Reflecting on what came before this magical moment

By Cassell A. Lawson Ph.D.

Sunday, November 16, 2008 6:02 PM CST

I am writing this article with my dear friend Julian Thomas in mind. Julian and I became close friends at Gateway Technical College. We would often talk about leveling the playing field. We shared a great deal in common because we had both worked in the Civil Rights struggle in the 1960s, the peak of the struggle. I am sure that he is smiling at this moment in history that so many Americans shed tears for on Nov. 4.

When I observed the Rev. Jesse Jackson at Grant Park in Chicago weeping, I could not help but weep myself. I understand what his tears represented, years of struggling to overcome oppression that many young people cannot relate to because they were not born. They inherited a world that had shed the blood, sweat and tears of many African-Americans, and in many cases, death. In the struggle for voting rights and the days of the Freedom Riders in the deep South, many did sacrifice their lives for this moment and time in history.

I define this as a magical moment because it happened when many people did not believe it could happen in our lifetime. When you place this moment in its proper perspective it is a magical and majestic moment.

In 1619, the first African-American was born in America. In 1776, the founding fathers drafted the Constitution that had not been realized by many Americans until this magical moment. In 1854, the Dred Scott decision told us why African-Americans were viewed as chattel. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln, using the Emancipation Proclamation, freed the slaves (black Americans), so the Constitution up until this moment in history did not include all of its people. It had not lived out the true meaning “we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal” because up until this magical moment the “proof was not in the pudding.” In 1896, Plessy vs. Ferguson decided that separate but equal was the law of the land. So for too many years we lived with de facto and de jure segregation. We lived in two Americas, one white and one black.

The 1954 Brown vs. Topeka School Board declared that segregated schools were unlawful, yet many school districts were still segregated in this country. In 1964, the Voting Rights Acts gave a little momentum to where we are today. The white establishment knew if black Americans registered to vote, this magical moment could become a reality.

People of color had experienced political oppression, disenfranchisement and marginalization that created a mental apathy that suggested we had no reason to vote until this magical moment in history. Did Americans vote for President-elect Barack Obama because he is a person of color? Some did and some did not. Many voted on an intelligent and well-prepared young man to lead this great country that we all have grown to love.

I understand why the Rev. Jesse Jackson was crying, just as I understand my own tears. Finally, the magical moment had arrived in America when you are not judged by the color of your skin but by the content of your character.

Does this mean we are now in a post-racial era in America when race or color does not matter? I am not sure about this, but I am prepared to say that America can no longer be characterized as a racist nation. This does not mean there are not some racist attitudes that linger.

I do not believe because of this magical moment that we can say the NAACP, National Urban League, and people like the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton are no longer needed. This would suggest that all of our civil rights issues have been resolved, and we know that is not true. Until we can redefine the notion of race and color these organizations and men like Rev. Sharpton and Rev. Jackson will be needed, as well as women. The fact that we have to refer to President-elect Barack Obama as African American suggests we still have some work to do in America, but we would be very myopic to suggest at this magical moment in American history that we have not come a long way since 1619.

It is true that America is the greatest nation on the planet and has been able to accomplish in a shorter period of time what no other country has been able to do. While many nations will idealize America, some will view us with envy.

Finally, America has allowed the words “we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men ... and let me add women ... are created equal” to become a living reality. Today more than any time in my 71 years of living America, I am truly proud to say that I am an American. Thank you, President-elect Barack Obama for allowing me to live long enough with the help of God to see America live up to the true meaning of these words. The majority of Americans are fair minded and well-meaning people ... the proof is in the pudding. What I savor most about this epic moment is that all of the men and women who sacrificed their lives for this moment did not die in vain.

Cassell A. Lawson served as vice president/provost of Gateway Technical College before retiring in 2005.

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