Earth, Wind and Obama

by RWS

Dear Barack,

I didn't watch the election coverage of November 4th. I was not in front of the television watching the announcers project which states you won and which states went to senator McCain. I was sitting in a circle. What circle, you might ask? I was in the indigenous circle at POOR Magazine in San Francisco. Election night fell on the same night as Community Newsroom in which Poverty, Race, Disability, Migrant, Youth and Elder scholars from the community come together and create media--revolutionary media that tells their stories--stories of houselessness, disability, incarceration, immigration, gentrification and issues of poverty that go unnoticed or misrepresented by mainstream media. Our circle is important and we don't break it, even for the U.S. Presidential election.

Don't get me wrong, the people in our circle were most interested in the election. We glanced at the computer terminal from time to time and each time we looked, you were in the lead. Each report indicated what state went to you and what state went to senator McCain.

We were happy to see that you were pulling away from Senator McCain. The report came in that you had picked up Ohio and Pennsylvania, I said to myself, it's over.

But we had work to do. The criminalization of poor folks globally and locally is something that we are fighting. I am sure you are familiar with the UN Declaration on indigenous peoples; it is our hope that your administration will recognize this declaration and take the necessary steps to cease the criminalization of migrant peoples--to recognize that migrant peoples have families and cultures and histories that run deep in this hemisphere. Will this be part of your agenda? I believe the future of the U.S. as a country hinges on undoing the wrongs committed upon the indigenous peoples of this hemisphere. You have a helluva job in front of you. I wouldn't want the job you now have.

As you were winning in the Electoral College, our circle was talking about the civil rights movement and the fight for the vote. One of our scholars at POOR Magazine is a founding member who is Black and has dealt with homelessness and poverty for much of his life. He said that voting is important but that politics must be part of everything you do, from the places you shop to the media you access for information. It must be part of day to day living. It is the vital work that must be done that goes unnoticed.

A young woman in our circle from Tonga spoke from her heart about her family situation. She spoke of the medical system and emptiness she felt navigating through a system of providers who provide nothing that resembles spirit or compassion or empathy. Her tears brought us back to who we are as indigenous people. Our circle is stronger now. This happened as you gave your victory speech.

When community newsroom ended, I got on my bike and headed home. An African descendant kid shouted your name from an open window: OBAMA! OBAMA! Young black men walked in the street chanting your name. White so-called hipsters congregated at cafes and bars celebrating your victory. I rode past navigating the San Francisco hills.

As I rode I thought of the other Obamas of the past, the talented and brilliant black men and women who never got the opportunity to achieve their dreams or show their brilliance as you have. I am hopeful that you will not forget them. I hope you remember the young kid in the window chanting your name. Our indigenous circle is not broken.