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November 24, 2008
Posted: 06:42 PM ET

NEW YORK–Forty-five years ago today the man accused of killing President John F. Kennedy, Lee Harvey Oswald, was himself shot and killed on live television as an already stunned nation watched. I wasn’t alive then, but that moment in time, and the one just two days before it, when President Kennedy lost his life, were formative for my generation.

Ours was a childhood marked by civil rights protest, Vietnam, and of course, political assassination. Kennedy, King, Malcolm and of course, Bobby Kennedy. But the President’s death came first, and with it, parent’s full of hope for their children became instead afraid for our generation.

America’s sense of hope gave way to cynicism and fear. Now, nearly 50 years later, questions remain about who really killed President Kennedy and why. But a more important question was answered; could we survive it? And we did. President Johnson stepped bravely into the void of leadership. And our country came through that tumultuous time with grace to prove who we can be as Americans.

Now, nearly a half century later, my generation is on the cusp of power. Barack Obama was just a boy when John Kennedy died, at a time when no one believed a black man could ever become president. The fact that one has is not only a tribute to how far we’ve come. It also signals a return to the hope that was lost all those years ago.

–Jami Floyd, In Session anchor

Filed under: Jami Floyd • Last Word


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LONNIE   November 24th, 2008 7:43 pm ET

jami, i sure will be glad when your man Obama finally takes office and you get off of your soap box. Seems like everytime you have your last word you always bring up how far you have come after all those lost years. Will you be singing the same tune when he doesn’t deliver on half of his campaign promises??

Liz   November 24th, 2008 8:01 pm ET

Jami,

Having spent most of my childhood in a foreign country (because my Father was military) I LOVE America. I saw the Berlin Wall. I saw the poverty and lack of expected comforts in other countries that we Americans enjoy. We ARE the greatest Country in the world. We are truly blessed. However, for some reason, most Americans do not question our public officials about major events. We accept what we are told with little to no protest. I.E. The Kennedy Murders, The threat of Iran, and many more events too numerous to name. Americans are now demanding answers from our soon to be ex-president (as should have been done all along) to explain why he sent our young men and women into harms way. Now, the future of America has been placed into the hands of a descendant of slaves. We look to the President-elect to solve all of our problems. I can only hope He is up to the challange. I can also hope He is more honest with the American people. It has been the assumption of our elected officials, that we, the American people can not handle the truth. This leads to conspiracy theories. I too can only hope for our President-elect Barack Obama. We are truly on the cusp of a new way of doing business. Now, if only the “old guard” would step aside for TRUTH, HONESTY and what should have always been THE AMERICAN WAY!

Spider   November 25th, 2008 10:11 am ET

I have to agree with you Jami.

There is a return to HOPE, thanks to Barack Obama. He’s got a huge job ahead of him, I HOPE he can do it. If he fails, I HOPE we don’t re-elect him in four years just because he holds so much HOPE for Americans in general, and African-Americans in particular. We re-elected Dubya just because he was the kind of guy you could have a beer with. I HOPE we learned a lesson there. We don’t need just a charismatic, tell-you-what-you-wanna-hear guy, we need someone that can turn this country around. I HOPE Barack Obama is that man. If he’s not, I HOPE we can move on from The Dream and find the right one.

Spider   November 25th, 2008 12:46 pm ET

Liz-

Barack Obama is NOT a descendant of slaves. His father was an African, his mother was a white woman.

Liz   November 25th, 2008 4:33 pm ET

Spider, there were slaves in his family tree. Ok. So he was not directly a descendant of slaves. Either way, America should be proud of itself. It is time to put the civil war to bed and move on. The election of Barack Obama is the first step in bringing us together as one nation. FYI… I am not black. I am white. Blonde hair blue eyes, and proud to stand by anyone whom is brown. After the election my handiapped son told me this: “The BROWN man won mommy.” We should all be so truthful. No matter what OBAMA does, it has to be better than having an idiot as the leader of the free world!

Liz   November 25th, 2008 4:34 pm ET

Spider, there were slaves in his family tree. Ok. So he was not directly a descendant of slaves. Either way, America should be proud of itself. It is time to put the civil war to bed and move on. The election of Barack Obama is the first step in bringing us together as one nation. FYI… I am not black. I am white. Blonde hair blue eyes, and proud to stand by anyone whom is brown. After the election my handiapped son told me this: “The BROWN man won mommy.” We should all be so truthful. No matter what OBAMA does, it has to be better than having an idiot as the leader of the free world!

Susan   November 25th, 2008 6:48 pm ET

Amen, Jami. Your post is beautifully written. Please don’t let those who only wish to inject their negativity into the conversation bother you. No one is perfect, and only fools expect perfection from the new administration. There are those who wish for Obama to fail because they want nothing more than to be validated with an “I told you so.” They are ego-identified with their culture of origin and can’t imagine that anything else is valid. It’s sad and we should feel pity for those who can’t see beyond their own ideologies. The bottom line is that we all need to live together on this planet, in this country, in a way that shows we care about each other. We need to all work together— all races and creeds— and those who wish to keep trying to start fights will hopefully find there is less room and tolerance for their form of pollution.

Jean   November 25th, 2008 11:23 pm ET

Hypothetically Barack Obama, being half white and half black and elected by blacks and whites AND Hispanics AND Chinese AND Japanese AND Jews AND Christians etc. so he should be able to serve without prejudice and that means by blacks or whites or any other.

Don Benysek   November 26th, 2008 6:36 am ET

….is the Brooklyn bridge still for sale?

john boswell, sr   November 26th, 2008 11:17 am ET

Excuse me, but has anyone noticed the demeanor of the defendant.
He has had dead pan expression througout the proceedings. He has been coached to appear this way because if he showed thue emotions he would eventually give himself away.

H.E. JONES   November 28th, 2008 6:04 pm ET

Black Friday, Indeed! Terror in India! Yes
World Outrage, yes
Two American Deaths in America by Americans (Walmart), Yes
Where is the outrage?
Pogo was right, the enemy is us!

Mavis Obeng-Mensah   November 29th, 2008 2:56 pm ET

Americans have realy shown the world that they are practicing a very matured democracy. Little did anybody know that a black man would rule Americans some day to come. They exhibited tolerance and at the end of the day, Americans are living in peace. Ghanaians have 8 days more to go to the polls to vote for the next man to rule Ghana. it is my hope that we take a cue from how the Americans voted peaceful and learn from them so that our peace can be kept come december 8.

Lori   November 30th, 2008 4:17 pm ET

@LONNIE Just an “F.Y.I.”….Obama is not “Jami’s man,” he’s OUR man, he’s his OWN man, he is, whether YOU like it or not, the president elect. Secondly, Jami can say whatever the heck she WANTS on “The Last Word,” it’s an editorial. Don’t like it? Change channels during that part of her show. I happen to know that a lot of people LIKE her editorials, and a lot agree with them, as well. So although you are entitled to your opinion, it’s pretty hypocritical to be espousing yours, while being doggedly nasty about hers. If you want to be free to “speak your piece,” then you have to offer others the same unfettered right. Apart from the fact that what you said is comical, as though the Republicans have ever “come through” on all of their “promises.” I have a question for YOU….will YOU be “singing the same tune,” when he delivers much more than what you expected?

Spider   December 1st, 2008 10:40 am ET

Liz-

Not every Black man is a descendant of slaves. Barack Obama’s father was an African, as was his grandfather, great-grandfather, etc. No slaves. Barack Obama’s mother was a White woman from Kansas, USA. No slaves, unless someone in her family owned slaves.

BARACK OBAMA IS NOT A DESCENDANT OF SLAVES.

Spider   December 1st, 2008 1:44 pm ET

It is not projecting negativity when someone refuses to accept the air of ignorant positivism that this election has caused. Barack Obama is just a man, dispite the idea that he is the Second Coming. He has a big job ahead of him. He made a lot of campaign promises, not the least of which was CHANGE. That is the first promise he has abandoned. There are other promises, including Health Care and Education reform, that he has all but told us he will have to abandon or delay. I, for one, am not going to sit back and, with a warm glow, watch him run this country, without a watchful eye on him.
That is not negativity, that is realism.

John Lennon   December 1st, 2008 3:02 pm ET

I am white. How can the black people get over what happened years ago if everyone keeps gloating on the subject? The only thing i WILL say about it is i think it was a horrible way to treat people. I didn`t vote for Barack Obama but i`m willing to give anyone a chance. I have never seen a president in my 58 years do anything to help the middle class people get ahead. People need to understand that anything the president wants to do has to be approved by the senate and the house!! If what`s brought before them takes anything from them , it won`t be passed.

kerry de   December 5th, 2008 12:15 pm ET

let’s see now, petrollium emport problems,failing auto industry,federal bailout money, I hate to say it folks but its time to reinvent the car. take the bailout money and make a car that runs on batteries. detroit can build the cars and the people who work at gas stations can build the batteries. just build them , the world will buy them. and the middle east , well, we’ll talk to you later.

winston williams   December 5th, 2008 9:03 pm ET

If the OIL companies made recorded porfit then why can the BIG 3 ask the OIL companies for the money ? Why should the people be left holding the bag. When the OIL companies stand to gain the most if the Big 3 keeps making cars. I sure all companies involed can come up with something. If they put there heads togather.

LS IN KENTUCY   December 6th, 2008 1:41 pm ET

I think most of this country’s problem is watching CNN, you people seem to drive the panic in the stock market, you have to know your doing it, and I have no doubt you had a large roll in electing Mr.Obama, and now your sticking your nose into the BIG 3, your show is entirely one sided, I am suprised that the powers at be at CNN have so much control over their employees

Chris   December 8th, 2008 1:01 pm ET

This election signified something important that hasn’t been discussed as of yet. Politics is turning over to youth. Except for the Great Larry King, Wolf Blitzer, Mr. Cafferty,and a few others, of stately age, look who’s having all the heated political debates these days from both parties. Young vibrant thoughtful people. Youth who don’t see color as a divider any longer. Look as a republican who voted for Obama, (I’m 29 yrs. of age) I just wanted the best selection out of the picks. I feel this is the era we are moving into. No longer will many voters vote within party lines, but will rather blur these lines to find the best candidate. Trust repubs, I know Obama is pro choice, but let’s not get caught up in ideology. If any politician makes a move we don’t like, we the people have a right to make our voices be heard loud and clear. For the most part I voted for him, b/c unlike Bush, Obama wants to hear the voice of the people.
When I see my young repubs asking where do we go from here, I look at them and say, you are the answer.

Chris   December 8th, 2008 1:03 pm ET

One more thing let me clarify my opinion of youth. Ages 18-55.

Spider   December 9th, 2008 10:54 am ET

Chris-

It is so sweet to hear the words of a idealist. Makes one want to sing.

You will wake up from your dream one day.

Make our voices be heard loud and clear if politicians make a move we don’t like. How about if they start a war we disagree with? A lot of loud and clear voices spoke out against G.W. Bush.
How about if the only available candidate has absolutely no resume upon which to base a voting decision? My vote meant nothing this year, because the charisma of Barack Obama blinded the majority of voters. That’s all he had to sway people was his charisma, there was no resume to look at.

But, it is sweet, to hear a youngster talk in glowing terms about how
the political system of the United States is working so well. Your vote means something. A government for the people, of the people and by the people. Birds sing. Flowers bloom.

There will come a day, and it may be sooner than you want, where you will see the American public vote completely against what you think is right or where your Great Candidate dumps right in the middle of your idealism. When this day comes, remember, I TOLD YOU SO!!!!

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Sidebar takes you behind the scenes of the day's legal headlines with breaking news and in-depth analysis from In Session's anchors and correspondents.

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