Psychologically Processing the Election

The election of Barack Obama last week proved Alexis de Tocqueville's claim that democracies have a unique ability to correct themselves. But the returns also returned a more profound and philosophical truth-- the truth that the self is a layered entity; the truth that there can be reverberations in the penetralia of our hearts that are beyond our ability to grasp or modulate.

On Monday, African Americans could hardly let themselves think about an Obama victory. It was just too important. When word flashed across screen that Senator Obama was now president-elect, it was too much for many people to process. In Grant Park the mighty Oprah Winfrey was awash in tears. Her body was slack and her head pressed on the shoulder of a stranger standing in front of her. Judging from the visages of Congressman John Lewis and Jesse Jackson, you might have thought that someone died in their families. Rev. Jackson was seeping tears. His chin was quivering. Now and then he would lift an index finger to his lips as though he were in a hypnotic trance. While being interviewed on MSNBC, Representative Lewis's face was puffy from weeping. In a muffled and uncharacteristically uninflected voice, the man with the plate in his head from a beating he absorbed during the civil rights movement mumbled that he never expected this in his lifetime. In the end, he looked down, slowly shook his bald pate, and sighed that he just didn't have words to express what was going on inside of him. So many events in life don't live up to the hype and are anti-climactic. The effulgent comet of Tuesday night was just the opposite.

As a child growing up in the fifties and sixties I was on the sidelines and then in the fray of many heady discussions about the civil rights movement. The trump question was always, "Well...could you see a black person as president?"-- as if to say, that only when we the people could elect a black head of state could we really say that the poison of slavery had coursed through our system. In his famous "Changes," Tupac Shakur rapped, "And although it seems heaven sent/ We ain't ready to see a black President."

Correction Mr. Shakur. Oh yes we are. Decades ago, in perhaps his only political offering, Sam Cooke crooned the promise, "A change is gonna come." And has it ever.

On the morning after the election I took half an hour to listen to the waves of history lap against my college student's shores. They were mostly pale and drained - a few McCain supporters were downcast. I hectored them, "Come on, speak up. Don't sit there dumbfounded. Tell me how it feels to be involved in a once in 10 lifetimes historical event?" One student worried that this spirit of unity might be squandered much as the fellow feeling after 9-11. Another hinted that as soon as he is inaugurated, President Obama should tap the feeling of hope and unity with the immediate institution of new national service programs that would make it easier than ever for people to get involved. A sagacious suggestion, but I had not yet come down to the earth of pondering practical issues.

I was thinking about something else that seemed too corny to share. I was imagining that maybe now Americans of every hue might think and call upon one another in those terms of endearment that have long resonated in the black community, those sweet terms of address that amongst African-Americans have echoed across the chasms of class and opinion, terms that whites have envied but never dared to use-- the terms brother and sister.

Comments

[Dap]

Brother Gordon, just a quick note of interest for ya. Seal new CD "Soul" Great rendition of "A change is gonna come"
http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Seal/dp/B001F290E4

There is a link to Farrakhan's address here:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/11/election-over-a.html
I only saw a small new chip of the address referring to "those people of good will.
Enjoy.Agape.

[Gordon Marino - Huffpost Blogger]

You're very kind. I'll check it out today!!!
Gordon

[Dap]

Dear Brother Gordon, (If I may, upon this occasion, you shall always be the Professor to me.)
Corny, maybe a little... Heartfelt, without question. Once again we are in the exact same stream of consciousness, I too thought of Sam Cooke's A Change is gonna Come, makes ones eyes well-up.

I also witnessed something else I thought I'd never see, Nation of Islam's Louis Farrakhan in the spirit of brotherhood praising people of no color, seems Mr. Farrakhan has finally reached Malcolm X's stage of enlightenment after His pilgrimage to Mecca, imagine that, change indeed, Hope, no doubt.
Thanks for your in-put and wonderful essays. I'm now awaiting the Presidential Ball when Jerry 'The Iceman' Butler Sings "For Your Precious Love" , while The President and the first Lady dance, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOnqEKt5ZyU
Agape always, dapper

[Gordon Marino - Huffpost Blogger]

Same stream of consciousness is right. Thanks. I didn't know that about Farrakhan. That's something - brother.