Now is not the time!

Today I was watching The View, and usually it's Elisabeth Hasselbeck that annoys me most. I don't think I was annoyed as much, but it was something that Barbara Walters said that stood out to me more. In light of the historical inauguration of President Elect Barack Obama tomorrow, the show featured a variety of snippets from Barbara's past interviews with Presidents of The United States. They stayed a little on President Nixon and his huge scandal and subsequent pardon. The other ladies spoke about a movie being done and who would Barbara want to play her. Someone threw out Meryl Streep as a contender. Whoopi Goldberg in jest said that she would play Barbara. Barbara said that in light of what was happening now and that people were becoming color-blind she would want Whoopi to play her in the fictitious movie. I was dumbstruck. Not because she wanted Whoopi to play her, but because I thought... of all the times to be color-blind... why now?

Whenever there is a crime committed...liquor stores, shop-lifting, petty theft... it's usually Black related... there are exceptions. However, when there is "white-collar" crime, as the name suggests... people tend to think White people are involved. Here we are on the eve of a Black man finally becoming President of the United States and it's because the country is becoming color-blind. Huh? Of all times now is when I wish they will see color. The fact that a Black man will become president. The fact that a Black man has brought hope to America. Have you seen the amount of people travelling to DC to see the moment, to revel in the victory of the people? I don't recall this happening when Bush won, or even Clinton for that matter. TV stations have caught on and have blocked out the entire day to broadcast the inauguration. People are having gatherings in their homes to celebrate. I wasn't invited to a Bush barbecue 4 or even 8 years ago.

Now is not the time to be color-blind. Now is the time to be wide eyed and bushy tailed and see that anyone, REGARDLESS of their color... can make a difference... but lets not be color blind about it. Not now!