How thrilling to hear our new leader speak tonight. What a reminder how powerful words can be. How they can restore hope. and change the world.

I had two brushes with racism when i was growing up. One was in high school when my name and "nigger lover" were carved into a tree for dancing with the only black guy in my high school. A black guy so unblack he could have been cast by Disney. And again, driving on the wrong side of the tracks (ie the wrong side of LaBrea) with a black guy in the car. The police pulled me over leaned into my car with an enormous flashlight checking out the situation, making sure the white girl wasn't being held captive in her car by the scary black man. I wonder how many times that flashlight had slammed into a black persons face.

The one unpleasant jolt were the words of GW Bush. A man I had forgotten till he sent congratulations to Obama, telling him he was in for a great ride. America is George Bush's amusement park cast by Disney. And again, driving on the wrong side of La Brea with a black guy in the car. Tonight I felt black. Something I always wanted to be. Hope lives.