I saw something tonight that I thought only my children would see in their lives: a qualified, articulate, intelligent, genuine human being elected as President of my country. And he's an African American man named Barack Obama.
Apparently so did many of my neighbors in my Bushwick, Brooklyn neighborhood. I have heard shouts of joy and screams of joy. I've heard a few gunshots (it's Brooklyn, what can I say?) and lots of fireworks. The literal ones that lit the sky and the figurative ones that popped in peoples voices as they shouted through their windows, from their rooftops and from the corners.
Seeing what has transpired this past year through a muddy election season, I am beyond emotional, excited and full of hope. I spent today scared, nervous and on the edge of tears hourly. Afraid that manipulation, fear and prejudice would rule the day. But they didn't. And for that I am proud to be an American. Maybe for the first time in my life or at least that I can count on my hand.
I do not however understand this: Why John McCain during his concession speech say that this was a moment for the African American community. I don't disagree. I believe that it is. But shouldn't we ALL as AMERICANS be proud that we've made such a monumental choice and step forward in our nation's wounded history? And what made it worse? The meek applause that greeted his commentary about it. Are those who are scared so afraid of acknowledging the reality of the world that we're living in? Get it together people. One news commentator on NBC pointed out that, "The U.S. is more multi-cultural, more multi-ethnic, multi-racial than it's ever been..." and it will only get larger and more "multi-fill-in-the-blank" here. Why is middle America and the South still so afraid of difference? If our country was going to fall into race wars, it would have done so long ago.
I don't want to end this on a negative or pessimistic or cynical note though. I am incredibly hopeful and full of faith that our world, not just our country, is changing for the better. And that we can all act in a small way to ensure that the world continues to change for the better. This is just the first step mi gente. Don't forget about our local communities, the changes we still need to make, the mobillizing we need to do and the movement that is literally only just beginning.
Si podemos y si lo hizimos. Pa'lante gente, pa'lante.
