I have just read that white women are trending toward Obama and I wanted to pause and express my honest appreciation. Making history is meaningful to all groups, especially those who have been denied coveted opportunities over long periods of time, so it is understandable that white women would identify with Sarah Palin and want to give her a chance. Even if race were not a factor gender is and putting them both together creates a subtle, yet very real, gap. On top of this, many women have shifted their positions where abortion is concerned.
All women want the right to control their bodies but it is difficult to fully rationalize abortion on demand given the remarkable advances in technology. We must respect women who fight for life but we must also remember that ending unwanted pregnancies is a practice that pre-dates Roe v. Wade. It is best not to push the practice back underground. We struggle with so many contradictions, if criminal activity results in the loss of an unborn life of a child that is cherished it is indeed murder, so we all may want to think again about the standard for the unloved and unwanted. To know that even a few of these women have been able to look past a single, though profound, issue to side with the overall greater good elicits my admiration. In a real way the collective women’s vote, black, brown, white, red, and yellow will determine the direction of the Free World. White women are front and center with tough choices to make.
I understand that for feminists Hillary Clinton was their “shero” and it is a crushing experience when our heroes are defeated. It is painful and sometimes impossible to ever embrace the victor. Politics is personal and feminism is political. We knew liberal organizations would say the right thing but to be honest some of us were prepared for a fight to the bitter end. To learn that a good number of strong feminist women have actually put policy first and have worked hard to convince others to follow their lead is remarkable. Some of us still have an eyebrow raised and arms folded because we were ready for “here they go again” but not this time. This time feminist have demonstrated an ability to set feelings aside, oh they won’t like being called emotional still they have to admit that they were filled with passion and fire advancing the first viable woman presidential candidate. We know what it is like when all that remains is smoldering defeat and to rise to support the opponent, that is not party loyalty, that is extraordinary.
For Black women it has been much easier to arrive at an early decision. Change and hope have been our mantra for so long that for us an Obama candidacy was truly a dream come true. We scrutinized the spouse and found Michelle Obama to be exceptionally well qualified to be our very own first. Finally the world would have to entertain the thought, the energy, and yes the power of a Black First Lady. We are lifted by the possibility in much the same way that women were lifted by Title IX to be able to compete among women and experience victory. It feels really good just to be able to compete.
We know that it will be terribly difficult for some white men and women to go into the voting booth and privately pull the leaver for a Black man but we believe in change, especially changed hearts and minds. So today I want to thank my white sisters for being brave enough, and wise enough, and woman enough to embrace change.
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