Day Six: Expect It

Now In Season

Our great, collective, symbolic prayer has been answered. We are understandably euphoric. Brothers and sisters who I barely recognize are smiling knowingly at me and giving me the 'We Did It' thumbs up. This is all good. But we need to be watchful. We can not underestimate the extent to which some of these stupid, salty-assed crackers will attempt to pee in our lemonade. A couple of recent examples from my state:

• In Terrell, Texas, the local newspaper, The Terrell Tribune refused to carry the Obama win as a headline. The editors chose, instead, to go with an area race. Not surprisingly, local blacks, as well as others, who were desirous of obtaining a keepsake were confused and outraged, and decided to picket the headquarters. Staffers, unburdened by a sense decency, actually walked outside and snapped pictures of the protesters. When local media picked up the story, the Tribune saw fit to issue the following response: "We are a newspaper, not a memory book service. We covered the local comissioners race. We felt that was more important." Additionally, they added that this insulting omission could not be attributed to racism because the winner of the commissioner's race was black. Frankly, I almost would have preferred that the Tribune come clean: "We felt this was an opportune time to stick it to you convivial, uppity Negroes."
  
• The students of Baylor University (an overpriced, overrated college in Waco, TX) were gifted with a noose sometime during election day. I've written about this cowardly phenomenon. Apparently, some white folks (I believe we can safely assume this of the noose-givers) can only find self-fulfillment by reminding themselves of a time when they could kill niggers with impunity. The times appear to be a-changin' a little too much for their tastes.
  

I predict that this will continue, at least for the short term. We should not be caught off guard by it. Historically, racist whites have, without fail, responded to African-American progress with violence or the threat thereof. Sadly, it is inevitable. My advice: Screw your courage to the sticking place and ride out the foolishness. I hate to differ with the title of one of my all time favorite albums, but not even a nation of millions can hold us back.