The failure to stop Proposition 8, California’s anti-gay marriage legislation, was a sad and sobering moment.

Sad as it furthered this nation's attempt at parceling out and denying certain freedoms of citizenship.

It was sobering because it happened during a historic election.

On the same night the nation elected its first African American president -- for the first time in 40 years it rid itself of Republican rule, embraced the idea of change and said no to dirty and divisive politics as well as war- and fear-mongering ideologues -- California stripped gays of their marital rights.

It was an enormous slap in the face to the gay community, who overwhelmingly turned out to support Barack Obama. And it was even more of a slap in the face considering that 70 percent of black voters in California voted in favor of the bigoted Proposition 8. So at the same time gays were casting a vote for a black man the black community was voting to strip them of their rights. Ouch!

In the last two weeks, there has been a growing rift between the black and gay communities. In some cybercircles, it has been all consuming -- forget about the fact that the Mormons funded the proposal or the KKK is using this presidential election as a recruitment tool. 

And the debate has been divisive and ugly. Gays blaming black bigotry. And black folks, many of whom haven't seen the inside of a church in years, cloaking their narrowmindedness in the Lord.

And just like that, this fragile new American Democratic majority has already been weakened. We are compromised, and it hasn't even been two weeks.

It's been so long since the Democrats have been in the majority perhaps we've lost sight of what we have to lose. If that's the case, think Bush, or even worse think Sarah Palin, for chrissakes.

This Democratic coalition is equally comprised of gays, blacks, progressives, Asians, Native Americans, and all the other under-represented, disenfranchised folks in this country. As individual groups, none of us can approach 20 percent.

Our alliance is based upon this marginalization. Our weakness is our inability to connect the dots.

Homophobia is a legitimate issue within the black community. Racists and classists are out there, regardless of sexual orientation. The No on Prop 8 folks should have campaigned where they needed the votes. They knew they needed those votes but did not bother campaigning in black communities. Instead, it appeared as if they relied on a voice-over by actor Samuel Jackson comparing gay marriage to interracial marrying. Their ads were aimed at their base.

In their defense the No on Prop 8 folks were outspent two-to-one by Utah-based Mormons.

Proposition 8 was not simply about gay marriage. It was a test. It was a test to see how easily this new coalition could be divided. It was a test to see if the old wedge tactics were still viable. It was a test. And we failed.

Will we falter just as easily when the issues, and they will, of immigration reform, abortion or racial disparities within the criminal justice system crop up?
 
This election cycle was not about a black presidential candidate, or a gay-friendly one, or  one who relates to young people, or the son of an African immigrant, it was about the America of tomorrow and the America of yesteryear.

It is about the sum of us -- all of us marginalized people -- and the fact that we are now the clear majority of the electorate. And, for one election at least, we had a unified voice.

Our challenge is harnessing and protecting this political power. It is about getting over our own baggage to protect the whole.

Prop 8 exposed the fundamental vulnerability of this union. It was disappointing, but is also gives us the opportunity to begin the dialogue. If we, and I mean all of us, can get passed this plantation mentality, we might be stronger in the end.

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