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makes me wanna holler, michigan and presidential race, obama campaign billboard in michigan vandalized, obama phone banking
by vivrant thang on obama phone banking experience and michigan fuckery
I had been complaining to my Twitter fam (where you should be following a sista if you want more updates than you get here!) about how much I was dreading the forced strongly suggested phone banking for Obama that I had to do at my 9-5.
In short, I’d rather stick two needles in each eye.
You know I’m down for the cause. I’d just strongly prefer to do anything else other than cold calling. It just takes me back to my college days and the one week I survived hawking lawn care services.
*shudders at the memory*
Besides, I know how I am when I am tricked into picking up the phone and a telemarker is on the other end. Nothing nice.
However, I had to take one for the team and do my part. Bottom line is, Obama will not win this thing without the full support of our folks. Real talk.
So they gassed our heads encouraged us by saying that our target group, Michigan retirees from our organization, had been polite overall, even when telling us and O Man to kick rocks.
Okay, good to know.
When I walked in for my shift, first thing I noted was that they had snacks. YES! I grabbed what I needed, sat down and got started. I felt good. Involved. Needed.
I should mention that my schedule was carefully and strategically chosen: 2:30 to 4. I knew it would be hit or miss.
Talked to several answering machines and left bright and sunny messages informing them of our proud support of O Man and telling them they bets to do the same if they want to keep reaping their retirement benefits should join us on Nov 4.
When I did get a live person, if their response was negative, it was in fact done politely. Okay, I can deal with that. There were a few people who told me about how they were personally involved in the campaign. Fantastic! One Detroit man proclaimed, “That’s my man!” Alright now! He’s ours too.
Should have known it was all a dream.
I had a funny feeling before I dialed the number. Gave my short spiel which ended by asking the man if I could count on his support on November 4.
“I wouldn’t vote for that ni99er for nothin!!”
Dial tone.
I’m not naive by any stretch of the imagination so I know people have encountered worse, directly and indirectly. For me personally, I was done. A feeling of overwhelming sadness I just can’t explain immediately washed over me and stayed there until I closed my eyes last night. Call me fortunate, but I guess I’ve been sheltered.
Growing up in the inner city of Jersey City, NJ, spending my formative years in the burbs, attending college in North Carolina, and now residing in the DC Area for the past ten years have fortunately provided me with a “safe haven” from that kind of direct attack. Sure, many a pinch-nosed broad has looked at me cock-eyed, silently asking, “What is this niggra doing in our fine establishment?” I usually just give her the meanest side eye I can muster and keep on stepping. After all, she’s working for me while I’m in that store – if I choose to stay there that is.
Some might say this man was not directly calling me the “n” word but it sure as hell felt like it! And that shit didn’t feel good at all. I wonder how I would have reacted had he stayed on the phone. Of course we’re told not to engage in any hostile conversations. Would I have said eff all that and unleashed the angry black woman on him? Would my occasional passive-aggressive persona taken over? Don’t know.
I guess we may see next week if I decide to give this another try. Apparently, I may run into more of that as we continue trying to reach our members in this important battleground state since I woke up to hear about this on the news this morning.
Not surprising in the least.
How many days of this are left?
Funny thing is, when he wins it will be just the beginning. We have not even begun to see the hell we’re going to catch with a Black man in the White House.
It will be worth it to look at this all day:
SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE 
I think, in the back of our minds, we all know the deal. But to see these words on this page, serves as a reminder of what we are really facing.
I have done work with the Obama campaign and I couldn’t bring myself to do the phone work…for this reason. Because I knew I would run into this type of thing, and my skin is not thick enough to handle it.
I’m not surprised @ all. Ignorance abounds in this country. Obama and what he and his family represents is worth it though. Thanks for your hard work.
I am so sorry you had to go through that sis.
I have been in that unfortunate position of being the recipient of such hateful words a couple of times – you will be surprised what you learn from those experiences and what could come out of you. Being from Canada, I think a lot of people tend to think that we (black men and women) do not encounter such ignorance. We all have to remember that we are much stronger than that ball of hatred being perpetrated on us. That is where the ignorance derives from – the notion that “they” know that WE are a powerful people and nothing can stop us. Keep your head up girl, don’t let “them” bring you down…
Cowards are everywhere. I can’t wait until Nov. 4th.
Don’t be discourage there are plenty of idiots out there, but they are just trying to derail progress…
OBAMA 08′
Stay strong, sister.
A change is gonna come.
I was watching CNN the other day and they were talking about a poll they took to find out if race would be a big factor in the election. I sat there like, ummmm, yes. We all know they didn’t need a poll to come up with the answer to that question. Like you said, it’s only going to get worse after November 4. I think Barack is strong enough to handle it, but it was be nice if he didn’t have to.
Thanks to everyone for their words of encouragement. Nobody said this would be easy. Change never is.
Nothing ever surprises me any more! I remember I was in Northern GA conducting diversity training for a co. I used to work for. At the end of the training, everyone had to write something nice about everyone in the circle. So I get my little note someone wrote about me and it said…”She’s ok for a colored”.
BLOWN AWAY.
I’m like, hello???? This was a diversity training? I had to push back the tears after reading that note…I had never had any blatant disrespect like that before..
Btw..Jersey City?? I grew up in Hoboken & Brooklyn!