I love Islam and cream soda

By Brother Taj   - June 2019 In 2007 and 2008 while working as a political market research manager I had the privilege of having then–candidate Barack Obama as a client. However, I would have voted for him anyway on the basis of one consideration: he was Black. Voters who would admit to this motivation are decried as reverse-racist and a traitor to the idea of post-racism, but given a national culture that rides on 4 centuries of enslavement and exclusion, no apologies are needed. We have had enough of inhumane consideration and treatment. Enough of institutionalize bigotry. Enough of racially motivated violence and murder. Enough scourging by drugs and brutal policing. And, enough of mass incarceration. It should all cause Black Folk to rise up in protest, refusing to perpetuate anything similar with our own hands. What more effective repudiation to white supremacy and its insidious effect, then for a Black person to refuse to shoot, rob, assault, rape, chea...

When Barack started his campaign, I had the pleasure of managing the operations of a good portion of his market research. He took on a great and experienced team of strategist including colleagues and friends Joel Benenson and Carl Rossow. We were optomistic (we ran Clinton in 06) but cautious, but as time went on we saw the chance for history upon history. For me the inauguration is just a culmination of not only hopes of my parents and ancestors but an unlimited future for my own child, and for this nation if it dares to reach beyond it's comfort zone. I am proud to be part of history, glad to have been cocky late '07 when I told everyone Barack would be Pres, and am glad to be alive at the same time that many of my people are who struggled for civil rights in the 60's, and struggeled with oppression in the 50's and above. I am glad to try to explain to my daughter who has no idea that about bus boycotts and lunch-ins, or names like Till, Evers, Lowry, Washington, Dub...