Last night it was humbling to hear a person like John Lewis, a civil rights hero, speak about the importance of Barack Obama's election. Asked if in 1965, as he was being beaten nearly to death for pushing for the right to vote, he could have imagined this election, he answered no, not in his life time. Jesse Jackson had tears in his eyes as he stood in the massive crowd in Grant Park last night. We watched scenes of joy in places like Atlanta's Spellman College. Young and old, African Americans saw something happen that many of them never thought would happen.
As a white American, who has never tasted discrimination, it is hard to imagine what it must have been like for African Americans to grow up assuming that to reach highest office, one must be white. Remember that at this time Barack Obama is the only African American in the U.S. Senate. Last night's celebrations weren't just for Barack. They were celebrations of a milestone that spoke loudly to every person of color.
My friend and fellow Disciple historian, Mark Toulouse, has written an insightful piece for PBS's
Religion & Ethics Newsweekly entitled
"The Economy of Equality," which explores the difference between liberty and equality. Liberty can be achieved much more easily through legislation than equality. The Voting Rights Act was enacted 43 years ago. It took that long to elect an African American President. For women, it shall be even longer. But someday, they will also see one of their own reach this pinnacle.
Mark writes:
The total eradication of racism and other forms of mainstream cultural hatred has always demanded more than the simple act of imprisoning offending parties or voting out legislators who have kept particular Americans from exercising their God-given rights. American culture itself has always been the culprit. Individuals have only embodied it. To right the wrong of racism and prevent the spread of hate crimes of any other sort, every aspect of American life must be transformed. Only then can genuine equality be achieved for all Americans, those defined by Obama's victory speech as "young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled." The election of the first black American president just might signal a significant tipping point in that process. So long, that is, that President Obama himself both remembers and heeds the biblical injunction: "From everyone to whom much is given, much will be required" (Luke 12:48).
Indeed, much weight has fallen on the shoulders of this man. Much is expected of him. Our prayers, therefore, are needed to hold him up as he takes on this task.
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