Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner and Maybe Breakfast Too

By Carol Forsloff and Randy Stelly

 

If you heard Barack Obama's Presidential nomination acceptance speech on Thursday, April 28, you don't need it reviewed. You either heard it and got it or didn't. Lots of people will talk about their feelings and tell you about yours, as if you couldn't express them yourself. Some folks didn't get the speech, either because they didn't listen, refused to or physically couldn't for some reason, so perhaps some overview might be good for that bunch. But most of those people wouldn't read about it if they didn't hear it. So we'd like to talk simply about feelings from a black - white view the morning after the night before.

 

Political togetherness is one thing; personal is another. People pray in separate packs, party that way as well, and usually pick a person in the racial-cultural "in" group for permanent partners. Research shows that's because many folks worry about Keila and Anthony, all grown up now, and officially getting together, and not just to wave flags. The kids are coming home from school and work and giving their folks a message. And some of these folks are the same people worried about their kid's futures in ways that hang around in emotionally dark places that aren't admitted at dinner and at those meals where people talk about issues at the beginning or end of the day. We can see the change before us, but long-held beliefs through symbols are different. Obama will be the topic for sure. Sidney Poitier was applauded for his portrayal of a brilliant, articulate and sensitive fellow who's about to be one of the family. But that was the movies.