“Obama was still a chubby adolescent, just returned from Indonesia and enrolled at the prestigious Punahou School, when he suffered the first such experience. He was one of the kids who played tennis after school, sometimes entering tournaments. One day he and some friends were looking at the draw sheets that had just been posted for a tournament when the tennis pro barked out that Barry shouldn’t touch the board, because his color might rub off.
“He singled him out, and the implication was absolutely clear,” classmate Kristen Caldwell later recalled. “Barry’s hands weren’t grubby, the message was that his darker skin would somehow soil the draw. Those of us standing there were agape, horrified, disbelieving. Barry handled it beautifully, with just the right amount of cold burn without becoming disrespectful. ‘What do you mean by that?’ he asked firmly.”
A few years later, in front of Obama, an assistant basketball coach spoke disparagingly about some players from a different school during a pickup game, using the most volatile racial epithet. When challenged, he said it did not apply to Barry, who was different”
Something in President Barack Obama’s voice caught Gregory C. Ellison’s ear. It was fleeting, subtle, and easy to miss — unless you’re a black man, too.
‘‘In between his personal reflections on what it feels like to be an African-American man, and the history of pain and his strategic plan, there was what I call a very pregnant pause,’’ says Ellison, a theology professor in Atlanta. ‘If I ever have an opportunity to talk to President Obama, I would ask him what was he searching in his soul during that pregnant pause?’’ Obama was wrapped in presidential authority Friday as he talked to a nation rubbed emotionally raw in the week since the man who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was acquitted in a Florida courtroom. Then, in a move hardly anyone saw coming, Obama unwrapped himself, and put his own young, black face on Martin’s dead, young, black body. This first black president, the guy accused by some of running from his blackness, of trying to address black folks’ needs on the down low, suddenly lifted the veil off his black male identity and showed it to the world. It was something no American president before him could have done.
He had to do it, Obama said, because ‘‘Trayvon Martin could have been me, 35 years ago.’’
"Something in @BarackObama's voice caught Ellison’s ear…fleeting subtle & easy 2 miss —unless you’re a black man 2" http://t.co/JvA0URb8Fc
Awww. Thanks for mentioning that anniversary date. My son was only five months old at the time, and I wrote him a letter about it, for his baby book. (Ha – now, he’s 44 years plus five months old!)
Thanks for bringing this over, Alycee. I knew of one of the professors involved, but I had to leave it there for the time that it was in my information bank. Believe me, there are so many people on so many levels who are working on so many of the issues concerning our immediate concerns with regards to the judicial system in so many good ways. Let’s keep them in our prayers and thoughts to help them help us to continue to produce good outcomes for all. HZ
http://m.democracynow.org/stories/13138 Bill Moyer the United States of ALEC PLS watch and listen. this will send chills down ur spine. and we have hall seen the ALEC BILLS HAPPEN ie WIS, but other ALEC laws in other states.
Good morning, Alma and everyone else. I pray for our nations every day. I ask that God move across this country in a mightly way…..that He open minds and soften hearts……..that He replace the hate and fear and intolerance with a reasonable level of acceptance, respect and tolerance. Of course, I also pray for PO and VPB and their families.
Blessed day to everyone. Our sermon today is going to be about humility. Looking forward to it.
For the first time in 40 years, Congress has decided to give subsidies to farmers – many of them rich – while offering nothing to fund the food-stamp program that experts believe keeps poor Americans from starving
*************************************
We have to translate this anger into action…
We must organize our community….Register folks to vote and get them to the polls….our communities must see…that they do indeed have the POWER to change the trajectory….as PBO says…WE are the Change we Seek!!
Obama White House.gov
The Obama Diary 
Good evening TOD family!
GE trekkiewife…..congrats on 1rst…..
Thank you lovelyplains. This is my first – first post. Feels good.
It’s all downhill from here………JK Welcome aboard!
Your first first? Then I had better pause and say ‘Congrats, trekkiewife’.
Thank you vc. I appreciate it.
😀
Congratulations on your 1st 1st – I think I woohooed around the moon on my 1st 1st – still trying to get back to earth 🙂
WOOT!! 🙂
Congratulations, trekkiewife.
Welcome to this wonderful place and congrats on being the first voice to respond to this post. I’m a trekkiewife also in real life.
“Obama was still a chubby adolescent, just returned from Indonesia and enrolled at the prestigious Punahou School, when he suffered the first such experience. He was one of the kids who played tennis after school, sometimes entering tournaments. One day he and some friends were looking at the draw sheets that had just been posted for a tournament when the tennis pro barked out that Barry shouldn’t touch the board, because his color might rub off.
“He singled him out, and the implication was absolutely clear,” classmate Kristen Caldwell later recalled. “Barry’s hands weren’t grubby, the message was that his darker skin would somehow soil the draw. Those of us standing there were agape, horrified, disbelieving. Barry handled it beautifully, with just the right amount of cold burn without becoming disrespectful. ‘What do you mean by that?’ he asked firmly.”
A few years later, in front of Obama, an assistant basketball coach spoke disparagingly about some players from a different school during a pickup game, using the most volatile racial epithet. When challenged, he said it did not apply to Barry, who was different”
Something in President Barack Obama’s voice caught Gregory C. Ellison’s ear. It was fleeting, subtle, and easy to miss — unless you’re a black man, too.
‘‘In between his personal reflections on what it feels like to be an African-American man, and the history of pain and his strategic plan, there was what I call a very pregnant pause,’’ says Ellison, a theology professor in Atlanta. ‘If I ever have an opportunity to talk to President Obama, I would ask him what was he searching in his soul during that pregnant pause?’’ Obama was wrapped in presidential authority Friday as he talked to a nation rubbed emotionally raw in the week since the man who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was acquitted in a Florida courtroom. Then, in a move hardly anyone saw coming, Obama unwrapped himself, and put his own young, black face on Martin’s dead, young, black body. This first black president, the guy accused by some of running from his blackness, of trying to address black folks’ needs on the down low, suddenly lifted the veil off his black male identity and showed it to the world. It was something no American president before him could have done.
He had to do it, Obama said, because ‘‘Trayvon Martin could have been me, 35 years ago.’’
Most under the radar story of last few months…….ME Peace progress by SOS Kerry
Awww. Thanks for mentioning that anniversary date. My son was only five months old at the time, and I wrote him a letter about it, for his baby book. (Ha – now, he’s 44 years plus five months old!)
Good heavens, Utal, are you still awake and ‘working’? 😯
Thanks for bringing this over, Alycee. I knew of one of the professors involved, but I had to leave it there for the time that it was in my information bank. Believe me, there are so many people on so many levels who are working on so many of the issues concerning our immediate concerns with regards to the judicial system in so many good ways. Let’s keep them in our prayers and thoughts to help them help us to continue to produce good outcomes for all. HZ
Well guys, I’ve put in more than 12 hours in the village today, so I’m skedaddling before 1am catches me here! Sweet dreams, you all!
Good night, VC. Sweet dreams!
And, PBO is a AFRICAN AMERICAN, 2nd Term PRESIDENT ….
… because a majority of Americans are not vile, self-serving racists ….
time for some rest ….
Yes We Can (& DID)
Truth!
I agree with this….and this is how the President sees America…..but I am reminded of this saying…
‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’
Beautifully stated, Bob. I love this tweet. Thank you.
Night everyone….
Good night, df!
G’night, my dear!
Good nite, DF, theo67, and jacquelineoboomer. And a great good morning as well. Love you all.HZ
http://m.democracynow.org/stories/13138 Bill Moyer the United States of ALEC PLS watch and listen. this will send chills down ur spine. and we have hall seen the ALEC BILLS HAPPEN ie WIS, but other ALEC laws in other states.
You are right. It is scary.
Well done! 🙂
Thanks. 🙂 (Took me long enough to add the names, after Bobfr’s suggestion!)
Trayvon Martin rallies and PBO’s speech made the FP of Indian newsies
http://www.thehindu.com/
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/world/across-us-people-rally-for-justice-for-trayvon/article4937484.ece?homepage=true
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/world/it-could-have-been-me-35-years-ago-says-obama/article4934677.ece?ref=relatedNews
http://www.indianexpress.com/
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/vigils-held-across-us-over-trayvon-martin-verdict/1144639/
Excellent. Thanks!
Hey Night Owls! Back on night shift after a long break. Great stuff today on TOD helping to move the Trayvon Martin narrative forward.
G’night to you! I’m outta here … must.sleep.now. 🙂
Night JOB. Sleep well.
Indeed, amk. Another brilliant one. Thank you, amk. HZ
Ya know Republicans….dumb and dumber.
Morning everyone. Hope it is a cooler day for the north east.
Good morning, Alma and everyone else. I pray for our nations every day. I ask that God move across this country in a mightly way…..that He open minds and soften hearts……..that He replace the hate and fear and intolerance with a reasonable level of acceptance, respect and tolerance. Of course, I also pray for PO and VPB and their families.
Blessed day to everyone. Our sermon today is going to be about humility. Looking forward to it.
Great words of hope to start the day. Thank you tnmtngirl
Morning! Seems like I never slept:) Coffee in hand, ready to go:)
Here’s a thought! http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/07/19/2330861/texas-democrats-birth-control-study/
For the first time in 40 years, Congress has decided to give subsidies to farmers – many of them rich – while offering nothing to fund the food-stamp program that experts believe keeps poor Americans from starving
*************************************
We have to translate this anger into action…
We must organize our community….Register folks to vote and get them to the polls….our communities must see…that they do indeed have the POWER to change the trajectory….as PBO says…WE are the Change we Seek!!
Good Lord. When you see it all laid out like this….it’s shocking!
http://www.politicususa.com/the-dirty-thirty-page
Rise and Shine!
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/07/21/rise-and-shine-560/