. He will remain on unpaid suspension while an administrative review continues of him and the other officers involved, Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said.
Brelo’s attorney, Pat D’Angelo, said on Saturday he was “elated” with the verdict.
“We didn’t do anything illegal. We didn’t do anything wrong. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to let any bully push us around,” he said. “We stood toe-to-toe with an oppressive government trying to put away a law-abiding citizen.”
Malissa Williams’ brother, Alfredo, slammed D’Angelo, the verdict and the police department.
Michael Brelo, 31, who is white, was charged with killing Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams — both of whom were black — after a car chase in November 2012. Brelo rubbed his face and nodded his head as the judge read the verdict, and then wept.
Shortly after, the Department of Justice announced it would review Brelo’s case.
The high-speed pursuit started after Russell’s 1979 Chevy Malibu backfired while driving past police headquarters. Officers thought the noise was a gun going off inside the car, and 13 cops responded by firing shots.
Brelo, who joined the Cleveland Police Department in 2007, was the only officer to face criminal charges. Prosecutors say he waited until the car had stopped moving and no longer posed a danger to fire 15 rounds into the windshield, firing a total of 49 rounds into the car.
Defense attorneys claimed Brelo was fearful for his life, believing Russell and Williams had a gun. The judge agreed that he acted accordingly.
“Brelo reasonably perceived a threat,” said Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge John O’Donnell.
Altogether, the officers fired 137 shots. Experts testified at the trial that Russell had 23 bullet wounds and Williams had 24, reported NBC affiliate WKYC.
O’Donnell said that while he found beyond a reasonable doubt that Brelo caused at least one fatal wound to Williams’ chest, he couldn’t determine that the other fatal shots came from his gun.
“One or two other officers inflicted” the others, O’Donnell said, and therefore, he couldn’t find Brelo guilty of Williams’ death.
Nevertheless, he said, Brelo “ran afoul of the Constitution” when he got on top of the car, taking action that officers are not trained to do. But, he added, Brelo could still face lesser charges.
Brelo’s attorneys argued that it wasn’t possible to prove who fired the fatal shots, while prosecutors claimed that Russell, 43, and Williams, 30, were still alive until Brelo ambushed them.
The Iraq war Marine veteran faced as many as 22 years in prison. He will remain on unpaid suspension while an administrative review continues of him and the other officers involved, Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said.
Brelo’s attorney, Pat D’Angelo, said on Saturday he was “elated” with the verdict.
“We didn’t do anything illegal. We didn’t do anything wrong. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to let any bully push us around,” he said. “We stood toe-to-toe with an oppressive government trying to put away a law-abiding citizen.”
Malissa Williams’ brother, Alfredo, slammed D’Angelo, the verdict and the police department.
Cleveland officer Michael Brelo found not guilty in car hood shooting
—Updated
A Cleveland police officer has been found not guilty of voluntary
manslaughter in the killing of two unarmed passengers whose car hood he
mounted, sending a barrage of bullets into their windshield.
Michael Brelo, 31, who is white, was charged with killing Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams — both of whom were black — after a car chase in November 2012. Brelo rubbed his face and nodded his head as the judge read the verdict, and then wept.
Shortly after, the Department of Justice announced it would review Brelo’s case.
The high-speed pursuit started after Russell’s 1979 Chevy Malibu backfired while driving past police headquarters. Officers thought the noise was a gun going off inside the car, and 13 cops responded by firing shots.
Brelo, who joined the Cleveland Police Department in 2007, was the only officer to face criminal charges. Prosecutors say he waited until the car had stopped moving and no longer posed a danger to fire 15 rounds into the windshield, firing a total of 49 rounds into the car.
Defense attorneys claimed Brelo was fearful for his life, believing Russell and Williams had a gun. The judge agreed that he acted accordingly.
“Brelo reasonably perceived a threat,” said Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge John O’Donnell.
Altogether, the officers fired 137 shots. Experts testified at the trial that Russell had 23 bullet wounds and Williams had 24, reported NBC affiliate WKYC.
O’Donnell said that while he found beyond a reasonable doubt that Brelo caused at least one fatal wound to Williams’ chest, he couldn’t determine that the other fatal shots came from his gun.
“One or two other officers inflicted” the others, O’Donnell said, and therefore, he couldn’t find Brelo guilty of Williams’ death.
Nevertheless, he said, Brelo “ran afoul of the Constitution” when he got on top of the car, taking action that officers are not trained to do. But, he added, Brelo could still face lesser charges.
Brelo’s attorneys argued that it wasn’t possible to prove who fired the fatal shots, while prosecutors claimed that Russell, 43, and Williams, 30, were still alive until Brelo ambushed them.
The Iraq war Marine veteran faced as many as 22 years in prison. He will remain on unpaid suspension while an administrative review continues of him and the other officers involved, Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said.
Brelo’s attorney, Pat D’Angelo, said on Saturday he was “elated” with the verdict.
“We didn’t do anything illegal. We didn’t do anything wrong. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to let any bully push us around,” he said. “We stood toe-to-toe with an oppressive government trying to put away a law-abiding citizen.”
Malissa Williams’ brother, Alfredo, slammed D’Angelo, the verdict and the police department.
Michael Brelo, 31, who is white, was charged with killing Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams — both of whom were black — after a car chase in November 2012. Brelo rubbed his face and nodded his head as the judge read the verdict, and then wept.
Shortly after, the Department of Justice announced it would review Brelo’s case.
The high-speed pursuit started after Russell’s 1979 Chevy Malibu backfired while driving past police headquarters. Officers thought the noise was a gun going off inside the car, and 13 cops responded by firing shots.
Brelo, who joined the Cleveland Police Department in 2007, was the only officer to face criminal charges. Prosecutors say he waited until the car had stopped moving and no longer posed a danger to fire 15 rounds into the windshield, firing a total of 49 rounds into the car.
Defense attorneys claimed Brelo was fearful for his life, believing Russell and Williams had a gun. The judge agreed that he acted accordingly.
“Brelo reasonably perceived a threat,” said Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge John O’Donnell.
Altogether, the officers fired 137 shots. Experts testified at the trial that Russell had 23 bullet wounds and Williams had 24, reported NBC affiliate WKYC.
O’Donnell said that while he found beyond a reasonable doubt that Brelo caused at least one fatal wound to Williams’ chest, he couldn’t determine that the other fatal shots came from his gun.
“One or two other officers inflicted” the others, O’Donnell said, and therefore, he couldn’t find Brelo guilty of Williams’ death.
Nevertheless, he said, Brelo “ran afoul of the Constitution” when he got on top of the car, taking action that officers are not trained to do. But, he added, Brelo could still face lesser charges.
Brelo’s attorneys argued that it wasn’t possible to prove who fired the fatal shots, while prosecutors claimed that Russell, 43, and Williams, 30, were still alive until Brelo ambushed them.
The Iraq war Marine veteran faced as many as 22 years in prison. He will remain on unpaid suspension while an administrative review continues of him and the other officers involved, Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said.
Brelo’s attorney, Pat D’Angelo, said on Saturday he was “elated” with the verdict.
“We didn’t do anything illegal. We didn’t do anything wrong. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to let any bully push us around,” he said. “We stood toe-to-toe with an oppressive government trying to put away a law-abiding citizen.”
Malissa Williams’ brother, Alfredo, slammed D’Angelo, the verdict and the police department.
Cleveland officer Michael Brelo found not guilty in car hood shooting
—Updated
A Cleveland police officer has been found not guilty of voluntary
manslaughter in the killing of two unarmed passengers whose car hood he
mounted, sending a barrage of bullets into their windshield.
Michael Brelo, 31, who is white, was charged with killing Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams — both of whom were black — after a car chase in November 2012. Brelo rubbed his face and nodded his head as the judge read the verdict, and then wept.
Shortly after, the Department of Justice announced it would review Brelo’s case.
The high-speed pursuit started after Russell’s 1979 Chevy Malibu backfired while driving past police headquarters. Officers thought the noise was a gun going off inside the car, and 13 cops responded by firing shots.
Brelo, who joined the Cleveland Police Department in 2007, was the only officer to face criminal charges. Prosecutors say he waited until the car had stopped moving and no longer posed a danger to fire 15 rounds into the windshield, firing a total of 49 rounds into the car.
Defense attorneys claimed Brelo was fearful for his life, believing Russell and Williams had a gun. The judge agreed that he acted accordingly.
“Brelo reasonably perceived a threat,” said Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge John O’Donnell.
Altogether, the officers fired 137 shots. Experts testified at the trial that Russell had 23 bullet wounds and Williams had 24, reported NBC affiliate WKYC.
O’Donnell said that while he found beyond a reasonable doubt that Brelo caused at least one fatal wound to Williams’ chest, he couldn’t determine that the other fatal shots came from his gun.
“One or two other officers inflicted” the others, O’Donnell said, and therefore, he couldn’t find Brelo guilty of Williams’ death.
Nevertheless, he said, Brelo “ran afoul of the Constitution” when he got on top of the car, taking action that officers are not trained to do. But, he added, Brelo could still face lesser charges.
Brelo’s attorneys argued that it wasn’t possible to prove who fired the fatal shots, while prosecutors claimed that Russell, 43, and Williams, 30, were still alive until Brelo ambushed them.
The Iraq war Marine veteran faced as many as 22 years in prison. He will remain on unpaid suspension while an administrative review continues of him and the other officers involved, Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said.
Brelo’s attorney, Pat D’Angelo, said on Saturday he was “elated” with the verdict.
“We didn’t do anything illegal. We didn’t do anything wrong. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to let any bully push us around,” he said. “We stood toe-to-toe with an oppressive government trying to put away a law-abiding citizen.”
Malissa Williams’ brother, Alfredo, slammed D’Angelo, the verdict and the police department.
Michael Brelo, 31, who is white, was charged with killing Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams — both of whom were black — after a car chase in November 2012. Brelo rubbed his face and nodded his head as the judge read the verdict, and then wept.
Shortly after, the Department of Justice announced it would review Brelo’s case.
The high-speed pursuit started after Russell’s 1979 Chevy Malibu backfired while driving past police headquarters. Officers thought the noise was a gun going off inside the car, and 13 cops responded by firing shots.
Brelo, who joined the Cleveland Police Department in 2007, was the only officer to face criminal charges. Prosecutors say he waited until the car had stopped moving and no longer posed a danger to fire 15 rounds into the windshield, firing a total of 49 rounds into the car.
Defense attorneys claimed Brelo was fearful for his life, believing Russell and Williams had a gun. The judge agreed that he acted accordingly.
“Brelo reasonably perceived a threat,” said Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge John O’Donnell.
Altogether, the officers fired 137 shots. Experts testified at the trial that Russell had 23 bullet wounds and Williams had 24, reported NBC affiliate WKYC.
O’Donnell said that while he found beyond a reasonable doubt that Brelo caused at least one fatal wound to Williams’ chest, he couldn’t determine that the other fatal shots came from his gun.
“One or two other officers inflicted” the others, O’Donnell said, and therefore, he couldn’t find Brelo guilty of Williams’ death.
Nevertheless, he said, Brelo “ran afoul of the Constitution” when he got on top of the car, taking action that officers are not trained to do. But, he added, Brelo could still face lesser charges.
Brelo’s attorneys argued that it wasn’t possible to prove who fired the fatal shots, while prosecutors claimed that Russell, 43, and Williams, 30, were still alive until Brelo ambushed them.
The Iraq war Marine veteran faced as many as 22 years in prison. He will remain on unpaid suspension while an administrative review continues of him and the other officers involved, Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said.
Brelo’s attorney, Pat D’Angelo, said on Saturday he was “elated” with the verdict.
“We didn’t do anything illegal. We didn’t do anything wrong. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to let any bully push us around,” he said. “We stood toe-to-toe with an oppressive government trying to put away a law-abiding citizen.”
Malissa Williams’ brother, Alfredo, slammed D’Angelo, the verdict and the police department.
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Tell it like it "is"???
With her commencement address at Tuskegee University, first lady Michelle Obama showed that her husband isn’t the only one in the White House with a facility for searing and soaring speeches. In word and tone, Obama gave voice to the frustrations and hopes of African Americans in this country. Her words were powerful and forcefully delivered without apology. Coming after what we have witnessed in Ferguson and Baltimore, Obama’s speech at the historically black institution has added resonance.
Of course, Obama’s truth-telling was met with the usual and predictable harangues from the reactionary right. Laura Ingraham called the first lady’s commencement address “a litany of victimization.” Rush Limbaugh accused her of “playing the race card.” Sean Hannity said Obama displayed a “bitterness” and a “lack of appreciation for the opportunities” afforded her and the president. And Mark Levin said the two of them have “done more damage to race relations in this country since George Wallace, there I said it and I mean it.” When balled up together, all of these acerbic comments just proved the point Obama made as she ran through some of the name-calling she and her husband have endured.
…[Y]ou might remember the on-stage celebratory fist bump between me and my husband after a primary win that was referred to as a “terrorist fist jab.” And over the years, folks have used plenty of interesting words to describe me. One said I exhibited “a little bit of uppity-ism.“ Another noted that I was one of my husband’s “cronies of color.” Cable news once charmingly referred to me as “Obama’s Baby Mama.”In her remarks, the first lady lauded the lineage of the Tuskegee’s famous graduates. Those hardworking and persevering pioneers who achieved great things despite the state-sanctioned obstacles in their way. But Obama also recognized that despite the hard work of today’s graduates, there were different, equally persistent barriers to their success. The power of her words enhanced by sharing the experiences of herself and her husband.
And of course, Barack has endured his fair share of insults and slights. Even today, there are still folks questioning his citizenship.
The world won’t always see you in those caps and gowns. They won’t know how hard you worked and how much you sacrificed to make it to this day — the countless hours you spent studying to get this diploma, the multiple jobs you worked to pay for school, the times you had to drive home and take care of your grandma, the evenings you gave up to volunteer at a food bank or organize a campus fundraiser. They don’t know that part of you.Obama’s conservative carpers see fit to ignore this reality lived by African Americans. And in doing so, far-right critics also failed to hear Obama’s admonition against frustration, isolation and despair. They failed to hear her overarching, no-excuses message to the graduates.
Instead they will make assumptions about who they think you are based on their limited notion of the world. And my husband and I know how frustrating that experience can be. We’ve both felt the sting of those daily slights throughout our entire lives — the folks who crossed the street in fear of their safety; the clerks who kept a close eye on us in all those department stores; the people at formal events who assumed we were the “help” — and those who have questioned our intelligence, our honesty, even our love of this country.
And I know that these little indignities are obviously nothing compared to what folks across the country are dealing with every single day — those nagging worries that you’re going to get stopped or pulled over for absolutely no reason; the fear that your job application will be overlooked because of the way your name sounds; the agony of sending your kids to schools that may no longer be separate, but are far from equal; the realization that no matter how far you rise in life, how hard you work to be a good person, a good parent, a good citizen — for some folks, it will never be enough.
I want to be very clear that those feelings are not an excuse to just throw up our hands and give up. Not an excuse. They are not an excuse to lose hope. To succumb to feelings of despair and anger only means that in the end, we lose.In her remarks, Obama paid tribute to Charles DeBow. One of the famed Tuskegee airmen, she noted that he said takeoff is “a never-failing miracle” where all “the bumps would smooth off… [you’re] in the air… out of this world… free.” By staying true to themselves, their values and their own moral compass, the first lady assured the graduates that they would get through the bumps of life to fly “through the air, out of this world — free.”
In the end, Obama delivered a universal message specifically tailored to African American graduates who will go on to do great things for this nation. If that’s “playing the race card,” then we should get the entire deck.
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