After the 2008 election of Pres. Obama, a new rug was layed in the Oval Office (I assume at his request). Several historical quotes are woven into that rug including one from Martin Luther King Jr.: "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice."

Those words, echoed by Dr. King, are in fact the words of 19th century abolitionist and Unitarian minister..Theodore Parker.

In the past, I've mentioned that my Southern roots run deep on both sides of my family. From Georgia to Florida to Alabama and Louisiana, a sizeable number of my kinfolk still reside in those four states, in particular, the state of Alabama.

Alabama was the birthplace of both of my maternal Great-grandparents, my maternal Grandparents, and my mother.

Simply put- the state of Alabama broke my grandfather's heart as a direct result of Jim Crow and other pervasive forms of dehumanizing and racially discriminatory societal norms at that time, especially in the South. Eventually he and his brothers had no choice but to leave the South altogether in search of a better life.

As very young men, my grandfather and his otder brothers actively served on the front lines in WW II only to return home to Alabama and find themselves once again subjected to White Supremacy crap that led to German POWs being treated better than returning Black soldeirs who were slapped in the face with that ugly reality. .

Till the day he died, my grandfather was so conflicted about his home-state. He loved Alabama. He wanted to be proud of where he came from. And though he and his brothers had put their very lives on the line not just for America but also for the state of Alabama…the sad truth is…back home they were made to feel like their Courage and sacrifices meant nothing.

My grandfather was a man of great character, patience, wisdom and insight. I remember the many talks we had throughout my life. I treasure all of the words of wisdom he passed on to me. I especially remember talking with him one beautiful summer evening about news reports of how much the South had supposedly "changed" for the better. Alabama leaders were especially proud to claim that "It's NOT like it used to be. We've come a long way in race relations."

Alabama even took offense to CNN reporting that parts of Central Pennsylvania IS commonly referred to as "Littel Alabama" because all of the racist BS that's still so evident in that region of PA.

So I asked my grandfather what he thought of the "Change".? He paused what he was doing and then said in a disappointing voice. "Don't believe that lie, Ma" ("Ma" was his nickname for me). He went on to say "I don't care how much they SAY it's changed. It ain't changed that much." It's Oct. 2015 and my grandfather's words still seem to ring True.

They (haters, racists and bigots) know their days of dominace are numbereed. That's why their elected officials are trying Desperately to hold onto power by ANY means necessary. They are scared sh*tless.

But you can't stop Destiny so I'll continue to believe: "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice."