Urban Thought Collective

From Algeria to Zanzibar, the struggle of African nations to free themselves from brutal colonialism in the 60s and 70s deeply affected folks in the Black Liberation Movement here in the U.S.

We drew inspiration from and stood in militant solidarity with these struggles and celebrated their victories. These movements brought into ‘consciousness’ scores of adults and youth who hadn’t been politically active before, and for those who already were, it kicked their activism up a notch.

For my generation, the last, most stubborn battle against colonialism was South Africa. We erected shanty towns on campuses across the country; we called for Ronald Reagan to implement sanctions against the white racist minority that ruled illegitimately; we demanded that companies remove their investments from the country and we boycotted those that did not. Artists refused to perform in the country, and athletic teams shunned the idea of competing against South Africa’s teams.

When Nelson Mandela walked out of prison after almost thirty years I cried. And when Black people in South Africa voted for the first time in their lives - voted for Nelson Mandela to be their president of their country – I cried.

I knew fully well that neither one man (nor voting for that one man to be the next president) would be the panacea that South Africa so desperately needed, but I cried nonetheless. I cried because I felt the same pain, frustration, hope and joy that my brothas and sistahs did.

How could I not?

The Republican Party has done their damndest to stop this day from coming.

The Obama family has endured scorn, ridicule, outright lies on their character and threats of death.

Congregations have been praying for Obama to win and have scheduled “Watch Night” services to see the returns on election night.

Thousands and thousands of people have stood in ridiculous lines for hours to cast their votes BEFORE Election Day.

Scores of elderly Black people - some who used to sit in the back of the bus and some who had to use “colored” restrooms; some who witnessed the fire hoses and the police dogs and some who actually felt them - are forgoing absentee ballots to physically be at the polls on election day to cast their vote for a Black man to be president of the United States of America.

United States President Barack Obama will not be the panacea that our people so desperately need; the panacea that everyone hopes he will be.

I know this fully well … but my box of kleenex is nearby.

How could it not be?

Thandisizwe Chimurenga is a community activist and journalist. She can be heard most Thursdays on “Some of Us Are Brave: A Black Women’s Radio Program” on KPFK - Pacifica Radio in Los Angeles. She is also the Director of the Ida B. Wells Institute, a leadership development and media training program for Black women and girls. Her social commentary blog is exclusive to Urban Thought Collective.