The Exploration of Hope

20Jul08

Introduction to Exploration of Hope

When people ask me why I support Barack Obama, I always feel slightly tongue-tied. I lose a little bit of confidence, even though I do have some clear beliefs why he should win office. However, they always end up sounding cliché. For instance, I usually think of the word ‘change’ but how many times have you heard that from an Obama supporter? It’s an abstract truth but not a concrete reason that holds weight with candidates like Hillary Clinton, whose political experience outweighs his or John McCain who has been in politics since I’ve been born. So with this in mind, I’ve been searching for better reasons why I support the Black man with the “funny name”.

Over the last few months, I have been immersed in Obama’s campaign. I’ve read both of his books, the autobiography Dreams from My Father and the more politically driven, The Audacity of Hope. Both books give me a more personal and specific look into the man’s upbringing, beliefs and political views. I have also been reading some articles from various sources about his campaign and how he’s been stacking up against his relentless, unflinching opponent, Hillary Clinton. In the evenings, after I come home from work, I sometimes watch Youtube clips from his page, hoping to gain a firmer stance on my position on the issues. I’ve also, sometimes reluctantly, watch CNN, MSNBC and even FOX News (all thanks to my brother whose sudden interest in politics may be all due to Mr. Obama himself). I’ve even volunteered on his behalf, making donations, going to rallies, making a few calls to voters, sending out postcards and agreeing to a random interview with a university as a young supporter.

Now, I will say that prior to this election, I was not into politics that much at all. I’ve never been to a rally for a candidate nor read a political book in my life. I was even a Hillary supporter at first, thinking that Obama really didn’t have a chance at winning the presidency. So I wonder, “What is it about him that makes me believe so much? Why do I feel so driven to be involved and to learn as much as I can about the issues and the candidate himself?”

I’m still in search for that answer. I’ve had some discoveries over the last few months that I will share with you and I know I will have quite a few more during the general election. In consequence, I will share my journey with you on this quest to find out the answer to this very question. I will call it, for now, “The Exploration of Hope”. Cheesy maybe but I kinda like it.

Written on May 19, 2008

Inspiration in Change and Hope

On this exploration, I have found myself bombarded with the constant message from Barack Obama’s campaign of “change” and “hope”—two words that the American people have been dying to hear during the grueling years of the Bush Administration. Personally, I have heard those words explicit and implied all my life from politicians, civil rights leaders, teachers, preachers, writers, poets and even musicians. Usually, when they say these words or words that convey the images of change and hope, I oftentimes don’t believe them. When Barack Obama says them, I believe them. Now how can this be? How can a man that I barely know affect me this much in comparison to someone who is a few inches from me speaking the same thing?

One reason could be the way he speaks about change and hope. The eloquence of this man’s speeches is remarkable. He typically starts out from a general standpoint then quickly dives into his personal life and then segues seamlessly into the issues of fellow Americans. After that, he quietly pronounces the key message to his belief in change and hope with a strong and powerful finish towards the end of his speech. He stirs the hearts and spirits of Americans because he touches us in one way or another with his broad view of many issues facing us today.

Typically, when I see other people trying to convey this message, it is steeped in cynicism, bitterness, anger and/or resentment. The change and the hope get buried under the critical view of reality. Not to say these feelings are not warranted. They are definitely justifiable, considering all the problems that face Americans and more personally, African Americans that I see every day, walking like zombies due to depression and hopelessness. However, the lack of optimism creates an environment of complacency and confinement. And how can real change come about if we aren’t moving towards anything better in our thoughts, which ultimately control our actions? Which brings me back to Obama, he is not naïve in his view of reality. The grim details of the issues that face America are noted in his speeches; however, he takes those grim details and turns them on their heads by bringing a sense of confidence and positivity that often lacks in current day politics. I gravitate towards those qualities like a moth towards a flame except I do not get burn in my pursuit; I see the light of the red and orange as a symbol to some peace and oneness in America.

See, I was not alive when Frederick Douglass made his speech about July 4th. I was not alive when Martin Luther King said his dream. I was not alive when leaders like Malcolm X, Huey P Newton and Marcus Garvey created their movements for change and hope. I was not around when John F. Kennedy was president. I was not in the black and white footage of the 60s demanding for equal rights only to be beaten down by a police man.

I was not there so I kind of feel guilty for my lack of service. I feel sort of selfish in my attempt to find that change and hope within myself. I feel like I could do more for my community that surrounds me every day–the community that is an awful reminder of how far we got to go in order to obtain true equality. I feel complacent in my position as a young African American college graduate from Philadelphia, looking to pursue the American Dream. However, when I went to the Obama Headquarters earlier this spring, I began to feel that sense of guilt slowly fading away. By being involved in his campaign, I finally felt like I was a part of history and that my little deeds will, in fact, create little ripples of change. However, the guilt is not in a state of oblivion. I still feel like I can do more. Barack Obama’s tone, thoughtfulness and compassion resonates an innate want to help others. And I have a gut feeling that this is what Douglass did and King did and those other leaders did during a time before me.

He has inspired me to change for the better and I can’t ask for anything more from a future leader of the free and hopeful world.

Written on May 26, 2008

Continuum of Exploration

It has been awhile since I have written on this man. I studied this man for months, trying to listen to as many speeches as possible, read as many books about him as I can, learn more about his amazing wife, and gain knowledge about his policy positions. During this exploration, I’ve also wondered where I fall in this whole equation.

Part of my exploration is a need to know what this man is all about. I do not mean the Fox News reasons to see if this Black guy is legit. I want to observe the humanity in him. Before, I equated politics to the opposite of humility and humanity. I didn’t trust anyone in politics. And honestly, some remnants of that are still there even with Obama running.

However, Barack has been able to put a focus on people, “regular” folks like no other politician I have seen in my lifetime. It’s not about a whole bunch of plans that mean shit to us or a bunch of promises that we know are impossible to keep. I do think he may not be able to deliver on all his plans (and some people unfairly view him as a saint when in reality he is a politician with a extraordinary gift to speak to the masses with eloquence and intimacy that gets right to you) but I think he’ll work as hard as he can to lay the foundation of tremendous change in the future beyond his eight year term.

I also believe that he has already made history by being in the position he is in right now. He has the ability to move people towards a positive direction by pronouncing the personal responsibility within us in order for this to truly work. It starts with his grassroots campaign and it will soon grow into him being the President of the United States (yes, I am that sure of myself to declare this now) and then once he is there, he is still going to need us to push his plans forward. I like that push to pay attention. A lot of us have been walking blindly, ignoring the government because we really just didn’t care nor trust. We stopped believing in America for she kept allowing a man to abuse her over and over again. Maybe, Barack is just the kind of man she needs in her life.

I am still exploring this moment in more ways than one. I have been taking a break from his speeches. After awhile, I knew where he was going to go with his speeches and the little personal stories he was going to insert so it started to become redundant to me. However, I am definitely looking forward to his Democratic Convention speech in Denver, CO. I know it is going to be amazing. I will be doing as much as I can to help him out in the meantime, whether it is with donating, registering new voters or canvassing in my neighborhood. I intend to support him fully. I also intend to support myself through this whole process, meaning not give all the credit to Obama for this sudden change within myself.

See, the word change rings many bells for me at this time in my life. And perhaps, Obama drew this attention because that word was so desperately needed not only on a national level but a personal one as well. I guess I’ll see throughout my personal exploration that will never end. And maybe I’ll write a blog or two about it.

Written on July 20, 2008

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Tags: Barack Obama