Originally Posted by Twinkletoes

My little granddaughter (3 at the time) once chastised me, saying: "Grandma, let's play nice!" I couldn't agree more.

Originally Posted by GIGI69

I tend to be conservative. But I have been to a couple of his events and admire the way he has conducted himself in the race and how he has (especially in the early primaries) been able to cross racial lines to garner support from both the white and African American communities

As for you son...I can't imagine how difficult it has been for him. However, try to remind him that he has a unique perspective. He has seen both sides and that makes him (and Obama) able to look at things with a balanced view.

It is no secret that I have been involved in local politics. I was fortunate enough to have support from the African American community. However, I encourage leaders from their community to become active in the community at large because no matter how much I want to understand issues that affect them, I haven't walked in their shoes. It is difficult to fully comprehend those issues when you haven't lived the experiences. That is something your son has. That gives him strength and power.

I haven't seen the speech. I'm hoping to see it this evening. Hug yourself and your son.

Originally Posted by Tootsie

Obama is a good speaker, but what does he say that is relevant?

Tootsie

Originally Posted by Curious

i want to remind everyone that this thread is not a political thread. kathy made that clear.

it's about how her son has been treated because of his mixed race.

this is not a thread to post about the political stance of members or or the candidates themselves.

Originally Posted by Av8rgirl

Another reminder that this is not a political thread. Let's keep it that way.

Originally Posted by Tootsie

Hmmm... I see your point, BUT...Kathy did compare her son to Obama....a political candidate for the Presidency.

I think there might be other mixed race people she could choose. Then there would be no confusion.

There is Derek Jeter, Vin Diesel, 'The Rock', Frederic Douglas, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Dubois, Tiger Woods, Halle Berry...and on and on.

This might be an opportunity to check out those with the same situation to see how they coped and get inspired.

When I read of some of the success stories I think it would be a very good way for Kathy's son to see that he is not alone and can acchieve whatever he sets out to do (at least as well as anyone else).

Tootsie

Originally Posted by KathyM

I know we're not supposed to talk about politics, but I just listened to a speech by Barack Obama on race relations in this country. It's something I've been longing to hear addressed for well over 40 years now.

I'm not speaking about politics. I'm speaking about race, but I'm not trying to "race bait" anyone.

Like Obama, my son is half black. I'm a white woman from Chicago, my ex-husband is a black man from Kentucky who moved to Chicago. I grew up hearing horrible racial slurs against blacks from my white neighbors. They threw rocks at Martin Luther King and called him a monkey when he came to Chicago back in the 60s. Their "Christian" excuse for their behavior made no sense to me.

My ex-husband grew up being treated like dirt in the south. As he'd walk down the street, white people in cars would call him names and throw garbage at him When we were married, white people threatened to kill us. We couldn't walk hand in hand down the street without some jerk saying something stupid to us. We watched our kind and gentle neighbor fight for his life on a ventilator after being attacked by policemen for driving through their white neighborhood. My own relatives in Arkansas disowned me for marrying a black man. My father was forced to choose between his brothers/sisters and his daughter. Lucky for me and my son, he chose us. He liked my ex-husband.

Which brings me to my son, a product of my marriage to my ex-husband - whom I loved very much and we continue to have a good relationship. When I listen to the racial slurs and political attacks against Obama, it feels like an attack on my own son. It stings like a bee because it's the reason my son has had to deal with so much unnecessary hatred and anger thrown at him (which continues) - how much unnecessary work I've had to do in order to make him strong enough to survive on the streets. It reminds me of the times I've had to sit quietly in pain as white people told "n*****" jokes or complained about them because I was too outnumbered for my voice to be heard.

I've talked about my son with many of you. He's been the light of my life from the moment he was conceived, and he's got a GOOD heart. I'm sure many of you have children/grandchildren who fall into the same category. How would YOU feel if people attacked your family based solely on skin color and life experience they had no control over? My son didn't ask to be born. Does he deserve to be called a "n*****" or treated like a second-class citizen in this country?