I've come down hard on black folks over 50, sometimes more out of generational anger than any real reason. I'm reminded of that watching John Lewis, who is pulling from deep to give his speech right now.
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Jim Clyburn apparently said that allowing John Lewis to speak tonight "shows the magnanimity of Barack Obama."
This is even dumber than the claims that Obama gave the Clintons some huge favor by letting them make big convention speeches, when obviously those speeches were a huge boost to his candidacy. Okay, so John Lewis wouldn't be on that stage tonight if Obama hadn't forgiven him for supporting the other candidate. But are we confident that Barack Obama would be on that stage at all if not for John Lewis? Clyburn is being really weird.
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Lewis in Atlanta a couple of months ago when Obama was here. I am not really impressed by celebrities and have met plenty of folks who though tthey were special. I have never met anyone whom I hold in higher regard that John Lewis.
Damn, I missed John Lewis? He's one of the best speakers I've ever heard. Why did they have him speak so early - he would be so good to tie tonight to the March on Washington.
Lord almighty, he was like an prophet from the Hebrew Bible! Unbelievable. If American could have handled it they should have had him introduce Obama tonight.
ta-nehisi, speaking as someone over 50 (in fact, a white person over 50!), i trust nothing has ever convinced you to be angry with john lewis, one of the bravest and most moral people in this great land.
Now I'm doubly sorry I missed him, but glad I have YouTube.
Coates,
"I've come down hard on black folks over 50..."
I know, it is easy to do when you are a young man. But there's an old saw that goes something like this: "When you go before God and he asks you, 'Where are your wounds? Was there nothing worth fighting for?'"
The struggles of the past turned many landscapes red. The chorus of those who would turn the course of human history backwards into barbarism are always, always, awaiting over the next rise.
When you are over 50 will you have the battle wounds? I think you will. But most of your peers will complain about their hemorrhoids.
Remember this.
Adin
For those of us who missed it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ORugVRKdLs
Yes, I hear you. Certainly not defending the anger. Posting the Lewis YouTube, now.
I am a 50 year old white man, originally from Atlanta. My 87 year old white mother is represented in Congress by Mr. Lewis. She is as proud to vote for him as she is to vote for anyone. And I, living in California, and represented by an inept retrograde Republican, am envious. There is no veteran of the civil rights movement I hold in higher regard than John Lewis. He is one of my true heroes.
I'm enjoying your blog.
ta-nehisi, it's late and i have a little more time, so i wanted to expand just a touch on john lewis.
about 15 years ago, i was in birmingham for several days on business with a colleague, and i said, "we have to go see selma."
and here's the thing: although i knew full well what had happened on the edmund pettis bridge, and had seen video and photos, i hadn't realized that the bridge was easily 30 feet, probably more, above the river.
i have a fear of heights, and i tell you, there was no way i could get out on that bridge, no how, but my colleague did walk across, and he, like i, was astonished at just how scary it would have been to be attacked by the police while trying to cross that bridge.
john lewis led that march in 1965, just like he rode in the freedom rides and put his life on the line in so many ways.
i can't really say how much i respect that man.