Today, I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. The alarm didn't go off on time. The baby was already up and screaming for a diaper change. My commute was awful. The Wizards lost to the Pistons again. So naturally, when I settled in to drop the daily post, I was in the throes of a full scale fit of Niggativity.
I've championed Barack Obama for President since the beginning of this blog, waaay back in 2000 and Seven. For the first time, I believed in a candidate enough to write a massive
Basically, I was prepared to be let down.
Old black folks in the South (ok, really it's just my Mom and Grandma as far as I know) have an old saying called "N.L.". I will let your creative minds guess exactly what "N.L." stands for, but it's basically a black man's version of Murphy's Law. Essentially what it means is that as soon as it looks like a brotha is about to come up, something always has to happen to ruin it and allow Da' Man to maintain his reign of supremacy.
I watched the initial returns from Iowa and saw a three way tie between the Democratic frontrunners, and for a moment, I started getting excited [||] for Obama's chances. I knew it was about time for "N.L." to kick it. I couldn't stand the suspense, so naturally I did a black man's cop-out and started playing PS3 instead of watching more CNN. Hey, I could be doing far worse things.
A few minutes later, my phone starts ringing off the hook. Obama has been declared the winner. I peep CNN, and indeed, dude's won.
Break out the Capri Suns!
Now, before everyone starts getting all giddy and whatnot, lets just remember that this is only one caucus. Yes, this momentum is great, but in the grand scheme, it's more or less the same as a first quarter lead in an NBA game. Yeah, you'd rather be ahead than behind, but the game's far from over.
Nonetheless, I guess it's ok to celebrate for a minute. Iowa is a state that's only 3% black, but Obama won easily. He carried key demographics like the female vote, 18-29 voters, minorities.
That said, Barry better really make sure that closet is extra clean right about now, because after finishing 3rd, you know Hilary is about to shift into a whole n'other gear now. Clintons do not like losing.
I suppose we'll have a much better idea of Obama's chances after New Hamphire and the hardly discussed Michigan (a whopping 157 delegates) primaries over the next couple of weeks, but for now, enjoy history, however fleeting, while you can. And just in case you wanna jump on the bandwagon now, go ahead and break the brotha off with a donation while you're at it.
Shirley Chisolm is smiling inside.
And since we're talking about Chisolm, this makes me wonder: did we experience history in the making tonight? Part of me says we did. Whether or not Obama goes on to win the nomination and/or general election, at the very least, he showed that a black man could win the Iowa Caucus, which is no small accomplishment.
A few cable talking heads deemed the speech that follows as MLK-esque. I didn't necessarily feel incredibly moved by it, but then again, I'm just heartless like that. On the other hand, I doubt the people gathered on the steps of the Lincoln Monument that sunny day in 63' thought they were witnessing history in the making either.
Only time will tell, but I'm sure you guys will weigh in. Was last night historical or just a mere fleeting moment in time?
Obama wins Iowa's Democratic caucus: NBC [Reuters]
