Seeking Healing, Seeing Hostility
Some at Black Family Reunion Criticize Anti-Obama Protests
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, September 14, 2009
On Saturday, tens of thousands of protesters thronged to the U.S. Capitol to angrily accuse President Obama of taking the country in the wrong direction.
A day later, in the shadow of the Washington Monument, many participants at a much smaller gathering -- the 24th annual Black Family Reunion -- said the level of hostility toward the nation's first African American president had little to do with policy differences over health care or taxes and everything to do with race.
"It' s not conducive to the coalitions we need to build in this country," said Vera Hope, 60, of Mount Rainier as she left a booth promoting health prevention. "I'm disgusted and upset by the hostility. Let's call it was it is -- it's just a disguise for right-wing racists. They are fomenting a climate of violence to provoke people."
From its inception, the two-day event has focused on healing and uplifting black families. This year's theme was "Renewing, Reviving and Reconnecting the Family Community." It featured musical performances, health screenings and motivational speakers.
Although less animated than the Saturday's protesters at the Capitol, the reunion participants were just as heartfelt as they talked about the change they want for America.
Hope, for instance, is a teacher in the District. She grew up during the tumultuous 1960s and said health-care reform is a must. She takes eight medications a day and would not be able to afford health care without insurance. "The health-care situation in the United States is deplorable," she said. "You have people who have to choose between eating and paying for their medications."
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/13/AR2009091302538.html?wprss=rss_metro
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