Claiming Us

I watched Obama’s speech to the NAACP. He did not back down on his calls for personal responsibility. What I love about this man is that at height of global power, when he stands before a black audience he claims us. After the Jeremiah Wright blow up in his speech on race he claimed us and even refuse to cut Wright. In his Father’s Day speech he claimed us.

It says something about the sad state of black influence in this country when you get excited about a black man not running from his people. The truth of it is that not many black Americans at the upper echelons of power have been willing to so embrace their people and acknowledge to the world this is who I am.

The truth is Bill Clinton claimed us more than Condoleezza Rice or Colin Powell ever did. Now ain’t that some sad shit.

The fact that the next President of The United States who happens to be black shows a love for his people gives me great comfort. Who knows, maybe it will encourage some more of us to come home. You listening Tiger.