Reading Broker Bryants Excellent post, (YOU GOTTA READ IT) my comment was so long I wanted to post it here...  instead of just hi-jacking BB's post!   Man, once I start talking....

What an honor to have written this for your friend, for your family, for this country.   Obama was not my choice but I support him as our president, and pray he will do a fine job.   That's the beauty of America, the majority vote wins.

Being younger than you, I didn't believe that racism still existed (but in a few) that were older, lived in predominantly white cities, or people that were raised to not know any better.

My great-grandmother was a fine example of this. She was raised in a time where there were slaves, was it wrong?  Absolutely.  In her era (born in 1899), this was normal.   She died when I was in high school, she came with many great stories, as you have shared.

One I vivid thing I remember was in kindergarten, my co-teacher was Black, and sweet - very endearing, I never even realized or thought about the fact that she was 'black' until my great-grandmother brought this to my attention, that my teacher was a N.... 

That day I was saddened because I loved this teacher dearly, and didn't understand why she was called such a 'name'.  I have seen significant changes during my life time.  Some of my dearest friends and past clients are of Black skin color, and I see us all as one, part of the Human Race, Americans, all trying to survive, feed our families, give our kids a great education, and better our lives.

The great news is, this is all part of American History, all of the progress America makes daily is monumental.

 - Thanks Martin Luther King for bringing your dream of equallity to America, it would not be the same without you.

Katrina Madewell