The day after President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009, I attended my first meditation retreat. Instead of the relaxing getaway that I anticipated, I came away from the day of deep reflection and concentration exhausted, but strangely exhilarated. Most importantly, I learned something about myself that (I hope) will allow me [...]
Archive for the ‘obama’ Category
23 May
Michelle Obama in Time Magazine
The great-great-granddaughter of slaves now occupies a house built by them, one of the most professionally accomplished First Ladies ever cheerfully chooses to call herself Mom in Chief, and the South Side girl whose motivation often came from defying people who tried to stop her now gets to write her own set of rules. Read [...]
28 Jan
“For the Love of Crom!”: Obama & Comics Culture
For days I’ve been mulling over what to say about Amazing Spider-Man #583, the well-publicized Marvel comic that features a chisel-jawed President Obama. But honestly, I’ve got nothing. It’s like writing about the time Mr. T appeared on Diff’rent Strokes. Or reflecting on the subtext of Scooby-Doo Meets the Harlem Globetrotters. “I know it wouldn’t [...]
22 Jan
The Inaugural Poem You Haven’t Heard
While the crowds gather in Washington, I will admit this: it is enough that it happened, more than enough that we see him standing there shattering all our good excuses: no, not bliss, not some balm over the wounds that still hurt, but it is enough to say that we saw it happen, the thing [...]
20 Jan
“But Now I Think I’m Able To Carry On…”
posted with vodpod Video h/t Ta-Nehisi Coates (Also check out his excellent interview on Fresh Air). Also: “A Prayer for the Nation and Our Next President, Barack Obama,” Text of Opening Inaugural Prayer by Bishop Gene Robinson
16 Jan
Take A Break, People!
Plenty of well-meaning voices will tell us in the days to come that Barack Obama’s presidential victory, while historic and worthy of praise, means that the work of racial justice and equality has only just begun. To guard against complacency, the watchful and wounded will be full of meaningful warnings, counseling caution, and with the [...]
21 Nov
Lost & Found: Get Up! Edition
A few links, videos, and other online ephemera from our favorite sites this past week: Yes they did: The photographer who brought us Breach of Peace: Portraits of the 1961 Mississippi Freedom Riders has a wonderful series on his blog that features the reflections of the civil rights activists on Obama’s victory. Here are the [...]
10 Nov
Overjoyed: One Week Later
Since last Tuesday’s historic night, black comedians have joked that black folks haven’t been this happy since the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation. I never thought I could ever relate to that type of joy until now. I now know the meaning of overjoyed. This feeling hasn’t diminished from Tuesday night. It has only soared. Each time [...]
6 Nov
The Genius of America
I can’t stop staring at this photo gallery of the US Presidents. There is something about seeing Obama’s face juxtaposed with these other figures, all white, all men. Some of these faces are so iconic – Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln – we meet them every day on our currency, our government seals and documents, our [...]
3 Nov
Share Your Election Day Story
We’d love to hear about what this election means to you. What was your experience at the polls? What kind of volunteer work did you do? Leave your comments, observations, and positive affirmations in our comments section today!
28 Oct
WE VOTED TODAY!
One day I’ll tell my daughter about this morning, when we walked hand in hand out of the voter registration office and she asked: Where’s the boat? Are we going to get on the boat? No, baby girl, we’re going to vote. And we just did. We voted. For Barack Obama for President of the [...]
24 Oct
Lost & Found: Barack O’ Lantern Edition
A few links, videos, and other online ephemera from our favorite sites this past week, including Obama pumpkins!
