I was at the polls and I looked at my choice. Obama. McCain. Up until that deciding day that I cast my ballot, I was leaning and pretty much decided on McCain. However, as I looked at that ballot and thought about my place to contribute to history, I decided otherwise.
I thought about my 400 years. I thought about the last 40 years. I thought about my 32 on this earth. I thought about 2008. I never thought in my lifetime ever that I would see a black male elected president of the United States. Ever. Not once. Not even in a dream. I decided otherwise.
I thought about my parents. I thought about growing up on MS. I thought about my Grandparents. I thought about the future of not only America but Black America. I thought about that for once, this guy, that one, could make an impact in an indirect way towards pushing and united race. I decided otherwise.
It showed that the inner workings of all of these years of racism and oppression are still prevalent and existent in all of us. The people that would not vote for Obama because of his color. The people that voted for him because of his color. The people that took an interest and learned more about politics and finding a valid reason to vote for him not because of his color but because of his character. How this man that was pushed into this position not by choice but by fate yes, I decided otherwise.
I thought about standing in that line for 2 hours. I thought about everyone else that stood in line for two hours. I thougth about people that were in line longer than I. I thought about black people taking action for once and not resting on their laurels and making a change happen. I decided otherwise.
I thought about my grandchildren. I thought about talking to them years from now like I speak with my parents about history. To hear their stories sometimes in awe; sometimes in shock. I envisioned my grandbabies asking me, "Who did you vote for?" And that's when it hit me. How could I turn my back on someone that has ideas that I strongly believe in? How could I turn my back on all of the other people that made a change? How could I turn my back on my family? My grandparents? My history. My race. Forgive me for saying this but could I honestly look my grandchildren in the eye and tell them that I picked a white guy over a black guy. I would have felt like a hypocrite. I would have felt unjust and regretted my decision for the rest of my life yes I know this.
I don't regret my decision. And while it came down to the very primitive reason for picking one candidate over the other, I had what I needed to substantiate my decision. To make me feel good in my selection after all else was said in done. I read his book. I read his proposals online. I compared them to McCain's. I did my research. That's why it was tough. But color wasn't. That was easy. My color wasn't. That was easy. I did not, at the end of the day, want to turn my back on my people. The people that I love and care for dearly.
I decided otherwise. I decided Obama. And so did America!
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