Comments on: Obama, the Porch, and Grandpa Roscoe

By: PeaceZGood

PeaceZGood — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:14:04 +0000

That was beautiful writing, Darrin, and a beautiful experience.

By: karenjoycekleinman

karenjoycekleinman — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:06:32 +0000

I also heard the stories of people of color who did die before being able to see this day come. The man I spoke of had a wife, and their love story was very touching. The wife also told me of her experiences, and that was also horrific. She was a sweet person and – ironically – an artist. But, her art was always private. Black artists back then had it very difficult to make any name for themselves. I think and correct me if I am mistaken, Darrin, you are the FIRST Black cartoonist to be syndicated by TWO different syndicates in America? You also have the Rudy Park series, right? I’d like to know how it was for YOU to see this day come? You also must have had some pretty touching stories. Again I say, why not write an autobiography? You could certainly illustrate it- I guess. (Tongue in cheek humor, or as my grandkids call it, “Groaners”).

By: karenjoycekleinman

karenjoycekleinman — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:45:10 +0000

I, too am proud of Roscoe. I knew someone like him but he didn’t have the exact same story. I heard the story of how his ancestors were house slaves and then railroad workers, hammering stakes into the ground for the first train tracks. This person I knew was sad that his ancestry was mixed with American Indian but that because Black people were not allowed birth certificates that show that, he could never prove it. But, you could see it in his calm demeanor and cheekbones. The person I knew did say something about the military, but emphasized how much he loved his wife and how far he traveled to get her. When I think of how he must have felt on election night, that also brings tears to my eyes. I wonder how that man is. I lost track of him many decades ago, but I still remember his enthralling tales of how it was for a person of color back “in the days” before the 60’s. (That was my era of exposure to social injustice and discrimination). Please tell your grandpa Roscoe that all your readers love him, and are very happy that he was able to see this day come. There is a song with words of that effect. It’s been a long time coming, but I know my days were gonna come. This will go down in history books for children who will marvel that the terrible things that happened ever could have really existed. Unbelievable.

By: Darrin Bell

Darrin Bell — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 23:49:18 +0000

He is a great man. And I could see that when Obama told the story of the 106 year-old woman, my grandpa felt as if he was talking about him. Thanks, I’ll let him know what you thought!

By: Ken

Ken — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:57:04 +0000

Roscoe sounds like a great man. America has a lot of heroes like your grandfather. I often thought about those heroes during the election when people repeated stories about McCain’s service. I’ve always respected McCain’s service but was uneasy about the argument that heroism qualified him for high office. Too many men and women of color served their country only to be denied the right to vote, move into the neighborhood of their choice or even dine in a restaurant.
It’s already been noted that Obama rose to the presidency on the shoulders of people like Roscoe. I admire Martin Luther King but I’m always frustrated that my students fail to note the role of countless citizens who faced dogs, fire hoses, police batons and other intimidation but never yielded their right to vote. I loved that Obama paid homage to these small soldiers in the civil rights movement. On the surface those heroes are hard to recognize and often overlooked. I they enjoyed the moment last night.
Pilots make a contribution but the battle is often won on a much less glamorous field of battle.

Let your grandfather know he’s got a least one fan back in east Texas.