Yesterday, I made a quick trip to a rainy Augusta, GA. I visited the grave sites of my maternal and paternal grandparents.

As I approached their tombstones yesterday, I felt guilty. I'm not one for visiting cemeteries. The visit was long overdue–and I knew that I would not be able to celebrate tonight without making the pilgrimage…

There are two historic cemeteries in Augusta: one for blacks and one for whites–right next to each other. My paternal grandfather born in 1895 was laid to rest in the black cemetery in 1955…and his caucasian wife (my grandmother) accompanied him in 1979 when I was only five. She too rests in the black cemetery by his side.

According to Georgia law of the late 1920s, my paternal grandparents were criminals–guilty of miscegenation–mixing of the races.

I put my hand on their wet tombstone and shed the tears that need to be shed…not tears of regret, but tears of joy.

In spite of Jim Crow, lynchings, and untold racial hatred, their love survived and flourished. Their outright DEFIANCE of the “racist laws” on the books allowed me to exist…to be alive…to type this comment…and I'm so proud that their sense of defiance continues in my bloodline. I celebrate them tonight.

For the last 22 months, we witnessed the power of hope confront the audacity of fear…and after tonight, fear will not be completely extinguished…but it's going to get a mighty-mighty ass whipping.

Be Encouraged! Be Encouraged!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nSfON2ICnM

I wish all of America would read here. I join you with my Mexican ancestors, my Native ancestors and my Irish ancestors to say “It's about time. I cannot wait to see how the next generation takes this country further ahead.”

May everyone go to bed with the excitement and contentment of one who has traveled far and wide and long and solitary to finally coming home.

Thank you all for this, thank you all.

Sister First Lady, you have got to do better.

Thank You, JJP!

Black Women in the White House Have “Special Needs”
When they change the drapes in the Lincoln Bedroom, they just need to go ahead and turn it into the Beauty Shop for Michelle. She can't keep coming out in the morning looking like her head did today. What's she going to do in the White House, slip out for an early morning touch up in the 'hood? She had to console her husband last night after Toot just died. I'm serious, they are just going to have to accept that there are a few things Michelle will need in the White House – a beauty shop 24/7.

You are absolutely right – especially on point number 2 and the last paragraph. We will not just go away. We have come too far to just go away. We are resilient

Yesterday, I made a quick trip to a rainy Augusta, GA. I visited the grave sites of my maternal and paternal grandparents.

As I approached their tombstones yesterday, I felt guilty. I'm not one for visiting cemeteries. The visit was long overdue–and I knew that I would not be able to celebrate tonight without making the pilgrimage…

There are two historic cemeteries in Augusta: one for blacks and one for whites–right next to each other. My paternal grandfather born in 1895 was laid to rest in the black cemetery in 1955…and his caucasian wife (my grandmother) accompanied him in 1979 when I was only five. She too rests in the black cemetery by his side.

According to Georgia law of the late 1920s, my paternal grandparents were criminals–guilty of miscegenation–mixing of the races.

I put my hand on their wet tombstone and shed the tears that need to be shed…not tears of regret, but tears of joy.

In spite of Jim Crow, lynchings, and untold racial hatred, their love survived and flourished. Their outright DEFIANCE of the “racist laws” on the books allowed me to exist…to be alive…to type this comment…and I'm so proud that their sense of defiance continues in my bloodline. I celebrate them tonight.

For the last 22 months, we witnessed the power of hope confront the audacity of fear…and after tonight, fear will not be completely extinguished…but it's going to get a mighty-mighty ass whipping.

Be Encouraged! Be Encouraged!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nSfON2ICnM

I wish all of America would read here. I join you with my Mexican ancestors, my Native ancestors and my Irish ancestors to say “It's about time. I cannot wait to see how the next generation takes this country further ahead.”

May everyone go to bed with the excitement and contentment of one who has traveled far and wide and long and solitary to finally coming home.

Thank you all for this, thank you all.

Sister First Lady, you have got to do better.

Yesterday, I made a quick trip to a rainy Augusta, GA. I visited the grave sites of my maternal and paternal grandparents.

As I approached their tombstones yesterday, I felt guilty. I'm not one for visiting cemeteries. The visit was long overdue–and I knew that I would not be able to celebrate tonight without making the pilgrimage…

There are two historic cemeteries in Augusta: one for blacks and one for whites–right next to each other. My paternal grandfather born in 1895 was laid to rest in the black cemetery in 1955…and his caucasian wife (my grandmother) accompanied him in 1979 when I was only five. She too rests in the black cemetery by his side.

According to Georgia law of the late 1920s, my paternal grandparents were criminals–guilty of miscegenation–mixing of the races.

I put my hand on their wet tombstone and shed the tears that need to be shed…not tears of regret, but tears of joy.

In spite of Jim Crow, lynchings, and untold racial hatred, their love survived and flourished. Their outright DEFIANCE of the “racist laws” on the books allowed me to exist…to be alive…to type this comment…and I'm so proud that their sense of defiance continues in my bloodline. I celebrate them tonight.

For the last 22 months, we witnessed the power of hope confront the audacity of fear…and after tonight, fear will not be completely extinguished…but it's going to get a mighty-mighty ass whipping.

Be Encouraged! Be Encouraged!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nSfON2ICnM