Leslie Griffith

Life is sweet today

First published in The Huffington Post

Life is  Sweet today. The California sunshine is bright and full and there's an easy,  warm breeze helping to relax the lump in my throat.

After 25 years of  reporting--surprises are rare, but my pride in my country today put some life  back into my step and took the hitch out of my get-along.

She did all that---that fresh-real-woman at the Democratic convention--Michelle  Obama.

"Did you see her?" My daughter called to ask.

"No  babe--been working hard on the book--it's almost finished!"

"Mom, dad  said watching her made him cry." (Her dad is a psychologist from the deep  south.)

"I'll watch her online right now." And thus the unplugging of tear ducts began.

It's hard not to get sentimental. My editor says it's  a sappy form of communication--my tendency toward it is rarely effective in writing.

Keeping that in mind, I will only say this:  Racial  hatred here and around the world has consumed me with anger. After 25 years  of reporting on it, my eyes needed a doctor.       

As a young girl  growing up in the south, police were called when a neighbor saw black friends  swimming in my family's backyard pool.

The quarterback of the football  team at my high school in Texas was thrown in jail and beaten to a pulp after he was found at Lookout Point in Tomball, Texas with a white  girl.

There are still hanging trees in antebellum front-yard  courthouses in the south with proud plaques explaining what those trees were  used for.

Sins committed on those southern branches against those  hanged there usually far outweighed any perceived crime--the real culprit was  Melanin levels.

In my lifetime, it seemed unimaginable that a strong,  intelligent, loving, articulate African American woman would be standing on  the stage of the Democratic convention---giving a speech that could help heal  a country bruised and battered and divided. It covered me with hope.

It also made me wonder if the plaques from the old hangin' trees could  be taken down in her honor.

Mr. Obama: I Now Pronounce You - Unlabeled

Published in the Huffington Post, 2/18/08

I purchased one of those online ministerial certificates, so I feel I have the moral authority to hence-forth call you Caucasian. So, now that you are officially white, will you stop calling yourself black!

See the stinkin-thinkin in that? My point is this labeling of a person's skin tone has to stop. Labeling is an epidemic in America. Even the apple I ate this morning has a label with a serial number taped on it. You, Mr. Obama are just as much a reflection of both melaninally challenged sides. I know there's pressure to be the first this or that. If we must put a label on you, how about honest, intelligent and fearless -- capable of taking on those who've committed the velvet coup we now find ourselves living with.

Tell us the truth. We can take it now. Our eyes have been opened, and we now understand unreal expectations lead to unrepentant liars. Imagine a man who cannot be labeled Black or White. This will take some help from the press. We have become addicted to labels in order to avoid complexities. The press has got to realize there are inappropriate labels and questions. John F Kennedy took massive amounts of pain killers. He must have fought that addition. He hurt his back fighting a war. No one labeled him a drug addict. FDR was also in constant pain and surely needed help for that. Both presidents were not grilled on these issues because being human and having pain did not appear to keep them from their presidential duties. The press had manners then. Watergate changed all that, and the Bush legacy of suspicion and lies destroyed any trust that had been rebuilt. If we expect candidates to be free of human flaws, we will get candidates who admit to smoking marijuana but do not admit to inhaling. I crave the truth without slant.

We lighter people know soul when we see it, and even though you apparently can't dance, we can tell you've got soul. I am not committed to voting for you as of yet, but I am forever grateful you have shown the world what kind of man you are. You have seen this country from the perspectives of both light and dark -- dark and light. Not too many people learn the wisdom that view of the world provides. You've seen the diabolical thinking from both angles of dysfunction, and you know that no race is innocent. Racism cuts both ways and you know that better than anyone. If you believe those with certain melanin levels won't vote for you unless you call yourself theirs...bad on them. They could make you lose a presidential election. Label that self destructive.

So you have managed to navigate that bi-racially slippery slope. I know someone who tried it, and failed. The expectations from both sides were too intense and he burned up in the conflict...completely losing himself. You, however, forged ahead. Damn, that took courage. You have learned to maneuver the white world and the black world with grace and you had the moxie to survive. It can be a mind molesting ordeal, but you have apparently figured it out. Label that rare.

Americans are always crying racism and by the time I was a 13-year-old living in the south, I had seen enough racial hatred to last me a lifetime. Racism cuts every which way and always has. While covering the Los Angeles riots, running down a Compton sidewalk just a block from where Reginald Denny was assaulted by a group of angry kids, I heard someone yell, "Sweet thing, get yourself in this house!" I turned and saw a woman waving her hand toward her front door. "Oh God really, thank you." I said, wide-eyed and full of fear. Shaking her grandmotherly head she said, "Honey those kids are out of control." Now she was pulling my arm toward her house. "Is this over that Rodney King thing?" she asked me "Yes ma'am it sure is, among other things." When an angel takes your hand you don't make mental note of melanin levels.

But, Obama, you know good and bad come in all shades, and I am proud of a country that could create the likes of you -- the son every mother would love to have. Americans have witnessed so much evil since 9/11. We are now labeled across most of the world as cruel, lying bullies. Others use the label fascists. I try to keep my eyes open in this country I hold so dear, and you give me courage to push past the disillusionment and deliver a big reverent BRAVO! So, Black America -- call me what you will, lighter Americans helped create this man too. Peel away the labels and let's all set him free to just be a man.

Racism and Sexism

Those who hate America-- and it is a very large contingent-- must be jubilant as they simply prolong the wars while letting Americans and their diatribes against one another -- destroy themselves.

Case in Point: Rosanne Barr. In her on stage tirade this week she used the phrase, "Obama, Osama." When I was in the South recently, I heard this same obscenity used by people I once considered to have pretty good heads on their shoulders. I'm a journalist and I believe in free speech. But when does language go so far it is tantamount to yelling fire in a crowded theatre? I cannot believe anyone who compares a strong, intelligent, articulate presidential candidate to the most renowned terrorist in the world is doing anything but looking for attention at the expense of a country already torn apart.

In the south, in a small Texas town, there stands an oak tree that covers the lawn in front of a plantation style courthouse. On that enormous tree is a plague that reads, "Old hanging tree." Instead of being ashamed of a painful history, it is celebrated. So here is my point.

As some people in this country desperately want to have a "first" in the White House, we cannot throw around incendiary comments that will lead to more racism and more sexism. I covered the Rodney King riots -- I also watched the Anita Hill testimony and covered the O.J. Simpson trial. Remember how black was turned against white and men against women?

As we reach for a historical first in the White House, let's not feed the prejudices of the past. In journalism many put the desire to be first before the responsibility to be accurate. If this is what being first will bring us -- inaccurate, pejorative statements -- then we need to remember this country is broken apart already, and the time for concern about who makes history should perhaps be continued for another episode at another time. Better still, what if the two "firsts" could be unselfish enough to join forces and show the world what kind of selflessness was needed when this once great country was founded.

With two wars in the Middle East, domestic programs in chaos, and our children's futures sold for military might -- igniting racism and sexism could surely push us right over the top into self destruction. There will be no need for terrorists to work to destroy us, we will destroy ourselves.

Final note: Roseanne Barr apologized -- not for the Obama rhyme, but for accusing Oprah Winfrey of not having Hillary on her show. Apparently Hillary was already scheduled.

My, my, my.