Letter from the Editor-----November

Election Day has come and gone. The collective voices of the American people seeking change have left a resounding impression across the world. Sentiments of triumph shared by foreign nations strike a glorious and harmonious chord. It feels pretty darn good to be smiled upon by the rest of the world. Each day feels renewed and hope filled. The layers of cynicism and doubt tied to our overall perception of what can and can’t be achieved by all Americans when we work together have been peeled away. It is indeed wonderful to be alive in these days and times. As we go into the coming months, I want to challenge everyone to remember what it took to get to this moment. Remember, while this is an especially sweet time for us as black folks in America; let us not tarnish the moment by forgetting the very real fact that Americans from all ethnicities and political affiliations had a big hand in steering this ship in a new direction. It is my most sincere hope that when the disparaging text messages come across your cell phones, when the crass jokes reach your email account, the courage and conviction to rise above the temptation to forward them on to others will prevail. Rise above it…rise above it…rise above it! For Obama’s sake, RISE ABOVE IT! Negativity of that sort only serves to slow down progress and we’ve waited long enough for this type of growth. If we look upon Obama as a representation of ourselves based on skin color alone, we do ourselves a disservice. For, to fully embrace Obama, is to also embrace the family that raised him and the multitudes of Americans from varying backgrounds who lent their support, helped to manage his campaign, knocked on doors, made phone calls, etc. As January approaches, my prayer is simple… that God continue to grant us the strength and hope to overcome our fears. When The Write Up makes the trip to Washington, DC in January for the historic Inauguration ceremony, I will be mindful of the words spoken by a progressive Republican in the early 1900’s, William White, which bears much truth in the reality of today… "I am not afraid of tomorrow. I have seen yesterday, and I love today."

Thas’ Peace,

JB