Tonight, I saw history. Barack Obama won the Presidential election. What a great night! G made hors devours and the three of us gathered in front of the TV to bask in it’s warmth and glow. In a strange way, as we watched a 50 something inch TV, it felt remarkably like the sixties. There was a feeling in the air that we were part of something. We took part in the process, and this time, the good guy won! It was cool. We let Kaiya say up but she didn’t last too long. Still real cute hearing her say Barack Obama though.
There were a few key moments that I will always remember:
- All the networks trying to out do each other. CNN winning with the hologram spectacle.
- Tom Brokaw.
- G leaving the room and the announcement being made at 8:05 and me yelling for her to get downstairs.
- All the people in Chicago.
- All the people all over the nation. Black and white. Lots of crying and celebrating. It was refreshing to see.
- Jesse Jackson in the crowd crying. Was he crying because a few months back he said he wanted to “castrate” the most popular black man in America since MLK?
- How calm Barack seemed in his speech. It made me feel calm too.
- Frustrated that most African American media or media guest seems to emphasize Barack’s victory as a win for African Americans first and foremost before a win for all of America.
- Most except for David Paterson who was absolutely brilliant in his commentary of the events. How informative and gracious he was.
I’m glad it went down like this. We, as Americans, deserve it. Now please God, watch over him.
And us.
The following is the closing of Barack’s victory speech from Chicago. The whole speech can be seen and read here.
This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time – to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth – that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:
Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.