Truly a profound and insightful message from a 78 year old African-American woman.

To The Editor:

As a 78 year old American of African descent, I feel compelled to respond to all this 'much ado about nothing' when it comes to the statement that Michelle Obama made about the fact that this is the first time in her adult life that she has been proud to be an American.
The country needs to hear this from the Black perspective.

Long before I was born, my grandfather Joseph Burleson, owned a considerable amount of land in oil rich Texas. Because during that era, Blacks could not vote, nor could they contest anything in the courts of the United States, my grandfather's land was STOLEN by his White neighbor. My grandfather, who was literate and better educated than my grandmother, drove to town. Seeing my grandfather leave, the covetous neighbor asked my grandmother to show him the deed to the property. He snatched it. She could not insist that he give it back, nor could she have reported this THEFT to the sheriff because of the fact that Blacks had no rights in the 1800's. The prevailing law at that time was he who held the deed owned the land. Do you think that is something that I am PROUD OF? Right now I should be living off the oil and gas royalties.

In 1934 when my dad drove us to Texas to meet his family, when he stopped to purchase gasoline, his daughters and wife were not allowed to use the washroom. As a man it was easier for his to relieve himself in the bushes, but not for the females. We were, however, reduced to having to go in the bushes, also. Do you think I am PROUD OF THAT?

In 1938 when my oldest sister went to enroll in Hyde Park High School, she was told by the counselor that she did not want to take college preparatory courses, she wanted to study domestic science. Do you think I'm PROUD OF THAT? Of course, when Beatrice Lillian Hurley-Burleson went to school the next day, that was the last time anyone thought that the Burleson girls wanted to study domestic science.



When in 1943 my parents attempted to buy the 2 flat at 5338 South Kenwood, where we had lived since 1933, in Hyde Park, Chicago, IL we were told that we could not buy it because there was a restrictive covenant that said that the property was never to be sold to 'Negroes.' Do you think I am PROUD OF THAT?



In 1950 when I graduated from college, I was unable to get a job because I was considered 'overqualified.' the code word for they would not hire me because of my race. All of the want ads called for Japanese Americans or Neisis (the word given to Japanese Americans at that time). Do you think that was something that I should have been PROUD OF? I understood that America was trying to make up for the interring of innocent and patriotic Americans who were our enemy by association.



My cousin's barbershop was bombed in Mississippi in the 50's because he was encouraging Black people to register to vote. His wife who had earned a Masters Degree from Northwestern University lost her position as the principal of the local school because of the voter registration activities. Is that something I should be PROUD OF?



Now we get to Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the pastor of the Obama family. Rev. Wright like so many religious zealots overstates many things that many of his members do not agree with. To suggest that Senator Obama should leave the church of his choice is not only a double standard, but it is absurd. Would any of the talking heads who are so alarmed by Rev. Wright's thoughts and speeches suggest that Catholics should abandon their faith or denounce and reject the Pope because so many priests have molested children. These children were exploited and taken advantage of and they had no choice to even know they could resist, reject and denounce. To me the situations are parallel, except for the fact that the priest’s behavior is a physical violation of the innocence of children who are marred for life; and the priest’s behavior is a crime. Rev. Wright's speeches are just words, that one can listen to or not, the members have a choice. Should Govern or Romney denounce and reject the Mormon Church because some of their members practice polygamy?
As Senator Obama has previously stated, we have entered the silly season.



Barack Obama is an adult, and most importantly, he is an exceptionally intelligent adult. Like most of us adults, fortunately, we do not accept all we hear or see. If we did, the world would be more amoral, debased and perverted than the world of today is. I see all these 'so called' ponderings an attempt to marginalize the candidacy of Senator Barack Obama. I cannot truly call this racism because some ignorant Blacks have also spoken disparagingly about him.



I accept this as the darker side of mankind who because of their own inadequacies, they project their deficiencies on others. Barack Obama is a very rare individual, the likes of whom the world seldom sees. Like most geniuses, they are often misunderstood. They are objects of envy and jealousy. They are suspect because they soar above the average man who does not have the intellectual ability to understand the greatness of special people. They are also targets to be pulled down to the level of the mediocre who cannot stand to see an individual with deep convictions and high standards.


We have not seen a phenomena like Barack Obama in many years and many generations. Like Ghanda, like Jesus, like Einstein, like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., like Mother Theresa, genetically, intellectually and spiritually, these people offer the world so much, but they are often maligned and misunderstood.

Barack Obama is a Christian in the true sense of the word. A true Christian loves his fellow man unconditionally. A true Christian wants the best and tries to bring out the best in his fellow man. A true Christian wants to unite and bring the world together in peace and harmony. This is what Senator Obama stands for; but, unfortunately, he has had to get off point to answer these false charges, innuendos, and just plain lies.



We are in the presence of an angel unaware in Senator Barack Obama; and this country needs him, more than he needs us. He is the only person at this time in history who can restore respect for America with the worlds' people. Because of his family background, the influence of his beloved mother who instilled great values in him, the influence of his absent father who vicariously inspired a son to go to Harvard as the father had done, the influence of a minister who brought him to an understanding of the value and meaning of Christianity, the influence of a brilliant Harvard educated wife who inspires him and keeps him grounded; he is the epitome of a citizen of the world. He is of the world because the world is in him; and this is what America needs to bring us out of the abyss to which we have sunk in the eyes of the world.

Like, Michelle Obama, after living in this country all of my 78 years, loving my country and not understanding why my country has not loved me, I now for the first time in my adult life feel PROUD OF MY COUNTRY because I sense a maturing, a recognition of talent and character, and not color, and a field of candidates aspiring to lead this nation coming from very diverse backgrounds of gender, religious beliefs, national origin, ethnicity, age and experiences. This to me is the HOPE that America is coming into her own and will begin to CHANGE and will embrace the philosophy upon which this country was founded, where all men are created equal and are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Now I truly believe, YES WE CAN!

For further information:
Contact: Helen L. Burleson, Doctor of Public Administration (708)747-0919.

Old Friends become new ones

Recently I found an old friend on LinkedIn.com. We went to college together for a year. He was a wonderful person then, and from our correspondence nothing seems to have changed.

Who have you reached out to from your past? What was the outcome?


Be blessed

Just in case you want to get a jump start on your holiday baking

Rum Cake


Prep: 20 min., Bake: 1 hr., Cool: 15 min., Stand: 45 min.


1 1/2 cups butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 egg yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons grated lemon rind
1/2 cup dark rum
1/4 cup banana liqueur*
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup whipping cream
Rum Syrup
Powdered sugar

Beat butter and granulated sugar at medium speed with an electric
mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, egg yolk, and vanilla, beating
until blended. Add lemon rind, beating until blended. Gradually add
rum and banana liqueur, beating until blended. (Batter will look
curdled.)
Stir together flour and next 3 ingredients; add to batter alternately
with whipping cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat
batter at low speed just until blended after each addition. Pour
batter into a greased and floured 10-inch Bundt pan.

Bake at 350° for 55 to 60 minutes or until a long wooden pick inserted
in center of cake comes out clean.

Cool in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes. Pierce cake multiple times
using a metal or wooden skewer. Pour Rum Syrup evenly over cake. Let
stand 45 minutes. Remove from pan; cool completely on a wire rack.
Sprinkle evenly with powdered sugar before serving.

*1/4 cup dark rum may be substituted.

Yield: Makes 10 to 12 servings


Rum Syrup


Prep: 5 min., Cook: 15 min., Cool: 10 min.
This recipe goes with Rum Cake


10 tablespoon butter
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup dark rum
1/4 cup banana liqueur*

Melt butter in a 2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat; stir in
remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, stirring often; reduce heat to
medium, and cook, stirring often, 8 to 10 minutes or until slightly
thickened. Remove from heat, and cool 10 minutes.

*1/4 cup dark rum may be substituted for banana liqueur.

Yield: Makes about 1 cup

Be blessed

Ain't this the truth?

A biker is riding by the zoo, when he sees a little girl
leaning into the lion's cage.

Suddenly, the lion grabs her by the cuff of her jacket and
tries to pull her inside to slaughter her, under the eyes
of her screaming parents.

The biker jumps off his bike, runs to the cage and hits the
lion square on the nose with a powerful punch.

Whimpering from the pain the lion jumps back letting go of
the girl, and the biker brings her to her terrified
parents, who thank him endlessly.

A New York Times reporter has watched the whole event.

The reporter addressing the biker says, "Sir, this was
the most gallant and brave thing I saw a man do in my whole
life."

The biker replies, "Why, it was nothing, really, the
lion was behind bars. I just saw this little kid in
danger, and acted as I felt right."

The reporter says, "Well, I'll make sure this
won't go unnoticed. I'm a journalist from the New
York Times, you know, and tomorrow's paper will have
this story on the front page... So, what do you do for a
living and what political affiliation do you
have?'"

The biker replies, "I'm a U.S. Marine and a
Republican."

The journalist leaves.

The following morning the biker buys The New York Times to
see if it indeed brings news of his actions, and reads, on
front page: *

U.S. MARINE ASSAULTS AFRICAN IMMIGRANT AND STEALS HIS LUNCH


Be blessed