Under the baobab: With the countdown to the election on, it’s time to stand up

“Democracy is not a state it is an action” -Rep. John Lewis

Happy Diwali. We light the Diya lamp celebrating the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. We are encouraged to remain joyful.

Congrats to Penn State’s No. 3-ranked women’s volleyball team and our No. 3 ranked football team as they prepare to take on Wisconsin. Congrats also to our local treasure, internationally renowned artist — and my mentor — Professor Grace Hampton. She celebrated her birthday with friends dining at the recently renovated world class restaurant Lionne at the Nittany Lion Inn, followed by a performance of the Eddie Palmieri Salsa Orchestra at Eisenhower Auditorium. The Center for the Performing Arts production had people dancing in the aisles. The octogenarian legend is perhaps the finest impresario of Latin and salsa jazz ever. Palmieri’s opening act was Centre Dimensions, a local orchestra, comprised of mostly grad and undergrad music majors led by director Joshua Davis.

CPA will continue their yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of Eisenhower Auditorium with Step Afrika’s “The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence,” on Wednesday, Nov. 13. It will be preceded by a special event, “The Joyful” at Alumni Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center on Sunday, Nov. 10.

I was honored to be invited back to Yale, my law school alma mater, to celebrate its 200th anniversary and the 45th reunion of our class of 1979. We got to hang out with a bunch of classmates including Associate Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Dean Heather Gerken welcomed back alumni guest speakers including Secretary Hillary Clinton (’73), Justice Kruger (’01), Judges Burington (’69), Cabranas (’65), Pamela Harris (’90) and Dabney Friedrich (’92).

This week’s SNL host, John Mulaney, (whose parents are YLS grads), hosted a panel with Professor Akhil Reed Amar (’84) and Neal Katyal (’95) on the “Textualist Approach to Constitutional Interpretation.” Former President Bill Clinton (’73) was scheduled but didn’t make it. He was out campaigning for Vice President Kamala Harris. Other notable absent alum were: Stacey Abrams (’99), Justices Alito (’75), Cavanaugh (’90), and Thomas (74); Ambassador John Bolton (’74), Senators Booker (’97), Coons (’92), Vance (‘13) and Hawley (‘06). It was exciting, and somewhat humbling to spend the weekend in that rarefied air among so many distinguished scholars and jurists discussing current events with many of those who are responsible for generating those events.

It is 10 days to the election. Pennsylvania, a highly coveted swing state, has become a magnet for the candidates and their surrogates. Republican candidate Donald Trump will appear at the Bryce Jordan Center this weekend. Democratic candidate Kamala Harris held a town hall at People’s Light and Theater in Malvern. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez spoke at The State Theatre, which filled past overflowing. Presidents Obama and Biden, Senator Vance, Governor Walz and others have made many forays into the commonwealth.

The polls indicate that Pennsylvania is still too close to call. Sisters and brothers, use your franchise or you might lose it.

I am an American, appreciative of the efforts of my fellow citizens to build a true inclusive democracy. I am an elder into my eighth decade, the oldest surviving male in my family. I am a Black man proud of my ancestry and the struggles of my people. I am a practicing Catholic and a proud card-carrying Democrat. I am a Penn State professor emeritus. I bleed blue and white. I am a writer, actor and director. I am a father, grandfather and husband for over 50 years. I believe in freedom. I do not speak for this newspaper, this university, all men or all Black people. But I believe it is time to stand up. Our beloved country is in political crisis. I fully support Vice President Kamala Harris to be President of the United States.