The color of the race

It was such a colorful event in Denver, Colorado, for the four-day Democratic National Convention with celebrities, party stalwarts and famous personalities flocking in to witness one of the greatest moments in American history with the nomination of the first African-American as the Democratic Party’s candidate for president. Millions of viewers all over the world, estimated between 200 to 300 million, watched on live television the historic acceptance speech of Barack Obama ‑ a carefully-scripted event with every dramatic detail ‑ from the spotlights, the Greek columns, the runway leading to a lectern in the middle down to the fireworks intended to drive the packed audience, estimated at 80,000, into fever-pitch frenzy.

The build-up to the event was really well-planned and choreographed, described as “one of the great theatrical spectacles of the modern age.” The surprise appearance of the 76-year-old Ted Kennedy showed that there was still that Kennedy magic. Even John F. Kennedy’s lone surviving child, Caroline, touched everyone with her tribute to her uncle’s life and his work as a senator. Kennedy, who had earlier been diagnosed with brain cancer, moved many to tears with his valiant effort to show up despite his illness, and electrified delegates as he rallied them to elect Barack Obama.          

Michelle Obama showed critics the stuff she is made of, getting a long standing ovation from an impressed crowd as she spoke about common values like working hard for what one wants in life, keeping one’s word and treating everyone with dignity and respect no matter the differences. One of the main highlights of the convention was Hillary Clinton’s appearance as she played the part of fence mender, asking loyal supporters still smarting from her defeat to make their choice of Obama unanimous “in the spirit of unity, with the goal to victory.” Hillary’s well-coined slogan of “No way, no how, no McCain” was a telling swipe against the Republican candidate whom Democrats ridicule as a clone of George Bush.

Bill Clinton for his part passed on the torch of party leadership to Obama, the man “ready to lead America and restore American leadership in the world.” The former president’s speech stirred national pride when he said the “People of the world have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power.”

Democratic Party conventions have always been well-produced events, meant to showcase the impressive and colorful history of America’s oldest political party that claims 72 million voters. Many outstanding and well-loved presidents had come from the Democrats, from Thomas Jefferson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry Truman to John F. Kennedy.

A lot of similarities have been drawn between JFK and Obama because of their youth — JFK was 43 when he became president; Obama is 47 — and their historic “firsts” with Kennedy as the first Catholic president. Obama also reshaped history by becoming the first African-American presidential candidate for a major political party. But one similarity which people have always feared and is certainly keeping the Secret Service (which is automatically assigned to protect major presidential candidates) on its toes ‑ is the threat of an assassination which happened to JFK two years after he was sworn into office. As a matter of fact, three white men high on drugs and carrying a sniper rifle were already arrested near the convention center, with one of them admitting that they were planning to assassinate Obama as he accepted the party nomination.

Even after two centuries, the issue of race continues to hound America. During the highly contested Democratic Party nominations, skin color played a significant part with whites predominantly supporting Hillary Clinton. Even among Hispanics, many feel that Obama is “not the right color” for a president.

Obama’s acceptance speech was perfectly timed to coincide with the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech. Many see Obama’s nomination as the culmination of the civil rights leader’s vision of an America where justice and racial equality prevails. King had hoped for that day when “the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination” will finally be broken. King’s children, who spoke during the convention, said Thursday’s event was one of America’s “greatest defining moments” as they see their father’s dream about to come true.

Obama of course is very much aware that his skin color can either give him the leverage or become his stumbling block. Though he made no obvious reference to his race, the Kenyan-American tried to strike a chord not only among convention delegates but the rest of the Americans, saying, “I realize that I am not the likeliest candidate for this office. I don’t fit the typical pedigree…”

Martin Luther King had been positive that some day, America will rise and live up to the true meaning of its creed that all men are created equal — and Obama tried to re-echo this vision as he said the men and women who gave up their lives did not serve under “a white America or a blue America but the United States of America.”

The race is on for the president of the United States. And with two months to go before November 4, the whole world will soon find out if Martin Luther King’s dream 45 years ago will finally come to reality ‑ and if indeed, racism is a thing of the past with Americans ready to look beyond the color of one’s skin ‑ and make history by electing America’s first black president. 

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