A Black man in the White House, Halleljah

Dedicated to Wm Thompson Ong, committed Obama campaign worker
Santa Monica, CA, January 20, 2009

Open verse to President Obama:

A Black man in the White House, Hallelujah
By Charlie Redner
(a northern, Caucasian who regretfully missed the “‘64 buses” headed south)

A Black man in the White House, Hallelujah
Hallelujah not because he’s Black but because he was elected by a white majority.

A Black man in the White House shows the world that this Nation may now claim
our ballot box colorblind.

A Black man at the helm of the most powerful Vessel in the world exclaims: Slave ships, out of our way -- we’ve been there, done that, and finally, finally we’re sailing on.

Here’s proof positive that Goodman, Chaney and Schwerner did not die in vain. A victory won over great pain, borne by all the Freedom Riders, and those for whom they fought.

Here’s proof positive that Doctor Martin Luther King Jr’s Dream has at last, long last, come true. His vision of a better land where little children can be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin has arrived.

Here’s proof positive that, not as the founding fathers scribed, but as attested this day: “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men (and women) are created equal.”

President Obama, the hopes of this Nation rest upon your shoulders as they did Washington and Lincoln -- a prayer that you prove your supporters right, and that your detractors discover they were wrong.

Please be a good President. Great, would be better!

God, Bless America.
Land of the Free and home of the Brave where we celebrate our first,
Black man to live and govern in the White House.

Hallelujah!