Last night I watched a piece of incredible history being made when Barack Obama took the stage to acknowledge his victory in the primary race for the Democratic nomination. His speech made my heart soar in ways it hasn't known for far too long.
I want to try to tell you why this moment in time is so important to me, your white 62-year-old grandmother, and why it brought me so much hope for your future.
I came of age in the turbulent 60's when I was a young married mother birthing your parents. The Vietnam war was raging and John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th president, was already gone just months after I graduated from high school - taking with him a youthful hope of my generation to his grave.
The clear, strong voice of Martin Luther King, Jr. rang with passion for civil rights long denied and awoke a generation to activism only to be cut down in his prime by a bigoted coward. Two short months later, Robert F. Kennedy, who also fought long and hard for civil rights was murdered after running for president for just a short time.
These three deaths cast a huge pall over our generation, breaking countless hearts, leaving many shaken and afraid to hope. It is hard to put into words how devastated these losses made me feel. Suffice to say, it changed the course of this country and not for the better.
I know I watched politics play out for the next several decades with an edge of cynicism that was most uncomfortable in my mind.
As politics ground ever on finding more ways to painfully divide this nation, I was dismayed of anyone ever being able to accomplish much in the way of public common cause. My hopes were raised during the Clinton years as I finally saw some forward movement even though it was undermined by a rapacious Republican agenda seeking to gain a permanent place of power.
I held my breath when George W. Bush was 'elected', naively hoping that he couldn't do too much damage in the four years I assumed he would serve. He was handed a country that was in pretty good shape economically and at peace with the world. I won't list the damage he has done as it would take a textbook to list it all but I hope to see the history books treat him as he deserves for the disasters he has created.
2006 marked a turning point to bring some balance back to the Congress. It felt like sanity would prevail after all. Almost immediately the race for the Democratic presidential nomination started. The field was broad and deep with talent. Debates were held and gradually the field was winnowed down to three candidates. And then the final two, a white woman, Hillary Clinton and a black man, Barack Obama. No matter what, this was going to be an historic race and one I watched with great interest.
After much reading and listening from minds more incisive than mine, I made my choice of Barack Obama for president with a confidence and passionate hope I hadn't felt in nearly four decades!
Finally, I have hope for your future. It will not be easy to turn this country around and clean up all the messes that have been made of your futures, but I feel that Barack Obama will bring talent and hard-working individuals streaming out of the woodwork to do the hard work that is needed for your future well-being. I have already seen the enthusiasm and zeal in the eyes and voices of so many people ready to take back their government and make it for the people and by the people once again.
This election is not about me and my generation - we have had our turn at the wheel. We can do some guiding and mentoring but the leading needs to be in the hands of those with great energy and investment in their future.
This election is about you and building opportunities for you to thrive, learn and grow to your potential.
This election is about a turn of the wheel when the color of a person's skin becomes an afterthought.
This election is about a hope that has been returned to a grateful nation.
All my love,
Ama
P.S. I may be a little busy in the coming months doing what I can to see this fine man elected to office. Your future is very important to me.