Quote of the year (perhaps)

"What black people are experiencing right now is a kind of privilege previously withheld—seeing our most sacred cultural practices and tropes validated in the world’s highest office. Throughout the whole of American history, this kind of cultural power was wielded solely by whites, and with such ubiquity that it was not even commented upon. The expansion of this cultural power beyond the private province of whites has been a tremendous advance for black America. Conversely, for those who’ve long treasured white exclusivity, the existence of a President Barack Obama is discombobulating, even terrifying. For as surely as the iconic picture of the young black boy reaching out to touch the president’s curly hair sends one message to black America, it sends another to those who have enjoyed the power of whiteness."

--Ta-nehisi Coates, Senior Editor of The Atlantic, from his article "Fear of a Black President"

Links: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/09/fear-of-a-black-president/309064/#.UDqc1kMFeFM.facebook

http://www.theatlantic.com/ta-nehisi-coates/