Ever since Barack Obama officially became the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party, I've been having periodic moments of perspective. Normally a moment of perspective diminishes the awesomeness of whatever it is you're contemplating, but this time it just made it even better. Because it really is amazing to think that we have an African-American nominee for the highest office in the land.
Others have commented on this before, of course, and far more eloquently than I can. But it has been easy for me to lose sight of just how amazing that fact is because of how long we've known it would happen, and because of the fact that race has not been emphasized by the Obama campaign (with the exception of the speech in Philadelphia).
So I just thought I'd note a little (relatively) recent history of race and politics, even if I am a little late to the party.
60 years ago, Harry Truman ordered the integration of the armed forces.
55 years ago the Supreme Court ruled that separate is inherently unequal. Eisenhower had to send in the National Guard to see that the ruling was carried out.
45 years ago Martin Luther King spoke of his dream, and 40 years ago he was killed for doing so.
And 40 years ago Richard Nixon spoke of a "Silent Majority," launching the Southern Strategy which has been used to divide us along racial lines ever since.
30 years ago Ronald Reagan continued that strategy by speaking of his commitment to "states' rights" in Philadelphia, Mississippi.
20 years ago, Willie Horton sunk Michael Dukakis's campaign for President.
And today our party has chosen a black man as its standard bearer. Which is not to say that racism is vanquished; it clearly is not. But this is a mighty blow to it. Black children will grow up seeing themselves reflected in the leader of the country and know that anything is possible. White children will grow up seeing the full diversity of our nation reflected in its leadership and know that the color of your skin is insignificant next to the content of your character.
Last year, my US History teacher told us to ask our parents' to rank the five greatest presidents and explain why. My dad, like so many, ranked Abraham Lincoln first. When I asked why he said, "Because of what he did to bring this country in line with its founding ideals." With the nomination of Barack Obama for President of the United States, we have moved a little closer in line with our founding ideals.