Jenny Triplett Explains the Obama Rainbow Connection
Growing up in a free country I was always told of its greatness and the opportunities set before me and doors that have been opened due to the blood, sweat, tears, and even activism of my ancestors. My ancestry was a little different than what would be expected of a little brown girl in this country where shades of snow existed in my upline.
After serious reflection over President Obama’s childhood and life, there seemed to be several similarities that could not be ignored. Although we are of no blood relation of any kind known to me at this time, the similarities of our lives are striking. He was raised by his Caucasian maternal grandparents and his paternal grandparents were African. My maternal grandparents were of an Indian descent and my paternal grandparents were of mixed ancestry which included Irish.
President Obama was active in politics and organizing during his schooling as was I and I served on student unions and the executive board as vice president of the student council. Speeches and debate were a part of the experience to which I have grown fond of spirited debates.
Fast forward into the present as I further explain the connection. President and Mrs. Obama were married Oct 3 20 years ago. My husband and I are celebrating 23 years of marriage on the 27th of October. Fall is a great season for love and romance as the President has been reported to be very affectionate and hopeless romantic by the First Lady Michelle.
The Obamas have graced the cover of Ebony Magazine several times within the four years of his presidency and will again with the November Issue. I am far from a celebrity but my husband and I were fortunate enough to be selected as Couple of the Year by Ebony Magazine and appeared in the February 2012 Issue. In the story highlighting our marriage, I mentioned that our love is comparable to the first couple’s.
During the course of my work for the incarcerated and my activism of fighting mass incarceration I have been fortunate enough to receive a letter from President Obama as well as two emails. This recognition by him and his administration confirms the adulations he has received by the masses that he does actually care. These colorful tidbits that I can use to contrast our lives are small but plentiful. They are enough for me to see the rainbow of hope that he has brought to a little brown girl such as me. For that I will forever feel the connection he has brought to this world in a rainbow of colors.
Jenny Triplett is co-Editor-in Chief of Prisonworld Magazine and co-host of the Prisonworld Radio Hour as well as a requested speaker for correctional facilities, non-profit organizations, schools, radio and TV shows and print magazines. For more information on interviews contact Jenny Triplett 678-233-8286 or [email protected].
