




In the fall, Mulani is going to join Harvard and work on a degree in applied mathematics. When I asked him to tell me about his experience here in Denver, Mulani noted how much more diverse the attendance at the event was. He said, “Whether the country is ready for Barack or not, this convention is showing how rapidly this country is changing. This country has had this feel for a long time, but this is the first time that a convention is showing this reality.”
The 2008 Democratic convention has the largest number of black delegates in history, as well as Asian Americans, and also gays and lesbians. Mulani didn’t say this to me, but wouldn’t it also be a first of a sort that he is here, barely out of high school, reporting on the activism of South Asians?
There was a surprise appearance, at the evening’s end, by Obama. Tomorrow, he delivers his acceptance speech. While talking to young Mulani, I asked if he had any tips for Obama. Mulani was confident about tomorrow but it was the future he was a bit worried about. He said, “Obama is an excellent speaker, but as a debater he needs to provide a few more catchy sound bites.”
(Journalist, author and academic Amitava Kumar is professor of English at Vassar College, New York)


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