I did not expect this would happen. The day after Obama became President-elect of the United States, the world seemed like a different place. There’s now a greater sense of possibility, hope. I feel some kind of profound shift, a sense of transformations that we can’t even see yet.
Almost every African American is jubilant and bursting with pride right now. They struggled so long and hard to get to this point. When Jesse Jackson cried during Obama’s victory speech, I was moved. He was representing the feelings of many African Americans with all their years of struggle, sacrifice, perseverance against all odds. They must feel a sense of arrival, achievement, legitimacy, validation. Finally.
Oprah cried. Colin Powell cried. Even Condoleeza Rice expressed her sheer delight, excitement and pride that “as an African American, she was especially proud” of this day. She never says stuff like that.
Many of us are experiencing profound shifts. It changes the way we see Black people. It changes the way Black people see themselves. It heals centuries old racial wounds. It opens up possibilities for all minorities. Now anyone can dream of being President- black, brown, yellow, red, gay, straight, disabled, etc.
It opens up possibilities of all sorts. Anyone can do anything they set their minds to.
The world sees us in a different light. They are thrilled and impressed that the U.S. could do such a thing and are hopeful for what it means in terms of future U.S. leadership in the world.
As a half African/half white man who had an Asian step-father, spent some of his childhood in Indonesia and has a Muslim name, Obama gives reason for large parts of the world to find affinity in him.
He ran a tight campaign and brought out the best in our democracy.
He sold himself as a very capable, well-spoken, intelligent and charismatic leader who just happened to be African American.
His victory speech was excellent. When he originally ran, I was concerned about his lack of experience and seeming greenness. His victory speech however, showed calm, poise and most importantly Presidential stature.
He knows he doesn’t have all the answers and he knows he won’t be able to solve all the world’s problems in one term. But he shows vision, hope and inclusiveness that inspires, unites and hugely expands our sense of possibility.
Now I know how people felt when John F. Kennedy became President in 1960. These are exciting times! The dawn of a new era.
Yes, these are exciting times and I am happy he won. It still remains to be seen whether a woman or a non-Christian can be elected, but it certainly does open up the possibilities.