God Spare Life

Barack Obama: Doing My Part to Bring the Change We Need

When I set out to host an open house for Barack Obama, I could not have known what interesting, heart-warming, and hopeful stories I would hear from those who attended — and even one that arrived by mail from a "snow-bird" neighbor now working for Obama in Michigan:

• a Vietnam Veteran who opposes McCain
• a young woman who had decided not to vote, but learned enough at my house to decide she'll vote for Obama
• a parent of a special needs son, who's incensed over Palin "parading" her Downs baby around like a campaign prop.

What can you do to make sure your state votes "blue"?

Here are some ideas:

Kente Cloth Ceremony at Vassar College Commencement 2008

I had the honor of being invited to speak at this year's Kente Cloth Ceremony at Vassar and afterward talked with my publisher, Yvonne DiVita, about the event (including ... groan! ... the airline delays that made me late):

You can find more information on the origins, meaning, and adoption of Kente stoles as a graduation symbol at site like the Association of Black Professionals at Radford University or the Black Law Students Alliance at the University of Michigan.\

Later that day, I attended another part of the Commencement 2008 events, the Baccalaureate ceremony hosted by the Vassar Council of Black Seniors. I enjoyed it even more because my host for the weekend, Professor Joyce Bickerstaff, was honored for her years of service to Vassar.

She's been on the faculty since the year I graduated (1971), played an important role in building the Africana Studies program, and is currently Associate Professor of Education and Africana Studies.

According to information on the program,

"the Baccalaureate service originated in a statute of 1432 at Oxford University, requiring each graduate to deliver a sermon in Latin. Over the years, the Baccalaureate has come to signify a sermon of farewell to a graduating class. Historically, Vassar participated in this practice, however during the 1960s the tradition was lost. In 1991 the Council of Black Seniors rejuvenated the service as a Commencement weekend event."

This year's Vassar Baccalaureate was entitled "By Any Means Necessary" (Wikipedia entry on the origin of the phrase) and Reverend Dr. Michael Eric Dyson gave the address.

Afterward, I had the opportunity to meet him, give him a copy of my book, and get my picture taken.

All in all, a wonderful day.

How can you help make diversity happen?

The AAOS made this wonderful video to help introduce me as this year's Diversity Award winner. But my hope is that you'll see this as more about how each person can contribute to changing things for the better:

Video courtesy AAOS

My Sister Said ...

Here's what happened when I learned I had kidney cancer:

As Catherine said on the video, it's so important for everyone to learn all they can about becoming an organ donor. Some great online resources include the National Foundation for Transplants and the National Kidney Foundation (which has posted a review of my book by heart transplant recipient Jim Gleason).