Alice Walker reads her letter to President-elect Barack Obama on Democracy Now!

Pulitzer-Winning Author Alice Walker on Obamas First White House Visit as President-Elect

One day after Barack Obamas first visit to the White House as President-elect, we speak to the Pulitzer-winning novelist Alice Walker. In a recent open letter to Obama, Walker writes, Seeing you take your rightful place, based solely on your wisdom, stamina and character, is a balm for the weary warriors of hope, previously only sung about.

AMY GOODMAN: You begin your letter by saying you have no idea, really, how profound this moment is for us.

ALICE WALKER: Yes.

AMY GOODMAN: Why dont you take it from there?

ALICE WALKER: Do you want me to read it?

AMY GOODMAN: Sure.

ALICE WALKER: Oh, OK. Ill just read that part.

It starts with: "Dear Brother President-elect,

You have no idea, really, how profound this moment is for us. Us being the black people of the Southern United States. You think you know, because you are thoughtful, and you have studied our history. But seeing you delivering the torch so many others carried, only to be brought down before igniting the flame of justice and of law, is almost more than the heart can bear. And yet, this observation is not intended to burden you, for you are of a different time, and, indeed, because of all the relay runners before you, this is a different America. It is really only to say: Well done. We knew, through all the generations, that you were with us, in us, the best of the spirit of Africa and the Americas. Knowing this, that you would actually appear, someday, was part of our strength. Seeing you take your rightful place, based solely on your wisdom, stamina and character, is a balm for the weary warriors of hope, that was previously only sung about.

I would advise you to remember that you did not create the disaster that the world is experiencing, and you alone are not responsible for bringing the world back to balance. A primary responsibility that you do have, however, is to cultivate happiness in your own life. To make a schedule that permits sufficient time of rest and play with your gorgeous wife and lovely daughters. Not to mention your brave and precious grandmother, who, of course, as we know, went on. We are used to seeing men in the White House soon become juiceless and as white-haired as the building; we notice their wives and children looking strained and stressed. They soon have smiles so lacking in joy that they remind us of scissors. This is no way to lead. Nor does your family deserve this fate. One way of thinking about all this is: It is so bad now that there is no excuse not to relax. From your happy, relaxed state, you can model real success, which is only what so many people in the world want. They may buy endless cars and houses and furs and gobble up all the attention and space they can manage, or barely manage, but this is because it is not clear to them yet that success is truly an inside job. That it is within the reach of everyone.

I would further advise you not to take on other peoples enemies. Most damage that others do us is out of fear, humiliation and pain. Those feelings occur in all of us, not just in those of us who profess a certain religious or racial devotion. We must, all of us, learn actually not to have enemies, but only confused adversaries who are ourselves in disguise. It is understood by all that you are the commander in chief of the United States and are sworn to protect our beloved country; this we understand, completely. That is, he will soon be the commander in chief. However, as my mother used to say, quoting a Bible with which I often fought, hate the sin, but love the sinner. There must be no more crushing of whole communities, no more torture, no more dehumanizing as a means of ruling a peoples spirit. This has already happened to people of color, poor people, women, children. We see where this leads, where it has led.

A good model of how to work with the enemy internally is presented by the Dalai Lama, in his endless caretaking of his soul as he confronts the Chinese government that invaded Tibet. Because, finally, it is the soul that must be preserved, if one is to remain a credible leader. All else might be lost; but when the soul dies, the connection to earth, to peoples, to animals, to rivers, to mountain ranges, purple and majestic, also dies. And your smile, with which we watch you do gracious battle with unjust characterizations, distortions and lies, is that expression of healthy self-worth, spirit and soul, that, kept happy and free and relaxed, can find an answering smile in all of us, lighting our way, and brightening the world.

We are the ones—we are the ones we have been waiting for.




For the full transcript, audio and video podcasts and downloads go to:
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/11/11/pulitzer_winning_author_alice_walker_on

For the rest of today's show go to http://www.democracynow.org or http://www.youtube.com/user/mediagrrl9

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[Captainjack463]

A feminist who gives her daughter permission to have sex at 13, who ends up pregnant at 14 and then disowns her...

[blackbolt75]

This is the woman who helped destroy the black community, how ironic that she would make a fruitless speech.

[MrTeeanna]

@vedicastrol

this is true that these presidents contributed somewhat to the black community however they are all white. meaning they don't come from oppression. Obama comes from a society that works against him.

[MrTeeanna]

something is wrong in this world, for real..this hate has got to stop

if Obama is the same or not where politics goes doesn't matter... he represents an archetype that OPPRESSED young children (of all colours) can look up to and know that they can do anything in the land of the"free"!

you ignorant racists are the oppressor!!

The world would be a better place without you.

[adz09ish]

Dumb bitch Obama is just a little house Nigger, america is the same nothing has change ugly dumb bitch. Obama can go fuck himself.

[cloudyseal]

watch?v=O9BOK4uT5jE&feature=pl­ayer_embedded

[candiceevans1]

poor woman,,,she really thinks Obama is going to do something for black folk,,,he is a CIA shill of the bankers just like the white scum,,,scum is scum,,,black or white

[diegoarriaga123]

@melanatedsoul i still think it was better when all of you were slaves... jus sayin

[melanatedsoul]

@diegoarriaga123 You piece of shit you are not loved either so dont think that you hating black ppl make you special. Mother earth and the creator tired of yall assess. DEATH TO THE OPPRESSOR.

[melanatedsoul]

@blupheonix44 Shut the fuck up you stupid cracker. You dont want to see us prosper but fuck off because it is not going to happen. Mother earth and the Creator is tired of yall assess. DEATH TO THE OPPRESSOR>>