Author Toni Morrison endorses Obama
Author
Toni Morrison, who famously labeled Bill
Clinton
"the first black president," has endorsed Obama.
In a letter to the senator, she writes, "In thinking carefully
about the strengths of the candidates, I stunned myself when I came
to the following conclusion: that in addition to keen intelligence,
integrity and a rare authenticity, you exhibit something that has
nothing to do with age, experience, race or gender and something I
don’t see in other candidates. That something is a creative
imagination which coupled with brilliance equals wisdom."
Here’s
her full endorsement letter:
Dear
Senator Obama,
This
letter represents a first for me — a public endorsement of a
Presidential candidate. I feel driven to let you know why I am
writing it. One reason is it may help gather other supporters;
another is that this is one of those singular moments that nations
ignore at their peril. I will not rehearse the multiple crises facing
us, but of one thing I am certain: this opportunity for a national
evolution (even revolution) will not come again soon, and I am
convinced you are the person to capture it.
May
I describe to you my thoughts?
I
have admired Senator Clinton for years. Her knowledge always
seemed to me exhaustive; her negotiation of politics expert. However
I am more compelled by the quality of mind (as far as I can measure
it) of a candidate. I cared little for her gender as a source
of my admiration, and the little I did care was based on the fact
that no liberal woman has ever ruled in America. Only
conservative or "new-centrist" ones are allowed into that
realm. Nor do I care very much for your race[s]. I would not support
you if that was all you had to offer or because it might make me
"proud."
In
thinking carefully about the strengths of the candidates, I stunned
myself when I came to the following conclusion: that in addition to
keen intelligence, integrity and a rare authenticity, you exhibit
something that has nothing to do with age, experience, race or gender
and something I don’t see in other candidates. That something
is a creative imagination which coupled with brilliance equals
wisdom. It is too bad if we associate it only with gray hair and old
age. Or if we call searing vision naivete. Or if we believe cunning
is insight. Or if we settle for finessing cures tailored for each
ravaged tree in the forest while ignoring the poisonous landscape
that feeds and surrounds it. Wisdom is a gift; you can’t train for
it, inherit it, learn it in a class, or earn it in the
workplace–that access can foster the acquisition of knowledge, but
not wisdom.
When,
I wondered, was the last time this country was guided by such a
leader? Someone whose moral center was un-embargoed?
Someone with courage instead of mere ambition? Someone who
truly thinks of his country’s citizens as "we," not
"they"? Someone who understands what it will take to
help America realize the virtues it fancies about itself, what it
desperately needs to become in the world?
Our
future is ripe, outrageously rich in its possibilities. Yet
unleashing the glory of that future will require a difficult labor,
and some may be so frightened of its birth they will refuse to
abandon their nostalgia for the womb.
There
have been a few prescient leaders in our past, but you are the man
for this time.
Good
luck to you and to us.
Toni
Morrison
