Imagine……a journey through time.

I’m imagining I am a “slave” in the late 1700’s early 1800’s in Virginia. I am there. I am amongst my people, clueless as to why I am in this forsaken country, this foreign land with foreign verbiage. Transported in a vessel to the other side of the world chained together with my brothers and sisters as if we were ainmals. Why were we snatched from our land, from our communities, from our culture? Was there no one who could farm your land, raise your children, cook your meals, and bore your unwanted children who I grew to love? My hands are callous, my back is weak, my arthritic hands and knees have had enough of the rigorous work you have ordered me to do. And in return you feed me the remains of animals you would not feed your dog, you give me rags to wear on my back, and sell my family members on the auction block to the highest bidder.

You are evil. You came to our land and snatched us, you came into our shacks and raped us, you whipped our strong men with the hopes that you would break them. You remedy us ignorant, you degrade and abuse us. However, we remain strong. We look to God to deliver us from this torture. You can not break me you people devoid of color, you have tried, but you can NOT break me!

I’m imagining I am a “nigger” in the 1960’s, in rural Alabama. I am there. I am amongst my people, clueless as to why I am still treated like less than a man. Why are we sprayed with water from hoses, ordered to sit on the back of the bus, and crosses burned in our front yard? I ask myself “Does my color and or presence scare you?” Are you now threatened by my freedom and what it is I could possibly do to you? What is it that makes you want to treat me unlike the man I am? I know. You think me beneath you. You call yourself a Christian, but are unaware, or refuse to believe that God has created man equal. I am free. I am no longer obligated to call you “massa” and agree with you “Yes sah boss.” I am my own man. I now receive pay for the rigorous work I do, although my wages are not equalled to the labor performed. I no longer have to show “freedom papers” as proof of my humanity.

I am afraid to walk the dark roads past a certain hour, fearful that I may be hung from a tree. I walk with my head down, afraid that if I look up, I would have broken some unwritten law. I know my place, although I am not happy with this condition. I pray the leaders of the Civil Rights movement are protected by the hand of God, and that someday Black folk will not have to live in fear. “We” are a strong people, you can not break me you members of a racist group of European decent, you have tried, but you can NOT break me!

I am an “African-American” today, in New York City. I am here. I live in a big city among many cultures and am thankful for the opportunities and possessions that I have. My ancestors did not die and suffer in vain. They died securing the freedom and privileges that we enjoy. No longer can you demean me to my face, spit on me, and rape our women with no recourse. I am human, and you have begun to treat me as such.

To the amazement of our ancestors, the leader of this country is of African decent. Barack Hussein Obama, all praise is due! I am happy, but I am NOT surprised. We are a strong, intelligent people. We were born to be great. We have endured much pain and suffering in our past, for this day to be before us. President Barack Obama along with all who value freedom are standing on the shoulders of our ancestors who suffered so that we, our children, and generations to come, will not have to experience the injustices that they gave their lives for.

Barack Obama is our payback without violence. He is the silent scream of our ancestors.

Talk to me…..
DDW