Shannon Stacey


FYI: This post is about race

(Just so you can move along if you don’t want to hear it.)

With both sides of the Presidential fence offering history-making candidates, I was determined to vote only the issues. I passionately believe that casting a vote for a person because of gender or race is just as wrong as voting against a person because of gender or race.

But now that I’ve voted and the logical decision-making is behind me and I’m semi-watching CNN coverage, I find myself rather emotional—I cast my vote for President of the United States for a black man.

The history of racial injustice in this country has offered many photos—many more horrific than this one—but from the time I first saw this photo, it has stayed with me. It literally makes my throat tighten. Why this one? I’m not sure. Perhaps it’s because white people beat each other. White people will shoot white people and hang each other, and commit all manner of atrocities on one another. But I’ve never seen a white man turn a fire hose on another white man. I’m not sure that makes any sense, but that photo settled into my mind when I was very young and emotion trumped logic.

Tomorrow a black man might be President-Elect of the United States of America.

So, while racism still festers in this country, I’m very proud of every American who voted for Barack Obama today, not because he’s black or in spite of it, but because he’s the best man for the job.

5 comments to “FYI: This post is about race”

  1. Heather Rae Scott
    Comment
    1
      · November 5th, 2008 at 1:28 am · Link

    :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: And this, my friend is why I love you as much as I do. I’ve never been more proud to be an American than I am tonight. I too voted for Barack Obama because like you, race aside he was my best logical choice and I look forward to the journey ahead with him as my President.



  2. Anna Louise Lucia
    Comment
    2
      · November 5th, 2008 at 3:43 am · Link

    If it’s not presumptious to say so, I’m proud of them, too. Love you.



  3. Annmarie
    Comment
    3
      · November 5th, 2008 at 8:38 am · Link

    That was a great speech last night, wasn’t it?



  4. Shannon
    Comment
    4
      · November 5th, 2008 at 10:07 am · Link

    I have to confess…I didn’t make the speeches. :tomato:

    I made it to the projection, watched a couple of minutes of mad cheers, then crashed.

    I know. All that suffering and I missed the payoff. And I STILL slept in.



  5. Shannon
    Comment
    5
      · November 5th, 2008 at 11:17 am · Link

    I just watched an online video of the speech, and it was definitely great.







  • Get my latest news straight to your inbox!

    I'll only be sending newsletters when I have news to share, and I'll never share your information. You'll receive an email asking you confirm your subscription (so please check your spam box if you don't receive that). You can unsubscribe at anytime.

    Search

  • Affiliation

    Shannon Stacey is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com.

    If you purchase a book listed on the site from Amazon.com, she’ll earn a small commission. Thank you!