Last night while watching the Democratic National Convention my roommate Jefferey and I were chatting on our Blackberry's, I'm in Virginia now but Jefferey and I can be sitting next to each other and carry on a full conversation without uttering a word, but thats another subject.  I was telling him that at 35 years old I feel  a  empowered and have a sense of pride I have never felt before.  I have never felt weak or anything but proud to be who or what I am but over the course of this week I saw the fruits of my grandparents and parents generation come to life in High Definition and it was beautiful.  Michelle Obama shakes me to my core, her image and presence in American culture will change who Black women are viewed forever.  Michelle is not a singer, actress, rapper, talk show host or sports figure, she's a Ivy League educate attorney, wife, mother and responsible citizen.  Black women have made strides in the past 30 years and Michelle has taken little black girls imaginations to highest office in the land, The White House. Now little black girls can say " I want to be First Lady like her" and stand a damn good chance of doing it.  To see Ted Kennedy come out in the condition he is in a endorse Obama with such passion was a testament to his belief in Obamas ability and commitment to the USA.  I was extremely pleased with Hillarys speech because she addressed the issue of why would you vote for her only to switch to McCain because she didn't get the nomination.  I felt her speech was genuine because shes had time to let the natural dissapointment dissipate and get back in the game.  Bill Clinton did what he does best he brought everything around, delivered in the style that we like from him and reminded us of the similarities between him and Obama.  I have yet to watch the entire speech from Joe Biden but from what i saw it was obvious this man believes in and supports Barack Obama.  I have watched his body language, listened to his tone and watched his demeanor and what I am most touched by is it appears he genuinely supports Barack Obama the man, not a supports a Black Man, just the man.  When I see people of that in their generation it reminds me that it took a while but were almost there.  And last but not least Barack Obama.  18 months ago I remember thinking "Oprah isn't going to persuade me this time, this negro stands not a snowballs change in hell of getting anywhere before getting ripped to shreds. I'm not wasting my vote or energy, I'm going with Hillary" well 18 months later I sat in front of the television and cried.  Not just at what he was saying but where he was, how he got there and most importantly where he came from.  Part of his speech that I thought was right on time based on the state of our country and economy was when he made it clear the mess were in IS NOT THE GOVERNMENTS FAULT but the slow response from government needs to be changed.  He reminded us that we cant control the weather, but the slow reaction to Katrina was not American.  Last night was a huge step for America.  America benefits when young black men SEE that they have options other than a life of crime, getting a NBA or NFL contract or becoming a rapper.  I, like Obama, was fortunate to have a foundation and examples as solid granite.  To have parents and grandparents who scarified so their children and grandchildren would have a shot at EVERYTHING this country has to offer, but our situations are the exception, not the rule.  Knowing that even though you're not like everyone else, never hearing there is something wrong with you.  For black women and girls to see that black men can positive, strong, capable and responsible.  That they can be husbands and NOT BABYS DADDIES, that they can support their families.  But the thing that struck me the most was the National and International impact of last night.  On the anniversary of Martin Luther Kings "I Have a Dream" speech the world got its chance to judge a MAN on not the color of his skin but the content of his character.  What this means is going forward: when black man or black woman sits down for a job interview now they stand a better chance at being an applicant not the black guy, when a young black man steps on an elevator the white woman already on the elevator may not clutch her purse, that internationally the image of black men and women can be linked to something other that entertainment or criminal stereotypes.  Last night was a victory for the us ALL.  The "Change" campaign slogan has been heavily criticized for being too simplistic or vague but it's whats needed globally. 

I struggled all week with how to write this entry and the inspiration came from the least likeliest place, JEFFEREY.  Jefferey is a good friend and decent guy.  He can be irrational, insane, nit picky, nagging and closed off to ideas and experiences around him, but I have to give him credit, he got it this week.  I thought he was being a smart ass and making an extreme comment as usual but when I realized he was serious I told him thats what all the Obama fuss has been about.  A man will never know what it's like to carry and deliver a baby and he cant say he understands because he never can, but wanting to understand, the admission that he cant and acknowledgment of the significance and importance of something he can NEVER fully understand is what builds bridges and closes gaps.  Jefferey's portion of our conversation is below.  I've told Jeff for years that he needed to be more willing step out of his section of the world and experience things, people and cultures outside of him and I've encountered the same resistance for years so I let it go a few months ago.  My Mom's always said "It's amazing what can happen when after you've done your best, let the situation go.  If it's meant to be things will change for the better when you least expect it" and as usual Mom was right! What Jefferey said to me in the chat last night backs up why last night moved me, he's not the only person who felt that way this week, which is a good thing.

Jeff you have nothing to feel dumb about and you don't sound stupid, guess I'll have to give you a break and not come down so hard on you sometimes,  OMG, I almost threw up!

Jeff's portion of our chat  **I eliminated my portion of the chat because I wanted to focus on what he said, plus I used a few dirty words = )**
j.dembinski@mac.com: I felt dumb the other day... i thought to myself, "I wish I were black today"
j.dembinski@mac.com: in reference to truely appreciate the situation of a black man accepting the democratic party's nomination

j.dembinski@mac.com: I knew you might... but it's probably the first time I realized, regardless of what other discussions we have had, that I will never understand, fully...

j.dembinski@mac.com: sound stupid... but... that's what I felt

j.dembinski@mac.com: I always want to understand - and until that moment, I thought I did... was wrong