It is almost 50 years to the day that Martin Luther King made his historical speech: "I have a dream..."
Lots of festivities are planned to mark this day, with 3 Democrat presidents speaking: Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
I like the 50th anniversaries... Especially the ones that have something to do with human rights, like this one or others that have impacted our lives forever.
This summer - I have been asked by members of the Kennedy family, to join them during one of their intimate family journey that united them like never before.
I have been friends with the Kennedys for years... Yet - I did not know what to expect, when I agreed to jump on a plane... Neither did they!
We all experienced the most emotional journey... Such wide range of emotions... A family seeking to find out - like many of us - where it all began: their roots.
When we went there, we were all talking about the most important days of President Kennedy 50 years ago... One of the highlights - JFK's fight for human rights (the showdown with George Wallace in Alabama, who was trying to block 2 black students, registering to a university...)
The Kennedys took pride (rightly so!) with their family, standing for "Moral Rights." And now - America has a black President: Barack Obama.
Caroline Kennedy-Schlossberg, who was with us this summer, led her family in supporting Obama for President, rather than their old time friend Hillary Clinton. In fact - I was among the few, when Barack and Michelle Obama made their big first visit to NYC, and were introduced by Ted Sorenson, JFK's speech writer. Few days later - I was among the very few guests at Jean Kennedy Smith's home in NYC, with the same Ted Sorenson, and her family members. The name "OBAMA" was all over the place...
Then - came Caroline's famous OP-ED at the NY Times, endorsing Obama.
I have been a Hillary (Clinton) friend and supporter. I still am!! So that was a disappointment for her, to say the least... After all - President Clinton was the one who appointed Jean Kennedy-Smith - the only surviving sister of JFK and RFK - as an US ambassador to Ireland!
YET... After spending this precious time, traveling with the Kennedys this summer, finding about their roots... I DO understand Caroline (supporting Obama) so much better...
There is so much similarity between the stories of an immigrant, named Patrick Kennedy who boarded a famine ship in Ireland, going after his big dream - A M E R I C A!
Same goes for Barack Obama Sr. - pushed by his step mother Sarah Obama - going all the way from Kenya to A M E R I C A: The only thing Obama Sr. (and Patrick Kennedy) had in common was their big faith and big dream...
Members of the Obama family stayed at my home last summer, while I penned the autobiography of the family. What a powerful story it is!
Mama Sarah Obama: Our Dreams & Roots
But This journey with the Kennedys this summer, cemented it what I discovered last summer: Not only the many resemblances between the Kennedys and the Obamas... The realization, that it takes lots of daring and hard work...
But, in the end, big dreams can become reality.
Only in America!
