About a month ago, via crisscrossing emails, I was carbon copied in an email inviting all to support a prominent African American pastor in his quest to become a Super Delegate. This was in conjunction with his efforts to rally his congregation into supporting HRC. I wrote him the following letter, expressing my thoughts.
I have tears in my eyes as I write this, because I am tremendously saddened by many of the prominent Black role models, Pastors, and elected officials, who have come out in support of Hillary Clinton and in essence, against Obama. If you are not for him...then you are against him. I am so very saddened that some, like yourself, have decided to support her regardless of the tone of her campaign, which has turned increasingly negative. Why support someone who has decided to throw everything, including the kitchen sink, at her opponent?
I have been told all my life, by the ones that I hold in high esteem in our community, people like yourself, that we need to support each other, and not let Dr. King's dream go unrealized. I have been told that if it hadn't been for Dr. King, and all the activists, many of the liberties that I take for granted would not exist. Many of those same prominent persons in our community, now that they have "arrived", are not thinking about the generations to come. Supporting Obama may not be in your best interest, however, it may pave the way for our young people, many of whom are in trouble right now. Senator Obama can be in a position to pave the way for YOUR grandchildren, as well as mine. But only if we back him.
I would like to see us rally around this young Senator. Help protect this young Senator from the low blows, and the dirty politics from Bill and Hillary. I would like for him to find refuge within the Black Community, a safe haven for him. If some of us don't believe he's strong enough, then let's embrace him, help him, support him. This is what I've been told all my life, but now that the time is here, to do just that....Some of us are leaving him out to dry.
I cried, I truly cried, both tears of joy and of pain. I cried because I was beside myself with the thought that, in my lifetime, I would see a qualified African American man be elected as President of this Great Nation. I cried because I was so full of joy and pride for Senator Obama and for the young people who have gotten so excited and so involved in area where many of us have been complacent. Senator Obama is the one to be thanked for that. He's not in office yet, and already he's making a difference.
But, I also cried for those of you, who raised my generation, with the stories of marches, sit ins and boycotts. I cried because of the all the time I spent learning about our history, learning about how far we have come, as African Americans, and how we have to fight the great fight, being three times as great as any opponent we face. I cried because I believed all that I was told from those that came before me. And I cried because in the greatest moment in Our history, in our lifetime, some have turned away from the ideals that have been instilled in us since we were youngsters.
Many say it's not about race... however, Hillary is free to tell all of us, that she is trying to make history by becoming the first woman President. Obama is not free to make any such claim.
I am writing this to you with the utmost respect. The same respect we all see in Barack Obama, how he's running his campaign, as well as how he treats the other candidates. If there were reservations about what type of person Obama really is, the answer is evident for all to see. It's in the way he is handling himself as we speak.
Obviously, everyone has their opinion, but I imagine that since you are/were attempting to become a superdelgate, you are interested in hearing how some in my generation feel. To many of us, this is just as important as the road that loomed before Dr. King. However, I know that soon enough, a candidate will be chosen. I only pray that the candidate who holds himself in the most Christlike manner wins this race.
Respectfully yours,Derrilyn Cabness Price
