So much pride in my new country

Three and a half years ago I began visiting the southern US. I spent most of my time in Atlanta and was, honestly, amazed at how much of the population was black. (The city where I spent most of my adult life is around 2 or 3 % black.) I didn't mind, understand, but it was new and different for me. I would walk the dog through Paul's apartment complex and say hi to the other dog walkers (and one cat walker) and some days they were all black, except me. At first I couldn't understand every southern person, especially the young black men and women, they seemed to have a language all their own and I didn't always understand the accent or the words, much to my chagrin. I met a 60 year old black man at the body shop that Paul managed and when I said hello he ducked his head, called me 'ma'am' and backed away. I asked Paul why and he smiled sadly and said, 'he's old and he's black, he remembers what it was like to be called names that you can't imagine. He remembers segregated buses and bathrooms and, well, segregated lives.' Just a few days ago an acquaintance of Paul's referred to a black man as a 'spearchucker'. I love the South; the beauty of the terrain and the openness of the people but this racism is also part of the South that I have come to know.

Now, three years later, I pretty much understand every southerner. The other day I said 'dang' and 'y'all' in the same sentence. My only friends here in Tennessee are black. And now, so soon after I saw for the first time the racism that still exists here, a black man may well be the next president. I haven't stopped weeping tears of joy for two days. I am so proud, so very proud that finally there are enough people in this country who don't select their friends and employees and government officials by the color of the skin but by the content of their character - to quote another great black man.

I'm not an American citizen, only a resident here but Paul and I celebrated Senator Obama's presumptive nomination by printing out a voter registration for him and sending it in. Paul hasn't voted in ...well, a while, but I can assure you that I will be bawling all over again when he casts the vote for the change we so desperately need in this country.

One day I will be able to write that the next president of the United States is a woman, but for now 'may the best man win!'