Barack and Hillary's Dream

I was ten months old but living only a few blocks away from the Lincoln Memorial the day a quarter of a million civil rights protesters most famously marched on Washington. My dad had walked over to the Mall early so by the afternoon, feeling guilty about leaving my mom alone with a howling baby, he headed home to keep her company and so missed hearing what is generally considered to be the greatest speech of this century.

Nevertheless, as the first generation of black kids to grow up post segregation, when Dr. King spoke of, "little black boys and little black girls," joining hands with "little white boys and little white girls," I grew up assuming that he was talking about me. Growing up in the 70s and weaned on p.c., multi-cultural propaganda like Zoom and The Electric Company, I saw the whole world as one big rainbow coalition and figured King's dream would be realized before I graduated high school.

Instead, the 1980s brought Ronald Reagan railing against "welfare queens." I put King's dream on hold and although I had been raised in mainly white neighborhoods all my life, I opted to stay in the black-theme house, Ujamaa, at Stanford.

I'm a year younger than Senator Obama and I'm sure, like the Senator, have memorized most all of Reverend King's speech, but oddly, I don't think I ever seriously contemplated the possibility of being elected President of the United States.

Don't get me wrong, I've had other very grand dreams and already realized many of them (I've still got time for my Pulitzer, my Nobel and a date with Angelina Jolie).

Where we differ is that after the 80s I don't think I ever had enough faith in the colorblind goodwill of mainstream America to elect me President.

My childhood dream of writing the Great American Novel was something I could strive for on my own. It wasn't predicated on the cooperation of the non-black masses.

So I am awed by Obama's chutzpah and thrilled by the legions of non-blacks seemingly eager to hand him the keys to the kingdom.

I must also add what seems to be talked about much less often in the mainstream media: Hillary Clinton's possible election as Commander-in-Chief would be every bit as remarkable. Either event would be as momentous in the history of this nation as landing a man on the moon.

Not only am I a black man but more importantly I am the father of a little boy AND a little girl. The fact that both of these campaigns threaten to fulfill King's dream and open up vistas for both of the most important people in my life makes me love this country even more and believe even more -- or perhaps again -- in the possibility of its promise.

Look, perhaps neither one of them will get to the mountaintop but I am grateful to both senators for rediscovering a trail that I had feared lost.

So whatever happens in 2008, get ready for 2048. My kids are so smart and so charming and so capable that you'd be nuts not to vote for them . My six-year-old son already says "Hello!" and charms everybody he passes. It's like he's already running for office.

(FYI, my new book, "Bedtime Stories: Adventures in the Land of Single-Fatherhood," comes out in February.)

Comments

[SouthpawSass]

Thank you Mr. Ellis,

As a white woman of the same age, I too never considered that any woman or African-American could be President, especially after Reagan. I didn't think American's were ready for either.

And look where we are today. America is starving for the diversity. It is such a momentous time in our history and I hope both sides appreciate what it means to many people, old and young.

Oh, by the way, I too have a six year old, a daughter... She's smart and independant. Someday perhaps, our children, will meet, at a debate, telling the world what contribution each could make. And then, you and I will watch proudly, from the lobbies of our respective nursing homes. Kidding, I'm raising my kids to believe that taking mommy in is part of it...

Anyway, thank you for your positive and uplifting article.

[TommyMcCarthy]

One thing about Trey Ellis never says the expected, conventional thing.............tm

[nellie]

Nice post Trey.

There will always be people who come along and make use of the anger and bad feelings and bad luck that are always present in our lives. Reagan was one of them. People like that always put the cause of mankind in retreat.

People like King try to call on our better angels, and they always push us forward.

Never think that America is not a wonderful place just because the media and the politicians of the day are exploiting the bad luck or bad feelings that people may have at the time. We do live in a remarkable country. And I'm very proud to see our top three candidates representing the movement toward social and economic justice. It's a good time to remember what it means to be an American.

[fmattca]

It would be far easier to attain the dream than you might think. If Barack and Hillary join together their resources it will turn the opposition updide down they will have noone to have a chance against them and we will truly see if they are humble enough to not care about power but only about substance as they preach. It would be the dream team of dream teams and could bring the whole world closer together with it's dimensions. Think big trust them for what they preach and ask them that if they knew that uniting would be the only sure way,would they?

[cseper]

Obama gives a good speech, but who is he? What has he done?
What does he stand for? What has he accomplished?
He was in the game TWO YEARS when he decided he was the most
qualified person to lead America - that doesn't seem egotistical to you?

Hillary has eight years in the White House and seven in the senate and some
people claim she's not qualified, so how does Obama clear that hurdle?

-------------------------------------

[altohone]

Trey,

Hillary abandoned one of Kings dreams by supporting the war.

Hillary's support for DLC policies harms Kings other dream for an end to poverty.

Yes, she's a woman, but Kings dream was bigger and you're selling him short by giving her a pass.

[CanadianinNY]

What I do not like about Hillary Clinton is the fact that she is an establishment candidate as well as Bush. She lost her idealism, when she went to bed with the health care insurance industry.

I do not understand why would any union endorce her candidacy when her chief campaign strategist, Mark Penn is the CEO of a PR firm (Burson-Marsteller) that is known for its union busting tactics. That same firm also can count among its illustrious client lists Blakwater's CEO. How progressive of her.

Electing a woman would not end sexism nor would electing a black man end racism. Even Pakistan managed to elect a woman and we know how that turned out for women. She went to bed with the fundies to survive and never impacted a single change that benefited women.

The Democratic party owes the world a good president to cleanse the world from the lingering Bush/Cheny stench. Make a smart choice because your choice can impact the world.

[Jjc2006]

Thank you, thank you. You must be a wonderful father and both your children will thank you some day (after they get through the hormonal, parents are stupid, adolescences of course). It is wonderful to hear someone acknowledge that both candidates, Barack and Hillary, will be breaking barriers that will open the world to so many.

[Marrob]

Trey, Great piece of writting here and I especially like the part about the kids. As a democrat I am proud to say that if history is made in November it came from our big tent party. Because the democrats are withouquestion the big tent party. We run and elect men and women of all races compared to the republicans who can't seem to get an african-american elected anywhere.

[HollyBrinee]

Trey, thank you for such a thoughtful piece. It seems that many Democrats are at each other's throats over this election because we have two groups of people with dreams waiting to be realized. Many women see Hillary as their last chance to see a female president in their life time, and I'm sure many in the black community feel the same way about Obama. Hopefully all will be forgiven when the general election comes around, and Democrats rally around the nominee. My dream is to see a female president, but if the nominee turns out to be Obama, I'll be happy for the black community and support him. As for now, I'm still fighting for Hillary.
Hillary '08!

[Boadicea]

Very nice thoughts, Mr. Ellis.

Here is the thing. It is only Hillary's gender that indicates any movement forward. Many, many women have said they are supporting her because she is a woman. Everything else about her would mean going backwards. She still has the same old flawed foreign policy that has resulted in increasing terror attacks on this country. She still has the same old advisors FP advisors that supported invading Iraq. She still spouts the same old tired Dem rhetoric that is all about blaming and hating the Republicans and deifying Democrats. Most of all, she is still employing the same old nasty kind of divisive politics (even within the Dem primary) that has prevented any movement on a progressive majority in decades. If you actually listen to the Clintons, you can see why they were such a divisive force in our politics in the 90s.

By contrast, Obama - and forgive me my black-skinned friends - but with Obama, his skin color is secondary to the change he will bring to America. I don't support Obama to put a black man in the White House. I support him for a host of other changes to the way we do politics that Obama would bring. And he practices what he preaches.

While Hillary throws out red meat to her base and her special interest groups, Obama tells us all that we are all responsible and we must all take part in the solution. While Hillary says "the Republicans lied to me" Obama says "the case for war was not made." While the Clintons are out there pushing the fear-mongering narrative that "Latinos will not vote for a black man" Obama is in a church talking about unity.

The number of pigment cells per sq. in in one's skin, and the configuration of one's genitals are, in the end, not really very important to progress. It's separating us by these minor differences that Hillary is trying to achieve.

It's uniting us through our shared goals and struggles that Obama hopes to achieve.

[Roses]

Great post Mr. Ellis!
I am a white woman in my fifties. The media would categorize me as Hillary's demographic but Obama's speeches move me to tears because they are so awe-inspiring. Besides his programs and inclusiveness (I have 2 twenty-something daughters), I am concerned by our worsening economy. I listened to my mother tell me about the depression in the 30's. At that time this country had an inspiring and wise leader who helped pull the country together and healed the economic condition for many people (FDR). That's why I think we need both Obama and Edwards now. To help the ENTIRE country throughout this world.
Obama/Edwards '08 or Edwards/Obama '08

[JacktheBlogger]

If we are voting for Barack Obama because he is black, or because he is a black man who is acceptable to a majority of whites, or because it is high time for a black man to be president, or because he is deemed electable/unelectable by pundits, etc... then we are voting for him for mostly the wrong reasons and Dr. King's dream is far from being realized.

If we are voting for Hillary Clinton because she is a woman, or because she is a woman who is not acceptable/unacceptable to men, or because it is high time for a woman to be president, or because she is deemed electable/unelectable by pundits, etc... then you are voting for her for mostly the wrong reasons and Dr. King's dream is far from being realized.

We need to vote for the one who we sincerely believe is the person best qualified to be our next president. Only then can we say with confidence that Dr. King's dream is close to being realized.

[drewdawgsea]

The Democratic party needs to wake up and think hard about the choice they are making in this election. Thanks to Bush, we have a window of opportunity to build the Democratic party and pull in Independents and some Republicans that we would never have had otherwise. With this majority we can get the change that we all believe needs to happen.

Now ask yourself which candidate is able to bring people together and build that majority? That is the question we should be asking ourselves because even the most experienced person in the Presidency will not be able to get anything done unless they have a Congress that wants to work with them.
Think back to Bill's presidency and you will understand what I mean. I believe Obama is the ONLY candidate capable of building that majority because we have already seen it happening in the election.

If we waste this opportunity then we may never see it again and we might as well hand the power right back over to corrupt Republicans now and get it over with. Please people THINK.

[fitCTmom]

I should have proof read better, of course I meant the first Black editor of Harvard Law Review....

[Nommo]

Electing HillBillary would be like getting a man on the moon and leaving him there.

[equipoise]

I love your equanimity. Anotherbozo speaks for me too. So glad I get email alerts when you post. You're one cool guy!

[fitCTmom]

Hi! I loved your blog, but, I need to disagree with one of your assertions. If Hillary Clinton is elected it is not akin to the incredible acheivement it would be if Barack Obama is elected. Obama overcame a single parent household, racial inequality even a "funny" name (Barack's words, not mine). He became the first editor of the Harvard Law Review and a US Senator. No family money, no family name. He did it on his own with the deck if not stacked against him than certainly no fixed to his favor. Hillary Clinton would not be a US Senator, never mind running for President if her last name were not Clinton. I told everyone else this about another candidate for president 8 years ago. Does anyone think for a minute Bush2 would have been elected to ANYTHING had he not had Daddy's name?...Of Course not and we all know how that worked out. You get what you vote for, people!
Obama '08

[rusdr61]

Here is a question for Obama Supporters.
Would you still not vote for Clinton if the ticket was Clinton/Obama 2008 or Obama/Clinton 2008? If the answer is no to both,then you are not listening to Obama at all. I support Clinton, but I took the time to read everything on Obama's website as well as his Audacity of Hope book. I think he will be a good President in 8 years but not now at age 46 (my age too)
Have you stopped to think even for a second that Clinton and Obama supporters are being played by the likes of people like Carl Rove.
I predicte that it will be
Clinton/Obama 2008 and they will win.

[anotherbozo]

Wonderful blog, Mr. Ellis. Nothing to say but AMEN.

[SamanthaJaneSalem]

If Hillary becomes our next President, the history books will give a much different impression of her than simply being our First Woman President.

The history books will show that the wife of Bill Clinton-- running on the strength of his last name and apparent record of "peace and prosperity" and Bill's own vigorous compaigning on behalf of his other (if not better) half-- replaced the Bush who replaced the Clinton who replaced the Bush.

This isn't Barbara Boxer or Sheila Jackson Lee or even Elizabeth Dole (whose husband, powerful as he was, is not a two-term ex-President).

I remember Bill Clinton going on TV after the missiles began lighting up the sky over Baghdad (while scorching the ground, and the inhabitants, below) and there he was defending Bush's decision to go to war and all the talk of WMDs.

Would he had used on Bush's insane war some of the red-face venom he is releasing on Hillary's challenger from his own party, a fellow Democrat who is pro-choice, and more progressive than Bill himself on issues such as the death penalty.

Notice that every time Hillary has been up against the ropes in this campaign Bill has come out swinging.

The woman I want to be American's first female president will be able to fight her own battles-- and not feel the need to vote for non-metaphorical, all-too-real wars in order to look tough.

[qzg]

Zoom! Come on and Zoom, yeah!

Thanks for the timewarp moment there, Trey. Another Ujamaa alum here (Ujamite?), and while I want to share your optimism, I think I might be congenitally skeptical. I find Hillary very difficult to trust and Barack just seems a bit too green to be as effective as I wish he could be. Perhaps if Obama were able to cough up more specific details regarding his plans, I'd feel less tenuous about supporting him - the coalition-building speechifying sounds great, but we're still talking about trying to work with master obstructionists. John Edwards resonates with me just a little bit more, but he doesn't seem to stand a chance of winning the nomination. I'd really like to blend Edwards with Obama (and a pinch of Clinton) in order to create a Super-candidate - a GOP terminator, if you will.

Don't get me wrong, I'll throw my support behind whichever of those three wins the nomination - all the key GOP players make me shudder, albeit for different reasons. Romney and Giuliani are the worst of the lot, from what I've seen - but the thought of President Huckabee makes me cringe, too. What we've yet to see, however, is the GOP dirty tricks and mud-slinging jiu-jitsu black-belts focus the full magnitude of their mastery of the 'dark side' against the eventual Dem candidate. I'm predicting the GOP will absolutely refuse to run a 'content of their character' race, and we'll witness a depth of ugliness that makes Karl Rove as giddy as a 13-year-old girl at a Hannah Montana concert.

The ugliness has not yet begun. The Dems will win anyway, but the mud will be waist-deep before January, 2009.

Your boy is going to have his hands full running against mine, by the way - I've got a Clintonesque super-charmer just waiting to take him on. Your daughter is probably too savvy to get herself involved in such a messy business.

[CannaWupass]

I realize that we all wish that things were as simple as voting for one of two honorable and well qualified individuals, but I think the truth is that we do indeed know the Clintons, the good and bad. Their tactics - traditional...predictable, as are the unfortunate responses of many Clinton supporters. I understand though...he's their guy...or I mean she's their gal? no matter they're a two-fer...this is sad because for the last 7 years, we had to listen and watch the Bush supporters make Orwell's book "1984" come to life, and now Clinton supporters may have been so traumatized by Rovian political success, that they too are willing to throw the deeds and actions that gave us the very term, "Clintonian" down the "memory hole." They would convince us that we must hold our nose and support Clinton (apparent reality) rather than support Obama and hold our heads high (lucid dream).

[esl]

I grew up in a housing project where an invisible line divided whites and blacks. Fortunately for me and my mom we lived in the first line of white apartments across the sidewalk from the first row of black apartment. She met her best friend for the rest of her life, and I met my firstborn's godfather, Ron Glass, the talented actor.

[illinoisan]

Being the father of a gifted daughter myself, I'd be thrilled to see a woman elected president, too. Just not the particular woman running this year.

I had my daughter watch along with me when the gavel of the Speaker of the House was handed over to Nancy Pelosi. At six years old, she scarcely could grasp the significance but I made sure she understood. I was hoping that Speaker Pelosi would become the first woman president after cleaning the human garbage out of the White House soon thereafter.

I'm afraid if Clinton is elected, she'll be the last female president for a long, long time to come.