As a white woman who has worked for social justice all my adult life, I am in awe of this day. I have seen the progression of racism in my lifetime from separate drinking fountains for people of color to the swearing in of my new president who is a black man. I want to thank President Obama from the bottom of my heart. Because you see, I am raising my African American grand niece who I thought someday would look at my white face when I told her my dreams for her that she could be anything she wanted, and she would look up to my white face and silently say to herself, "Nana, you don't have a clue ..."
But today I know that throughout the innocence of her childhood she will see a man and his gorgeous wife with their beautiful girls be the center of her country's history. They will look like her, not me. They will be her heroes, and I am glad to stand aside and watch in awe as they tell her without saying a word, that she can be anything she wants to be.
This little one of mine is a child born from parents who are addicts, and on the street, she had little chance of anyone wanting her because her tiny body carried the diseases and toxic "fight or flight" chemicals from the day she was born. But now, because I have loved her through them and she is a healthy little girl, she is an all American girl just chalk full of feisty spirit. Now at 3 years old, wherever she goes, all eyes are on her as she sashays into a room and owns it, full of intelligence and confidence, funny and already aware she is so beautiful as a fact, not as a self-conscience hope. With the confidence of someone who likes themselves and without any over-inflated ego, she just knows she is somebody.
Up until today, I was terrified that life would knock that beautiful spirit out of this little girl, this light of my life who saved me as much as I care for her. Without the mentors I have placed in her life who knows what I do not who are my dear friends, I was terrified for her because I did not know how a white woman was going to help this little girl of color navigate the roadblocks that would puzzle her so much until the light dawned about the truth for who she is.
But not now. Not when she can turn on the television, pick up a magazine, hear a voice on the radio, and see a history book in her classroom with a picture of someone who is highly respected and a very powerful president who shares her heritage as a man of color. A person who also straddled two worlds because he is a man with my heritage as well just like she is doing. As she looks into his eyes on the cover of a magazine, he silently tells her what I long to for her to hear and believe, "Dear One, it is true, you can do anything ..."
So thank-you from the bottom of my heart for your courage to face down everything and overcome it all, President Obama. I am so proud of you, and so filled with joy on this inauguration day. Your future hopes for this country and your success means we all win. So I am praying that all we do will make some changes for the better. I promise you, I am rolling up my sleeves and ready to help and support you, just let me know what you'd like me to do.
And in the meantime, I will hold this little one close to my heart and tell her through my tears of pride and joy, "See that wonderful man on the television? He is our president. See how smart and funny and creative he is like you are? See how beautiful he and his family are? Aren't they an amazing family? Someday Little One,if you work hard enough and care deeply enough, you can also be presidentof the United States just like he is ..."
Love
Cat In Seattle