The Sacrifice for a Better Day

Today, I am not interested in taking too much of your time. I am sure you are monitoring CNN! (Side note: This past weekend I entered 3 different African American homes, and guess what? The flat screens were tuned to CNN). All I want to do is share one story/event accompanied by three touching videos. My shared story is not connected to me at all – but it is one that I want to associate myself with for the rest of my life.

While thinking about how I was going to do this (become one with the story) I decided to impart the story of inspiration by giving it a permanent place on my blog. The story is one that we rarely hear or read about anymore. Like the countless accounts we have heard about of our mothers and fathers having to walk to and from school on bitterly cold mornings or like the one we have seen in the Eyes on the Prizes documentaries where our grandparents had to endure racial hatred just to bring forth an American promise: Voting Rights Act.

It is with this Act that A’riel Chisholm acted. After waiting on his voter absentee ballot to arrive for 3 weeks he finally resided himself to the fact that the Pennsylvania Board of Elections either mistakenly forgot to mail it or they purposely did not send it to da brotha (me and my conspiracy theories). So, at about 5PM yesterday (November 3, 2008) he decided that he was going to jump into his high gas price costing SUV, and travel up to Philly. You read that right! Philadelphia!!! A 13 hour drive from Atlanta to vote. Is that dedication? Is that commitment? Is that what he was supposed to do? Yes, it was!

Those of you who read my email commentary know that I often send emails entitled, A Proud Moment. This is a moment when I witness or experience an event where a black person makes me proud. So many have occurred over my 38 years; and I am sure that there will be more to help me look in the mirror and see Black progress. That mirror of mine is full of PROUD MOMENTS that are not connected to material wealth. Thankfully.

Today, is a Proud Moment regardless of the outcome! It is even more special to me knowing that a friend of mine did what he was supposed to do:

Sacrifice for a Better Day

Written by Brian E. Payne. Inspired by A’riel. He did what so many are doing today:

Honoring the Past with Commitment

http://blip.tv/file/1338283

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTIAAZZXyrc

http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=71ed4329ff45160de88cf2&skin_id=701&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url