When I woke up on Wednesday, Nov. 5, change had a new meaning.
On that particular day, change meant that even the most far-fetched, unrealistic, or even highly unlikely notion is possible. On that day change meant that America has stepped out of the singular box that has been customary of our nation for the eight years that George W. Bush has been president. As the world rejoiced at this year’s presidential election results, change meant quite simply that — change, a time for something new.
Change now has a new meaning because Sen. Barack Obama is the United States’ first African-American elected president.
Although I was relatively optimistic about Obama winning the election, I also questioned whether or not this country was truly ready to elect someone based on their skill set and vision as opposed to their race. Fortunately for all of us, America is finally ready for change and we proved it by electing Obama to the office of president.
When I initially saw that Obama won, time froze. My world actually stopped for a brief moment and then the tears fell. The tears were a combination of things: joy, optimism, relief and hope.
Obama’s election instantly makes me think of those who came before us. My mind went back to integral Black forces from Harriet Tubman to Medgar Evers who dedicated their lives for the advancement of Black people. Of course I also thought of the civil rights era and how so many Blacks were denied rights, viciously assaulted, doused with fierce water hoses, attacked by dogs, beaten, hanged, and killed — all for what happened on Nov. 4. We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us and sacrificed for a greater cause — it’s because of them that what America experienced on Election Day is possible. All Blacks have ever wanted is to be considered equal. Though this country still has a tremendously long way to go relative to race relations, we’ve certainly made the first step by electing Obama.
While I don’t have any children yet, I do understand the importance this election plays in their lives. I remember when I was in elementary school looking through my history books and never seeing a Black face among the country’s presidents. At that early age I remember feeling that not seeing a face that looked like mine was because it was something that was beyond Blacks; not because of any limitations of our own, but because no one gave us a chance. I sincerely remember thinking that I would never live to see a Black president of the United States — I believed that at an age when children shouldn’t have such worries on their minds.
Now however, when our children look in their textbooks they will see a face that is reflective of them. They’ll have hope early on that anything is possible for our people. In addition, when African-Americans tell our children that they can be anything that they want to be, we can do so with deep sincerity because we now know that anything is really possible.
I’ve never seen such voter enthusiasm in all my life, nor have I seen such worldwide delight and praise in an American president-elect. From the villages of Kenya to the streets of London, people all over the world were celebrating Obama’s win. This is not just an American thing, it’s a world thing — something that people all over can rejoice about.
I have a special message to all African-Americans reading this editorial: It is time to step up and do better for ourselves. This is an entirely new and different level and there are no more excuses for why we can’t do anything we want to do. We need to recognize the magnitude of Obama’s win and what that means for us as a people — we’re getting our chance.
I sincerely hope that Blacks are motivated and encouraged by Obama. We are currently at the promised land that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke about more than four decades ago — it’s up to us however, to obtain our part of the pie.
