GIVE ME FORTY ACRES, NOT TWENTY…by William Fredrick Cooper
(Written June 4th , 2008)
It rained joy on us all like no other African-American moment in history tonight. But can I be greedy, and ask the heavens for the balance of my 40 acres that has been withheld for so long? Do get me wrong, the twenty acres of celebration this occasion was cherished more than you'll ever know; it reduced me to tears.
But you see, this victory by Barack Obama, while the most spiritually moving experience for a group of people brought ashore against their wishes, was, in a way, akin to feeding a starving soul on a deserted island a cracker.
(no pun intended...or was there?)
Don’t get it twisted: while I’m eternally grateful of the package received a little before midnight Tuesday, I feel more is in store when it comes to the bloodied bill that lay in my weary hands.
You see, my soul was damaged every time mothers showed sons the assassination pictures of men that stood up for their civil rights; Emmett Till's crushed countenance; every single brother, lynched; every sister that was raped merely because others could get away with it, every whipping received when fighting our emasculation by way of slavery; every African Family torn apart by the chains of barbarians, every North American slight before, during and after the Mayflower...
Bargaining my life for change as my forefathers did, I humbly accept this important gift of Barack Obama’s presumptive Democratic Nomination. However I realize the outstanding twenty acres remain, for we the Africans residing in this country are still halfway to being considered equal. And if it's anything like the twenty acres received tonight, I eagerly anticipate what was deemed inconceivable mere decades ago.
Granted, the midpoint payment is something truly special, for it moved millions of people of a non-Caucasian persuasion to tears not only where history was made, but worldwide.
But more is in store. Perusing the bill once more, I noticed that you complied to an earlier request made in that we should not be charged for the poor sportsmanship on displayed by a defiant Mrs. Clinton. I was happy that the 'immediate refusal to concede defeat' deduction wasn't the cause for more scandal. Asking myself the obvious 'Would she be doing this if Obama were...' question, my answer was confirmed by the bias, pro-Hillary CNN sledgehammer pounding against my brain. All the while, I remained unaffected by the high-tech headache.
And just went I recaptured all sanity with the joy of a landmark occasion for a well deserving culture, down the hatch of a nation’s throat went a force-fed spoonful of Clinton Liver Oil by media pundits refusing to give a man of color his due.
The lingering 'vanquished must be your V.P.' aftertaste still has me dizzy. So does the...ahem... diplomatic, 'he must show her respect and lip up to her posterior for the tune of eighteen potential million votes' mindset. (Phew...)
Why in the world did they actually think that would render the spirit of many defenseless?
Oh, they still think we're stupid.
Whoops... I guess they forgot our mark on every single history they lied about, and how we, with artistic, intellectual and spiritual creativity, made their truths better with our own.
We were Kings, queens and priests once in a land far away.
I love your practical joke, however. That Republican mule of a war hero named McCain you sent me in lieu of the party symbol sure made me howl in the sarcasm of these words. It figures Obama had to withstand another round of jealousy on his night. His opponent could have waited a day before he decided to tell the country what's wrong with it's first African-American Presidential hopeful.
But then again, I'm grateful I saw the light when shining, as once again an illustration defying common logic showed me what this race is all about: While we received twenty acres to assuage the pain, Barack Obama will get no quarter from the opposition.
Now that the Huckebee's and Hillary's have shuffled off, please remind my brothers and sisters in arms that tonight was just a tip of the iceberg, and our future president will need all the help we can to climb Mt. Everest. A man even as eloquent as he can't maximize his greatness without the aid of another, and Barack Obama needs our help.
In addition to the balance owed, please include seeds of faith securely, so that the continued belief of millions, when planted on glorious new soil, will produce fruit trees of change and healing. It'll be perfect homecoming for troops that were at war for no reasons other than power and oil.
Additionally, please remove from the political landscape those who don't believe with their hearts and souls enough to vote for Obama.
What is required from us all is the toughness that fortified our ancestors. Have it not only for our everyday struggles, but to borrow a description Brother Ossie Davis gave with all his heart to Malcolm X, “FOR OUR NEW PRINCE” . He'll sure need the strength of our arms as shelter, for Barack Obama is about to embark on the toughest journey a person of color may have ever known in this land of theirs.
The Wright/Church Issue, I understand, might be a problem to resolve.
However, your discretion in handling this one is far superior than any human being, for as man trips over his won steps time and time again, You always know what's best for us all.
And for a pre-summer night in June, You sure proved it with by allowing the production of inspirational land outside my door.
There's Always A Reason for it all, you say. I eagerly anticipate the remaining twenty acres that are due on Tuesday November 4th.
Sincerely,
William Fredrick Cooper
(Written June 4th , 2008)
It rained joy on us all like no other African-American moment in history tonight. But can I be greedy, and ask the heavens for the balance of my 40 acres that has been withheld for so long? Do get me wrong, the twenty acres of celebration this occasion was cherished more than you'll ever know; it reduced me to tears.
But you see, this victory by Barack Obama, while the most spiritually moving experience for a group of people brought ashore against their wishes, was, in a way, akin to feeding a starving soul on a deserted island a cracker.
(no pun intended...or was there?)
Don’t get it twisted: while I’m eternally grateful of the package received a little before midnight Tuesday, I feel more is in store when it comes to the bloodied bill that lay in my weary hands.
You see, my soul was damaged every time mothers showed sons the assassination pictures of men that stood up for their civil rights; Emmett Till's crushed countenance; every single brother, lynched; every sister that was raped merely because others could get away with it, every whipping received when fighting our emasculation by way of slavery; every African Family torn apart by the chains of barbarians, every North American slight before, during and after the Mayflower...
Bargaining my life for change as my forefathers did, I humbly accept this important gift of Barack Obama’s presumptive Democratic Nomination. However I realize the outstanding twenty acres remain, for we the Africans residing in this country are still halfway to being considered equal. And if it's anything like the twenty acres received tonight, I eagerly anticipate what was deemed inconceivable mere decades ago.
Granted, the midpoint payment is something truly special, for it moved millions of people of a non-Caucasian persuasion to tears not only where history was made, but worldwide.
But more is in store. Perusing the bill once more, I noticed that you complied to an earlier request made in that we should not be charged for the poor sportsmanship on displayed by a defiant Mrs. Clinton. I was happy that the 'immediate refusal to concede defeat' deduction wasn't the cause for more scandal. Asking myself the obvious 'Would she be doing this if Obama were...' question, my answer was confirmed by the bias, pro-Hillary CNN sledgehammer pounding against my brain. All the while, I remained unaffected by the high-tech headache.
And just went I recaptured all sanity with the joy of a landmark occasion for a well deserving culture, down the hatch of a nation’s throat went a force-fed spoonful of Clinton Liver Oil by media pundits refusing to give a man of color his due.
The lingering 'vanquished must be your V.P.' aftertaste still has me dizzy. So does the...ahem... diplomatic, 'he must show her respect and lip up to her posterior for the tune of eighteen potential million votes' mindset. (Phew...)
Why in the world did they actually think that would render the spirit of many defenseless?
Oh, they still think we're stupid.
Whoops... I guess they forgot our mark on every single history they lied about, and how we, with artistic, intellectual and spiritual creativity, made their truths better with our own.
We were Kings, queens and priests once in a land far away.
I love your practical joke, however. That Republican mule of a war hero named McCain you sent me in lieu of the party symbol sure made me howl in the sarcasm of these words. It figures Obama had to withstand another round of jealousy on his night. His opponent could have waited a day before he decided to tell the country what's wrong with it's first African-American Presidential hopeful.
But then again, I'm grateful I saw the light when shining, as once again an illustration defying common logic showed me what this race is all about: While we received twenty acres to assuage the pain, Barack Obama will get no quarter from the opposition.
Now that the Huckebee's and Hillary's have shuffled off, please remind my brothers and sisters in arms that tonight was just a tip of the iceberg, and our future president will need all the help we can to climb Mt. Everest. A man even as eloquent as he can't maximize his greatness without the aid of another, and Barack Obama needs our help.
In addition to the balance owed, please include seeds of faith securely, so that the continued belief of millions, when planted on glorious new soil, will produce fruit trees of change and healing. It'll be perfect homecoming for troops that were at war for no reasons other than power and oil.
Additionally, please remove from the political landscape those who don't believe with their hearts and souls enough to vote for Obama.
What is required from us all is the toughness that fortified our ancestors. Have it not only for our everyday struggles, but to borrow a description Brother Ossie Davis gave with all his heart to Malcolm X, “FOR OUR NEW PRINCE” . He'll sure need the strength of our arms as shelter, for Barack Obama is about to embark on the toughest journey a person of color may have ever known in this land of theirs.
The Wright/Church Issue, I understand, might be a problem to resolve.
However, your discretion in handling this one is far superior than any human being, for as man trips over his won steps time and time again, You always know what's best for us all.
And for a pre-summer night in June, You sure proved it with by allowing the production of inspirational land outside my door.
There's Always A Reason for it all, you say. I eagerly anticipate the remaining twenty acres that are due on Tuesday November 4th.
Sincerely,
William Fredrick Cooper
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