If ever I felt compelled to talk about a subject, it is now. At the dawn of a new era with our Commander-in-Chief, Barack H. Obama, and the nation in which we call home changing for the better, race has been, is, and seems to always be an issue.
The U.S. Army sees green, Air Force sees blue, and with soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines combined, we glow a purple ray never to be reckoned with. However, being one of many pigmently diverse soldiers in our army, I seem to always stand out amidst the crowd.
Now, maybe it was just Mississippi where black kids and white kids would often choose not to sit at the lunch table blending together. Maybe it was just my church where “missionary baptist” specified the black church from the “southern baptist” congregation. Then again, maybe it was just my ears and eyes that saw a separating line between what is considered the majority versus minority of people in America.
In just a few short months, I’ve had more people come conversing with me about the inauguration of our country’s first “bi-racial” president, expecting a voice with the “black” point-of-view.
My grandmother, who was mulatto (bi-racial, much like President Obama) and my grandfather who was an American Cherokee Indian, came from two totally different worlds but yet were both stereotyped because of the pigment of their skin. Now I stand as a descendant from them to be contrasted with other people of the colored persuasion simply because of an outer similarity.
Now, some say that this will never change… I’ll always be black and white will always be white. Maybe, but the evidence of greatness coming forth when the two combine is among us and has a name: Barack Obama.
Through our president, we see a blend of races and nations, generations to generations and the prophecies and predictions from the past fulfilled. We see women grabbing new found glory in Michelle, children carrying a since of pride in Sasha and Malia, and our men believing once again that they can rise to the occasion no matter the wealth, class, or location they’re from, or even the race they claim.
Yes, it’s true that just a few short years ago, President Obama’s father wouldn’t have even been allowed to eat in some of our restaurants, nor would his mother been able to marry his father in some of our united states. However, in the same years, my mother, as personal as that is, created change by intergrating a white-only college in a small town in Mississippi which is now a university open to all.
Just by looking at these examples, I see change.
I walk the streets every day seeing dark- and light-toned Iraqis alike laughing and talking with the darkest of the Ugandans and the lightest of the Austrians, the reddest of the Peruvians, and the tannest of the Asians, and I watch. I observe the mix of a common people striving for the advancement of one world, one spirit of freedom.
So, just in case you wanted to know my thoughts on our new president because of our similar skin tone, I’ll simply say, “Change has come to America, and the race is already won.”
Sunday, 25. January 2009
I really enjoyed your thoughts in this blog. I have seen the great strides ,in my 62 years, that America has made toward equality of the races and sexes. The Armed Forces of the USA, thanks to the forsight of Harry Truman, was the leader in desegration. When I was a soldier, in my unit we were all ARMY GREEN! I made so many friends of different ethnic groups and we ejoyed fellowship at each others quarters. In Germany of my four best friends two were African-American and one was Phillippino-Chinese. We enjoyed many great times and shared some sad ones also.
Incidently, SGT Tull has native American blood from the Cherokee and Potawatomi tribes. Please keep writing the blogs. We really enjoy them.
Sunday, 25. January 2009
Well spoken. My students are writing about this topic, too. Thanks for sharing.l
Wednesday, 28. January 2009
hi! im a student from ms. gaines’s second block. i just wanted to say…that i cant believe im blogging to a soldier!!! omgomgomgomgomg. ^^ since i like cute stuff i’ll just use pink bunny as my name for now. what have you been doing before you got out your laptop?
Thursday, 29. January 2009
Hey Pink Bunny! All is well here in Baghdad! I hope you’re learning a lot in Ms. Gaines’ class like I am here on my historic journey. What are you studying right now? Waiting to hear from you! - SGT LEECH
Thursday, 29. January 2009
Tiah,
Your thoughts on race are so profound. I too grew up in the South but was the one Af-Am child who sat with a mostly Cauc. group of friends. In my honor classes, I was the only one and often times was treated as the spokesperson for my race. I have seen a lot change over the past 30 years. As my parents were pushing for intergration, now most children choose to be with their own kind. We have gained alot of momentum with this Presidential win; however, our children are still struggling with self-image and more importantly self-love. Where do we even begin with this? Love you and take care!
G
Thursday, 29. January 2009
Thank you so much for blogging this issue SGT Leech. I’ve seen a lot of racism in my 43 years, and I don’t expect it to end anytime too soon, though I certainly wish it would. We need more people like you to write about these issues with a level head and from the heart, I think that is the only way to bring about change in race relations. Thank you for your service to our Country.
Tuesday, 3. March 2009
SGT Leech,
Outstanding. It is so enlightening for me to see, right before my eyes, how you have developed into the writer that you have become. Keep up the great job and stay safe. God Bless. Hurry HOME!!