The Dunhams are discussed often for their role in Obama’s life, but they sound like they must’ve been really interesting people on their own - sometimes we think openmindedness was invented only in our own time, but the two of them were doing that decades ago, with her job, their moves around the country, and watching their daughter marry a black immigrant in the early '60s and then helping to raise their grandchild. Even apart from the fact that their grandchild will apparently get elected president tomorrow, it sounds like they lead really praiseworthy lives.
Indeed. I love this picture of Child Obama with his grandfather; there’s clearly no judgment or denial because of his father’s race, it’s just a little boy with Grandpa (one he bears a striking resemblance to) at the same time black people were being beaten and killed by good God-fearin’ white Christians in the mainland (most notably my own dear South).
I’m younger than Obama by a few years and even when I was a kid being biracial was a BIG deal that would get you ostracized in school, particularly if your parents were- gasp- married or had a marital like relationship. It wasn’t just the white kids who didn’t accept them either- many blacks wouldn’t accept them. I’ll always remember a kid in my class- I’ll call him Rodney- who could easily have passed for white in looks- light skinned mother, white absentee father (don’t know the situations of his conception more than I assume it involved sex) and who was the “blackest acting” member of the class- had a thicker southern-ebonics accent than the others, wore his hair in cornrows even though it was almost too straight for them, every other word was “Shee’it” and “nigga”- had we been 10 years younger I’ve no doubt he’d have blasted rap and worn FUBU and do-rags; what was funny was that his younger brother (I’m guessing half-brother, but I don’t know that) who was much darker skinned- was a lot more like Urkel (actually looked a lot like Malcolm’s friend in the wheelchair from MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE, but without the wheelchair and breathing problems). Even at 13 or so long before we knew the word we knew he was overcompensating.
Frankly I don’t much think I’d have much liked- or at least not much respected- Obama’s parents from what I’ve read of them. She seems a bit flakey and too willing to hand off her children when convenient and too reliant on her parents as an adult (a big sin with me when it’s able bodied adult offspring) while B.H. Sr. just didn’t bother even trying (I don’t give a damn what your culture is, ALL cultures preach taking care of your kids, especially when he was making good money playing Raj on WHAT’S HAPPENIN’? [pic] [pic]- don’t tell me it’s not the same person), but the Dunhams were stable and willing to put aside the prejudices they couldn’t possibly have not grown up with, and their fruits are two responsible grandchildren anyone would be proud of come what may tomorrow.
Anyway, point: the Dunhams were definitely ahead of their time, and bless them for it. And don’t do drugs.
Huh, I’m glad then my own grandmother has made it to Election Day. Well, lacking three hours. I’d hate for her to have voted in vain, although my vote will, in all likelihood, be canceling hers(or hers mine)
At 103, this was my grandma’s 21st straight presidential election.
Poor Obama and family. It hurts to lose someone you love. I’m going to be a basket case when my grandmother goes.
There’s a video of Obama talking about her at his stop in North Carolina tonight. This doesn’t say much, but it’s as emotional as I’ve seen him during the campaign.
I’m actually starting to feel sorry for the Republican Party. Well…not that sorry. I just hope they lose so badly tomorrow – 2/3 of Congress, the White House, all governor races & Rep-backed initiatives – that the GOP has no choice but to become more centrist, more fiscally conservative and not so much socially conservative, and most importantly divorce themselves from the Fundamentalist Christians who have ruled their party since 1988. Leave the Fundie Christians without a voice in politics, for once. Yep, it’s Tribulation Time for you fundies, baby. Sucks to be you, have fun praying for your imaginary Messiah!
It would not surprise me at all if Obama’s GM consciously decided to “give up the ghost” a day early to give her g-son an emotional boost in the polls. I lost my own grandmother last year to a tragic accident, but oddly, it helped me grow in many ways that make me almost think she “chose” to be taken out, if not consciously.
Very sad for Obama’s loss, though. When he flew to Hawaii last week, my initial reaction was “cover story” – like he was meeting with the N.W.O. or the Dragon Who Will Bring The Beast of Revelation 13:1 or something. Now, we know different. He must have flown out to visit her only because he really loved her and knew her time was nearly up. 
Huh.
I already did, as soon as I heard.