I was blessed to meet and have a conversation with Mayor Kasim Reed of Atlanta, GA. So thankful that he agreed to participate in our leadership luncheon, I asked if there was anything we could do for him. He candidly shared we could ensure that the President remains in office. As a 501(c)3, I replied that we were non-partisan. But we were very much interested in ensuring everyone exercised their right to vote. That is what our Occupy the Vote initiative is all about, I responded.
When he rose to speak, he shared “Our trajectory is tied to the President’s…” Reed reasoned that the legacy of the first African-American President and First Lady is tied to that of all African-Americans in this country. And that should be important to young African-Americans who aspire to do and be more than what they are today. Sentiments I know all too well.
I am also a past delegate for the DNC, where I signed my name in support of then Senator Obama receiving the Democratic Nomination for President of the United States. I remember crying as I thought of my grandmother and great-grandmother who were unable to witness this historic event. My grandmother, a long-time poll worker in Baton Rouge, LA, instilled in me the importance of the process. Because after working all week at the local bowling alley, I remember that being her only non-church activity. Using my flip camera, a gift from my Mom and Dad, I tried to document every minute for my daughter in particular.
Each success, each speech, each poll victory and debate made me more excited. And you can imagine what happened when he won. We all won. And after all of that, I hadn’t met President Obama until this year just after his speech at the National Urban League conference in New Orleans.
I was awestruck and had no idea what to say. What could I possibly say? This man had changed the lives of so many through sheer audacity and seeing him in person, I realized how much pressure that has to be. Because seeing him there as a human being and not a poster or magazine article or figure, was sobering. So I chose to simply say thank you and that we (my family) were praying for him.
When I returned home from meeting Mayor Reed, I was elated to find my picture from my brief meeting with the President this summer. And since there are so many things I can’t say in my current role, the look on my face says it all.
If I never take another picture with an elected official, that will be alright.