Reparations Means Perseverance

By now it has become clear that I support Senator Barack Obama's Presidential Bid. I hope that it is also clear why I support Senator Obama. Yet, if not let me restate: just as Jesse Jackson's run for President was part of a larger movement (even if part of a larger ego), this run is part of a larger movement. I support Senator Barack Obama because I support making progress in the struggle of our people, and in the larger struggle of bringing freedom and prosperity to our Country and to the disfranchised of society.

Because of the numerous emails I have sent to my readers, I have received responses from those concerned by how I am taking the news of Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island. (Well first, I must point out that Senator Obama did split the delegates, so Senator Clinton only gained four on his lead.) But, the question still looms: how do I - indeed how should we - take what seems to be a setback? People are saying he needs to "go negative." They are calling for Senator Obama to "take the gloves off." The pundits are saying that Senator Obama has been slapped and he must slap back.

Well, I must remind you of what the Lord has said, if you have been "slapped on the right cheek, turn the other also." We must remember: this is so much bigger than what we see. He doesn’t have to go negative. Actually, to keep the favor of God he must remain above the fray. This is a test – from God – as to what he will do when his back is against the wall. Will he continue to trust the Lord Who has brought him this far? Or, will he trust in the methods of man?

So, how do I take it? I take it as a sign of our larger struggle: we must remain undeterred.

Reparations means perseverance. Yes, we have seen tremendous progress in this campaign. And, we have seen tremendous progress in the Civil Rights Movement. We have seen amazing gains as a people. But, the trend has been that when we encounter a setback we loose momentum and succumb to the "powers that be." Our ancestors and elders faced many setbacks. There were many times in the Course of Change where those against change seemed to deflate the movement. But with heads bloodied, yet unbowed, our people carried on.

This is not a campaign posting!

This is a call to stand. This is a posting using the metaphor that is Obama for America in order to hold ourselves to account. This campaign is a test for us...will we persevere or will we succumb to defeat? Since Dr. King's assassination, we can see a trend where racial disparities on all fronts have grown. The achievement gap has been enlarged. It's as if we have saw those setbacks and the slowing of momentum and threw our hands up in defeat.

Reparations means we must persevere! We must carry on in the face of adversity. Consider this your gut-check. Gather your strength. Then, Come and Get Your Reparations!