Our Eyes Have Seen The Glory

I wrote this piece on the eve of my beautiful grandmother's birthday. My grandmother, who turned 77 years young on November 6th, still walks the streets of Harlem on her daily outings as vigorously as she did the day she migrated to the Big Apple from her hometown of Goldsboro, North Carolina more that 50 years ago. I thought of her as I watched Senator Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. accept his victory as the 44th President of these United Sates of America the night of November 4th during the 11:00 hour.

Addressing this nation with his new world order at task, he spoke of a woman named Ann Nixon Cooper; a 106 year old former homemaker and socialite from Atlanta who, for the first time in her life, was able to cast her vote for an African-American nominee. For more than a century on this earth, this extraordinary woman has witnessed America evolve before her eyes. I wondered if Mrs. Nixon Cooper, my grandmother, or any of the members of a generation that lived through the Civil Rights Movement ever thought, in their wildest dreams, that they would see a black man being prepared to take the helm of this country.

I thought of my beautiful maternal grandmother who passed way in 2004, the same year that Barack Obama was making his mark in the national political arena by giving maybe the most important speech of his career at the Democratic National Convention in Boston. I thought of my mother, as all she could say was "Oh My Goodness" in between her sobs of joy, as she watched the nation erupt in jubilee on her television; maybe reminiscing about her early release from school the day JFK was murdered in Dallas many Novembers ago. I thought of my father, who was an award-winning journalist for the Village Voice during the 1980's, when young black people were being wasted at an alarming rate by a bigoted NYPD and the devastating crack epidemic. I thought of my grandfather, who fell limp across his bed crying when he received the news that Malcolm X was ambushed with bullets by his own people at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City.

My brother and I are two African-American men who have not reached the quarter-century mark of our lives yet, and the night of November 4th was the first time we were able to witness history of this magnitude firsthand. Fervently watching the non-stop coverage on TV, we saw hundreds of thousands of people roaring with a fresh excitement at Grant Park in Chicago. There were captivated New Yorkers getting out of idling taxi cabs, taking cell phone pictures of this remarkable event as it ran across the big ticker in Times Square. As we flipped through the channels, we were captivated by a lone white lawn chair delightfully bouncing up and down in the hand of a Kenyan man celebrating the victory for his hero more than 3,000 miles away. We saw black students mesmerized at Morehouse and Spelman, and we imagined white students captivated at Harvard and Oxford.

Barack Obama's victory in no way erases the wicked racial atrocities that burned this country to the ground in the 1960's, nor does it put a permanent end to them. It was only 10 years ago when I was horrified to hear of the decapitation and dismembering of James Byrd in Jasper, Texas, as three klansman chained Byrd to their pickup truck and dragged him for three miles. It was one year later that Amadou Diallo was shot 41 times by four NYPD officers in front of his Bronx apartment building while he was reaching in his pocket to show them his identification. 2005 brought the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, which in turn shed light on the current government's abandonment of the predominantly poor and black citizens of New Orleans. Even recently, the painful symbols of nooses have popped up all around the country, most notably in Jena, Louisiana. These labyrinths of events led the way as Barack Obama ran a presidential campaign whose foundation was unifying this country as one framework; with the various voices of race, class, religion, sexuality and all of our differences shouting in an uplifting roar to bring this country back to a glorious prominence.

As I made my way to work the morning of November 5th, I examined the weary, red eyes of all of my fellow taxpayers on our daily commute. Their eyes showed the residue of a sleepless night, a night when their heads couldn't hit the pillow until they checked every news channel to see if it was really true. Was it really true that this charismatic Senator from Illinois -- whom everyone said was running too early in his career (including me) -- had really defeated the admirable Senator John McCain? Was it true that this man will embody the essence of our first Black President; an icon that has for many years been made into a fairy tale, the butt of jokes and an impossible dream? Yes, it was.

There are not enough words to describe how monumental the night of November 4th truly was, as I could only pick a few of them from the banks of my opinion. As I conclude this piece, I want to talk about watching the eyes of the Rev. Jesse Jackson well up with tears. Alongside the late and incomparable Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, Jackson helped to open the door for Obama's historic run, as his campaign used the nickels, dimes, hopes and dreams of a matchless grassroots-devoted rainbow coalition to push him into the Oval Office. Over the years, Jackson has had a tendency to speak before he thinks, and when he made those silly remarks about cutting off nuts on Fox News a couple of months ago, I got really annoyed with him for what I thought to be jealous rambling. But as the months came closer and closer to Obama's victory, that annoyance turned into understanding; I understood that Jackson was finding it difficult to deal with a new era of black leadership in this country filling his shoes, an era that will maybe see his son, Illinois Representative Jesse Jackson Jr., making a run for the Presidency in the years to come.

For nearly 40 years now, Jackson has been considered by many to be an influence in the black community that could be heard by all sides of the spectrum; whether serving as the master of ceremonies at Wattstax as he led the chants of "I am somebody," to a flock of citizens fresh from a decade of war scars, or orchestrating the release of a shot down Navy pilot held captive in Syria. When I saw Rev. Jackson's tears, I thought about his mentor, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. The last speech that he would give in his life on that moody April night in Memphis rang so true with me. It made me realize that we as a people, black, white, yellow and brown, have finally reached that mythic mountaintop together. As I wait for the awesome day that will take place in Washington, D.C. in January, my prayers are with the families of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, praying that the Lord will guide every step they take on their incredible, capricious journey. I'll end my piece with the words of Dr. King, as he will serve as the tour guide for our new destination: the Promised Land.

Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. {Text courtesy of www.afscme.org}

Read more reaction from HuffPost bloggers to Barack Obama's victory in the 2008 presidential election

Comments

[ohioan73]

My sweet old New York-by-wa­y-of-North Carolina granny died in 2004 also. I know how she suffered when my indignant grandfather was sentenced to the NC chain gang for 3 years. His crime was pride. He had grown weary of being afraid of southern state troopers and one day he lost it and assaulted one of them. Needless to say, they left the 40s Jim Crow south and never went back because I would have never existed if they hadn't moved up north.

My grandparents hardly ever talked about those things, but I picked up on the indignity and could almost put the story together myself just by reading other historical accounts. That's the tradition of black American suffering. We dont pass these stories down because we think it would burden our children.

Maybe that IS the dream. My 9 year old daughter can take all this for granted and change the subject to Star Wars whenever the black president talk comes up. She doesn't know. She's happy and unburdend the way I was playing Pac Man with white kids in the 80s. Her eyes don't see the glory. Not yet. That is my dream for her. She will have the sweet experience of knowing the past and basking in the glory of a changed present. Like me, but to a greater degree.

This article made me cry. Thanks.

[Timothy Cooper - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank You ohioan73. I appreciate your beautiful comment.

[XME]

These were my favorite cartoons to express the emotions of the occassion. Your article seems like the appropriate place to share them!

http://www.cagle.com/news/ObamaWins08/images/payne2.jpg
http://www.cagle.com/news/ObamaWins08/images2/bagley.jpg
http://www.cagle.com/news/ObamaWins08/images4/lewis.jpg
http://www.cagle.com/news/ObamaWins08/images4/heller.jpg

[ohioan73]

Thanks. Those cartoons are awesome. I saved them. :D

[Timothy Cooper - Huffpost Blogger]

Incredible!! Thanks XME.

[CamJam]

Tim,
What a powerful, moving article! This brought me to tears. Thank you for this.

Although I am not African American and can only imagine what life would be like.. I felt and saw it in my way while growing up with my family. Some of us are multi-racial others bi-racial, but the generations living now are all American mutts and we support and love one another. It was the way my parents were brought up (their parents immigrated here long ago). It was how I was brought up and how I bring up my children.
I never write things, but because I was so moved by this historic election and with Barack Obama, our new President! The great articles, blogs, videos and songs that came out from many talented people in support for Obama, that I wrote a bit about what I grew up with in the late 60's here in Portland, Oregon here http://dipdive.com/member/CindyPDX/blog/960 Living in the City of Roses has not always been a bed of roses... but we are working on it.

We're on to better days, progress is still so slow.. we still have a lot of work to do together. And I believe with Barack Obama as our President, we are definitely heading in the right direction.

[Timothy Cooper - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank You CamJam. You're right, we still have a lot of work to do, but I too believe we are headed in the right path.

[ammitusen]

i was about 6-7 years old when i watched on the black and white TV black folks being attacked by police dogs, water blasted by fire hoses, kicked, punched, pummeled and beaten with night sticks. i didn't understand then and to tell the truth i still don't quite understand bigotry. i can still hardly believe that Barak Obama will sit in the Oval Office. i still have to pinch myself to make sure it's all real. i'm so full of pride and joy and i'm not an African American.

[Timothy Cooper - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank You for your comment ammitusen.

[Parisian]

Thank you for your wonderful post. We in the great country of France salut the people of the great United States of America on the election of Barack Obama. The ties between our two nations will grow stronger when he is your President. the ties of the entire world will grow stronger with the United States when he is your President.
In France and all the world he jumped with joy upon hearing - very late - of his victory!
Vive Etas Unis
Vive France
Vide le Monde

[Timothy Cooper - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank You Parisian. This is a movement that will be felt worlwide, and this is history that will last the rest of our lives.

[citruspilot]

Tim
I had tears just reading your article. My 96 yr old Grandmother who lives in Harlem by way of Columbia, North Carolina since 1932 was one of the first persons I called. She just chuckled and said after voting, she walked to her apartment and turned on the TV to await the results. I could hear the joy in her voice and it caused me to weep even more, for all she has seen and done, she got to witness this. Thanks for your article.

[Timothy Cooper - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank You citruspilot! That's what it's really about, the generation that camebefore us who never thought they would see this day. It's truly a blessing.

[paperwhite]

this is wonderful! thanks for the goldsboro shout out, also.

[Timothy Cooper - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank Yoy paperwhite. I had to do that!!! LOL!

[meltingpot101]

Tim,

I'm about 15 yrs. older than you and my mother and I use to have conversations about the civil rights movement. She questioned my generations lack of passion for social injustices. I use to respond to her by saying that her generation did the fighting and marching so my generation wouldn't have to. My Mom was a 4"11 blonde hair blue eyed white woman who marched along side MLK and Jesse Jackson. A woman who's bond with her family was weakened because of her choice to marry my Father, a black man. Because my Dad could never escape the bigotry, he would often try to remain in the shadows, even though none of us kids wanted him to. We were always proud of being "mixed," thats what we used to call it.

John Mayer has a song "Waiting on the World to Change" I've sang it with my 14 yr. old daughter and ask her if she knows what her grandmother would think of this song....I told her my Mom would say "WE DIDN'T WAIT FOR THE WORLD TO CHANGE, WE CHANGED IT!"

So did we. And your right, it is IRREVERSABLE.

It's day 7 since the election, I've cried everyday since then. And FOREVER I will wish my parents were alive to revel in the glory.

Awesome post, Thank You!!

[Timothy Cooper - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank You meltingpot101. That's what's so incredible about this. This is truly a rainbow coalition, where it's not just about black and white, but so many people are affected by this President-elect. My mother loves the John Mayer song. Thanks.

[Barry Michael Cooper - Huffpost Blogger]

Tim, this is an amazing piece of work. Truly visionary, inspired, and just...powerful.
Keep up the great work!!!

[Timothy Cooper - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank You Mr. Cooper! Your work in truly an inspiration!

[anotherbozo]

"My brother and I are two African-American men who have not reached the quarter-century mark of our lives yet, and the night of November 4th was the first time we were able to witness history of this magnitude firsthand."

Mr. Cooper, I'm more than three times your age and if I've ever witnessed "history of this magnitude" before, I can't remember it. The moon landing? Discovery of DNA? Technological and scientific breakthroughs are relatively easy. Dismemberment of the Soviet Union? Fall of the Berlin Wall? Not close. This is huge. To paraphrase Michelle Obama, for the first time in the life of this white American I'm really, really proud of my country. There's a lot more work to be done, but this is huge, wonderful, irreversible.

Great post. Your father should be proud!

[Timothy Cooper - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank You anotherbozo! We truly have a long way to go, but November 4th made the journey a little more worth while!

[EyesofWonder]

Wonderful piece. I was in Grant Park that nite and I too kept waiting for the "okey doke" (if you have to ask, then you won't understand). TV could not capture what it really was like with people as far as the eye could see, young, old, black, white, asian, indian etc. jumping up and down and yelling. Kissing and hugging, crying and smiling. Afterwards, walking back to the train, Michigan Ave. was nothing but undulating waves of people in the street singing and hi-fiving each other. I walked nearly 8 blocks before the crowd thinned out but it seemed like a dream. And you know what was even better? No violence!!!!! Loved the piece, THIS IS WHAT AMERICA IS SUPPOSED TO BE AND FEEL LIKE.!!!!!!

[Timothy Cooper - Huffpost Blogger]

You were a witness to history firsthand. That's amzing. Thank You for the wonderul comment Eyesof Wonder!

[siciliabel]

I have never had such an experience in my life as I did last Tuesday night. I'll never forget the joy of being with my family and hearing that Barack Obama had won the presidency. I felt so unified with everyone I saw on the news coverage. That many people experiencing the same joy at the same time. It was amazing.

The best part is a slideshow I had seen here on the Huffington Post of children meeting Obama. They all looked so thrilled. But now each one of those children, all of our children will know that Barack Obama might be our first African-American president, but he will not be the last. To see the possiblities on those faces was an answer to a prayer.

[Timothy Cooper - Huffpost Blogger]

You and I both siciliabel! Our children now know that they can really be President one day. Thanks for the comment.