Larry Elder: Do You Need Obama to Believe? (Must Read!)

Townhall ^ | November 06, 2008 | Larry Elder

[2ndDivisionVet]

"Does Obama's victory, as a black man, make you feel that you can do anything?" Someone asked me that on election night.

It is a caricature of America that, pre-Obama, major obstacles blocked achievement. It is equally a caricature that Obama's win suddenly creates opportunity that did not exist before.

Hard work wins, my dad always told me. My Republican father, who disdained Democrats who "give people something for nothing," taught my brothers and me to work hard, stay focused, live within our means, and at all times avoid self-pity. My mom and dad always said, "Ninety percent of the people don't care about your problems. And the 10 percent are glad it's you."

Born in Athens, Ga., and eventually raised in Chattanooga, Tenn., my dad never knew his biological father. The only father figure in his life was harsh, distant and cold. His mother, because he made "too much noise" for her then-boyfriend, threw him out of the house at age 13.

So this penniless boy, living in the Jim Crow South as the Great Depression loomed, started knocking on doors. He finally got a job running errands and tending the yard for a white family. One day, the family's cook failed to show up. But my dad, having watched her in the kitchen, whipped up a passable meal. The family let the other helper go, and a cook was born.

Seeking more money, my dad applied for and got a job on the railroads as a Pullman porter -- then the country's largest private employer of blacks. He traveled all over the country, making a mental note of California because, he says, its beauty and warm weather seemed open and inviting, and the people seemed more fair.

World War II broke out. My dad enlisted as a Marine. He served as a cook and became a sergeant. The military ultimately stationed him on Guam as we prepared to invade the islands of Japan, an invasion that never took place because of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

My dad returned to Chattanooga, where he went to an employment office. The lady at the desk told him he walked through the wrong door, directed him back out to the hall, and told him to enter through the "colored only" door.

"That's it," he angrily told my mom, whom he had just married. "I'm going to California, and in a few days, I will send for you."

My father arrived in Los Angeles and went from restaurant to restaurant to find work. "Sorry," he was told, "you have no references." "Sorry, you have no credentials." "Sorry …" He, of course, knew why.

He went to an employment office. The woman said, "We have no openings." My dad said, "I'll sit until you do." He sat in that office from opening until closing for a day and a half. Finally, the woman called him to the desk and said: "I have a job. It's for a janitor. Do you want it?"

My dad worked at that job for nearly 10 years, while working a second full-time job for nearly as long and cooking for a white family on the weekends. He somehow managed to go to night school to get his GED and save enough money, while in his 40s, to start a small cafe near downtown Los Angeles.

He ran the cafe, which provided my brothers and me weekend and summer jobs, until he was in his 80s. One day, my dad and I decided to clean out the garage. We found a letter he wrote to my older brother, then 2 years old. My dad said he feared that if something happened to him, my brother would need guidance:

May 4, 1951

Kirk, my Son, you are now starting out in life -- a life that Mother and I cannot live for you.

So as you journey through life, remember it's yours, so make it a good one. Always try to cheer up the other fellow.

Learn to think straight, analyze things, be sure you have all the facts before concluding, and always spend less than you earn.

Make friends, work hard, and play hard. Most important of all remember this -- the best of friends wear out if you use them.

This may sound silly, Son, but no matter where you are on the 29th of September (Kirk's birthday), see that Mother gets a little gift, if possible, along with a big kiss and a broad smile.

When you are out on your own, listen and take advice but do your own thinking and concluding, set up a reasonable goal, then be determined to reach it. You can and will, it's up to you, Son.

Your Father,

Randolph Elder

Dad is now 93 and, thankfully, still with us.

So, yes, Obama's historic victory makes a statement about the long, hard, bloody journey. Obama makes people believe. Some of us always did.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Isn't that great?

[ari-freedom]

perhaps many black people will feel that they can do anything now that Obama is president. It could be a big push for them to strive for something greater.

Unfortunately his policies will keep them down.

[vwatto]

I never put much thought into his race. It’s his political philosophy that bothered me.

Anything can be acheived with a national media backing you 110%.

[Yaelle]

Larry has spoken about his father's life many times. Larry's mother was also a class act, also alive until a few years ago, and made a regular Friday appearance on his show as his Chief Justice, commenting on that week's news with her unique common sense perspective.

Larry has been taking it on the chin this week, before, during, and after the election, from two of his co-talk hosts on KABC L.A. because he did not agree with their voting Obama though they claim to be conservatives.

Larry is an amazing man and a very sincere and principled talk show host. I don't agree with him on everything but he's been a favorite of mine for years and I am proud to have met him twice. He gets it about the country, the Constitution, self reliance, and both kinds of "racism that dare not speak its name" today: black on white racism, and the white on black racism of low expectations (seen in all the white libs for Obama who would never have looked twice at an inexperienced socialist junior Senator from Illinois who happened to be white.

[Republic of Texas]

What is this water in my eyes? That was incredible.

[Jezebelle]

Beautiful story.

Larry Elder is probably a great man. His dad was.

Thanks for sharing that.

[Jezebelle]

Nobody can keep anybody down in a free society. It is what you make it. But his policies will allow them to stay down without shame.

[beaversmom]

That was a great piece. Glad you posted it.

[mrsmel]

What an inspiring story. We could all learn from his father.

[Westlander]

Basic morals. Elder speaks that.

[singfreedom]

Wonderful, true American story. Blacks, who did not vote for Obama, have to be some of the most courageous people in the country!

Thanks for the post. It's a keeper.

[cricket]

Larry's letter is great and I am so very glad his Father can witness his success.

And yes, while Obama offers a 'great and profound example' (not that his life really touches American Blacks)of a man with his 'Black family'; suceeding, and entering the 'White House' it has it's bitter ironies as well.

The biggest is the disappointment and disenfranchisement of so many, that Obama will insure. Might add, this is a 'real' and sinister disempowement, of a kind that Obama never had to overcome; but educated himself too, nonetheless.

A fraudulent education; which has 'informed him' and one by turn; guides him in his plan for America's 'Change'.

[AmericaUnited]

Wow! Just spectacularly awesome!

Part of the "Greatest Generation".

[AmericaUnited]

You are a total and complete ass! Just stunning how you are so quick to puke all over this great story and man. MAGGOT!

[cricket]

Core values are more important than 'fine education'. This was a huge problem with the 'Left elite'; who, while they supposedly enjoy the benefits of 'finer education'; they also share what is the 'darkest of ignorance'. (Celebrity elites, share only the latter here. . .)

These 'elites' hated Sarah Palin; and ignoring her accomplishments; her qualities; could only whine. . .'what does Sarah know! Where did she go to school,snif-snif'. . .All missing the more important point, that one who is gounded in 'core values'; has the best 'bedrock' from which they make decision; build their future and guide others to do the same.

Leadership without 'values' is dangerous; we have seen and experienced these dangers and way too much, from values-impaired Democrat Leadership.

And we are about to see; experience and suffer a great deal more. . .

[cricket]

‘grounded’. . .have to get my ‘r’ fixed!

[joeystoy]

If you don’t think that color held men back in previous generations you’re the reason why so many of us are tarred with the same racist brush. We can all recognize that racism has and still does play a role in American society without accepting it as an all-purpose excuse for every individual shortcoming.

This is a beautiful story about a great man.

Bravo Larry.

[cricket]

Lary's Father was NEVER held back! That is his point. . .'work, believe. . .move forward. . .and don't look back' and you WILL succeed. Larry is NOT writing of his Father's failure. . .he is writing of his Father's success and the invaluable 'life-lessons' his Father shared by way of his life choices; and lessons shared by his example.

Lessons; timeless values; that speak to everyone. . .

Sad if not pathetic, that you missed it.

[joeystoy]

You’re an imbecile.

He never said that the war was won solely because of the nuclear attacks. Only that it prevented a full-scale invasion of the Japanese mainland costing many more American and Japanese lives. My father was part of the D-Day invasion and the Battle of the Bulge. In the spring and summer of 1945 he was preparing to be shipped to the Pacific to take part in the invasion. Hiroshima and Nagasaki made that trip unnecessary, thankfully.

[Tax-chick]

I’ve been a fan of Larry Elder for years. His father’s advice is what everyone needs. I especially liked, “90% of people don’t care about your problems, and the other 10% are glad it’s you.”

[Adams]

Bump for The Sage. Pearls of wisdom, indeed.

Oh yah, and NathanZachary, you should read your history before letting your fingers do the walking all over your keyboard.

[djf]

It is a caricature of America that, pre-Obama, major obstacles blocked achievement.

This struck me. The founders wrote rules. Those rules were not easily changed. Those rules were not to be violated.

A bunch of white guys made rules that enabled a black man to be president.

Good or bad, nobody anymore anywhere on the planet can say it was unfair.

[tupac]

I’m just curious here, but have you ever been to Guam? I mean, it’s about two-thousand miles from anywhere and not a very convenient place to attack from, in the sense that an aircraft carrier is a very convenient attack platform. Guam is and has always been a staging area and a base of projecting strength, just like the man said. A base to prepare to invade from.

In my military career I was stationed and transited from Guam throughout the western Pacific. So I’ve looked at the maps and studied the history and I believe that your statement is a result of too much substance abuse possibly ongoing.

And you are a racist asshat too. CYA

[Bikkuri]

Wow, that was motivational! Very moving :)
Believe it or not, I have been on here much longer than people think ;) And I almost always agree with your posts (99.999999%) ;)

I hope your father lives to be 200+yo so he can tell stories and teach the great-great-great grand kids about morals, that are very rare anymore.

I stand behind you, and I will never give up on hope for the future.

Thank you :)

[autumnraine]

Kind of hard to get an education in that time, on your own and being black.

Now in 2008, things aren’t that way, but in the 1940’s, you are completely ignorant to the way of the world for blacks.

[AmericaUnited]

He didn’t make that point YOU IDIOT!

[Question Liberal Authority]

perhaps many black people will feel that they can do anything now that Obama is president. It could be a big push for them to strive for something greater.

Unfortunately his policies will keep them down. Many of those inspired will not be looking at the government to solve their problems. When Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947, it inspired millions of people. Those millions didn't all become baseball players.

[Covenantor]

..but in the 1940’s, you are completely ignorant to the way of the world for blacks.

Oh really. Not denying it was difficult but you really should check your history. Just from Washington DC, Dunbar High School est. 1870 was a magnet school for Blacks before there were magnet schools. Do a search to find just a smattering of it's distinguished grads. Spingarn is another onein DC

George Washington Carver was born a slave yet educated himself.

Your benign racism is showing...are you now or have you ever been a Democrat?

;>)

[BornToBeAmerican]

That was awesome.

iI particularly ] liked this one: Always spend less than you make.

Very good advice

[WoodstockCat]

Dude.

Learn history before posting.

[ALPAPilot]

Fatherhood was decimated by slavery. When Lincoln wouldn’t let the democrats keep slavery, the came up with Jim Crow. When the republicans wouldn’t let them keep that. The democrats gave us no-fault divorce and welfare. After the republicans gave us welfare reform, now the liberals try to give us gay marriage. Now finally, finally, Blacks in California have said ENOUGH to the enemies of fatherhood.

I thank the Lord every day for my father, Larry’s father and every other father who takes his responsibility seriously. It is what will allow the country to survive.

[truthkeeper]

I always love it when Larry talks about his dad. His late mother too...a wise, wonderful woman.

Elderado BTTT

[sodpoodle]

Thank you for another great post!!

There are many superb, conservative, pro-America black intellectuals who could have been elected as the first black POTUS.........however, they have one character flaw...

HUMILITY!!!!

This is the quality that separates conservatives from socialists and is one reason we have never found...black or white...the *perfect* candidate since Ronald Reagan. He was also a humble human being, but had just enough *showmanship* experience to put himself *out there*.

For all his irascibility, even John McCain retained a certain humility and misplaced respect for his diabolical opponent.

If only Michael Steele had a thicker resume - he is our antidote to this sad state of affairs.

JMHO
sod

[autumnraine]

Benign racism. Because I acknowledge that a black man kicked out of his house at the age of 13 would struggle in the 1940’s.

Ok then.

[cyborg]

I felt like I could do anything because my parents came here with nothing and became something.

[PjhCPA]

perhaps many black people will feel that they can do anything now that Obama is president. It could be a big push for them to strive for something greater.

I thought of this also. It's the only positive thing I could see coming out of this election. Okay...maybe it will wake up the GOP too.

[Peet]

It is a caricature of America that, pre-Obama, major obstacles blocked achievement.

Hmmm... Years ago the Mrs. subscribed to a glossy monthly magazine (now defunct) that did stories about and around New England.

They did a story about Vietnamese refugees in Providence R.I. The author included a vignette where a young Vietnamese man polishing his new car was accosted by a black youth. The story boiled down to why do you have a new car and I can't even get a junker? The young Vietnamese man was absolutely baffled why the black youth living his whole life in the land of opportunity would not get two jobs and have the new car.

They thought they were talking to each other, but really were talking past each other.

P.

[LittleBillyInfidel]

Randolph Elder is a great American, Role Model, and Man. I wish I had the honor of meeting him.

[Osage Orange]

I second that........

Obama is all symbolism....no substance.

[Crolis]

Great story!

[happygrl]

white on black racism of low expectations (seen in all the white libs for Obama who would never have looked twice at an inexperienced socialist junior Senator from Illinois who happened to be white.

Geraldine Ferrano got hell for pointing this out.

Good post.

BTW, are the co-talk show hosts John&Ken ? I caught them only a few times recently, and was surprised at their hostility to McPalin.

[calenel]

“perhaps many black people will feel that they can do anything now that Obama is president.”

Perhaps even voting Republican.

[Yaelle]

No, he is on against J&K (another station). He got into it with his two co-worker hosts on KABC who voted Obama: Doug McIntyre and Al Rantel. He beat their butts with grace and honesty though.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Great post!

[dbz77]

perhaps many black people will feel that they can do anything now that Obama is president. It could be a big push for them to strive for something greater. Unfortunately his policies will keep them down.

Larry Elder would be a much better President than Barack Obama.