Black History Month Salute, Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant – 2/29/08
By APOOO • Feb 29th, 2008 • Category: Black History Month Salute •
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All Things Black by Virginia DeBerry and Donna GrantSo it’s February–the month when we celebrate all things African American. Because it is leap year we even have an extra day to celebrate, which seems appropriate because there is a lot to fit in.
After all, Ruby Dee was nominated for an Academy Award–not a first for an African American, but it sure makes us smile. She has always been a nimble and nuanced actor–who coincidentally originated the role of Ruth Younger in both stage and screen versions of A Raisin in the Sun, another offering in this February’s Black artistic bounty (Audra McDonald played the role in the TV production which aired February 25th as well as in the recent Broadway revival). And along with her husband, Ossie Davis, she stood squarely committed to the movement to secure for people of color all of the rights and privileges guaranteed in the US Constitution, the Bill of Rights and all subsequent amendments. They even bridged what could be called the Martin-Malcolm divide, realizing there was more than one right path to arrive at the goal.
For years we have said Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee as if they are one breath, so it is hard to imagine he was not present to share in the joys of the Oscar nomination season. It is equally hard to imagine that the man who walked with Dr. King, and delivered the eulogy for Malcolm X, is not present to witness Barack Obamas pursuit of the US presidency–talk about Black History.
No, Obama is not the first African American to declare himself a candidate–Shirley Chisholm, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Alan Keyes, Carole Moseley Braun and Lenora Fulani have all previously thrown their hats in the ring. But Obama is the first to be called the front-runner. He is the first to be the top money raiser. He is the first to be among the last two Democratic candidates standing.
Obama’s family is the first African-American family to be guarded by what one of his daughter’s calls, ‘the secret men.’ His wife, Michelle Obama, is the first potential Black First Lady, which brings an unimaginable level of scrutiny. On several occasions, most recently this week when her patriotism was questioned after she said she was proud to be an American for the first time in her adult life, we wanted to offer the Black Woman’s Translation because a whole lot of us understand where she was coming from.
On Super Tuesday we both voted in our state primaries. Afterward, we talked about pausing in the booth for a moment, to be fully present and savor the occasion–voting for someone who we both feel is the best candidate running, and who also happens to be a Black man. Neither of us was sure we expected this moment in our lives. Will his election magically cure all of the problems associated with race and class in this country? Hell no. Obama will presumably have the same opportunities to succeed and fail as any president of this country, and that is the point–having opportunity at all levels.
So, eleven times we have waited anxiously for primary and caucus results and been thrilled as Obama’s delegate count grew. We have listened to debates, watched momentum build. But this is February–our official month. The next big primaries, Texas and Ohio, are in March–Women’s History Month. Now what happens?
Just as we would like to believe that Barack Obama can maintain his lead in March, June, at the Democratic Convention in August, and in the Presidential Election on November 4, 2008 (not registered to vote yet? You can receive the proper voter registration form for your state from rockthevote.com Click here: Register to Vote at RockTheVote.com because even if he is not your choice, it is vital that you make your voice heard), we also believe that any time is a good time to celebrate African American achievement and enjoy our unique cultural events. So we hope to find the time to see S. Epatha Merkerson in Come Back Little Sheba, which opened in January at the Manhattan Theater Club and will run through March. We look forward to the March opening of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof–James Earl Jones as Big Daddy? That’s a whole–nuther flavor. We can hardly wait for the July opening of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide–When the Rainbow is Enuf, starring India.Arie. And it is always time to support the authors you love–more than ever publishing is about the bottom line. Without the numbers, you will find your favorites no longer have a publishing home.
Happy Black History Year.
Visit DeBerry and Grant on the Web: www.deberryandgrant.com
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APOOO is a book club and an online author and reader community dedicated to advancing African American literature. Our mission is to expose readers of all ages to a good book in any genre; to support African American authors, books, literary events and bookclubs; to provide marketing resources, tools and tips to authors; and, to promote literacy within the African American community.
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