The 2024 presidential election motivated me to have a birthday do-over

on
At the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater Pointe in Time Emerald Gala Today marks a week since my birthday.  Its occurrence is a tremendous blessing. Because all around us are reminders about the fragility of life. To that end, my brother, who always makes a point to celebrate me, took me to the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater's Pointe in Time Emerald Gala on November 2d. That was the beginning of my birthday celebrations. And then, on my birthday itself, I got a bit of a surprise... My actual birthday was tough. It was Election Day. And, I spent the day working polls as a part of an election protection effort. My efforts were designed to protect all voters. However, deep in my heart I love my AKA sister, Kamala Harris and I hoped for her historic victory. Then, much to my chagrin and despite my efforts—and those of thousands more—she lost. In my estimation, that loss was one of the greatest setbacks in human dignity in my lifetime.  The country elected a felon and self-proclaimed, racist, ableis
0

Happy Hanukkah!

on
Menora
Menora (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
There's a show called, "Black-ish" that started this season on ABC. It has garnered a decent amount of criticism because of the title and for some of the characterizations on the show. People have thought that it oversimplifies certain issues and promotes a certain Black stereotype.

As they say in medicine, those things may be true, true, but they are unrelated.  I've seen one episode in its entirety and it reminded me of my thoughts as a little Black girl in Rochester, New York attending Twelve Corners Elementary School in Brighton, a predominantly Jewish suburb.  My best friend, Alison, was Jewish. And just like the little boy on the show, I wanted desperately to be Jewish...

As a child, Hanukah had a certain mystery and magic that Christmas seemed to lack. I was keenly aware that "the masses" celebrated Christmas because it was commercialized and there was a Santa Claus on nearly every corner shaking a bell requesting a donation for the Salvation Army. In contrast, Hanukah seemed like something that only the cool kids got to do. And it was so cool that it required neither commercials or fanfare. If you were in the in crowd, you just knew what to do.

Our "very" Christmas tree

The Attraction of Hanukah


Hanukah has eight days of gift giving. As a child, on the receiving end of gifts, that seemed that an enviable holiday. Who wouldn't exchange eight days of gifts for only one.  I read one commentator's view of Black-ish who criticized the character for wanting to exchange his religion for a Bar Mitzvah. 

However, I can say that from my perspective, I was thinking neither of religion nor heritage when I was longing to be Jewish. For me, a Christmas tree and a menorah seemed interchangeable.  I just wanted to be part of something that everyone at school was a part of.


Last year's holiday shoot


Of course there is more to Hanukah than presents and the meaning of Christmas extends way beyond one day. We're talking about the birth of the savior of the world for goodness sake. Would I really have given all of that up for the chance to play with a dreidel? You betcha!

I doubt that my experience was what Martin Luther King, Jr. and the others were hoping to overcome when they marched for integration in the 1960's, especially since he was part of the "Southern Christian Leadership Conference". However, integration has some unintended consequences. As an adult, I have learned that some of my Jewish friends grew up longing for a Christmas tree. So, I think my longing for such things is somewhat of a rite of passage.

In any event, whenever Hanukah comes, I always think fondly of my school days in Brighton and remember when I wanted to embrace this holiday as my own...

Happy Hanukah!!!

--

Comments

Post a Comment