Last night I screamed myself silly and wept tears of joy until this morning I sound like a raspy old wino. No matter. Because every tear was for my mother and father—who didn’t make it to see this world event… the election of a man who was finally judged by the content of his character and not the color of his skin. It said something so profoundly wonderful about this America… because not one group made this happen.
Seas of people, black, white, brown, young, old, straight, gay, rich, poor, educated, less educated, employed, unemployed—the gamut of the human Diaspora in a wonderful rainbow of hues and complex ideologies stood up together and said loud and clear and with authority—“Yes we can!”
I took that chant with me into the voting booth, a mantra in my mind… yes, we can be a better nation; yes, we can treat people better; yes, we can be better global citizens; yes, we can be our brother’s and sister’s keepers; yes, we can care about and feed the hungry; yes, we can do the unimaginable; yes, we can live up to our ideals; yes, we can fix this economy and put some justice back into the distribution of wealth; yes, we can believe that an African American man can truly love a woman honorably… and raise his children right, and call that classy, sexy woman, “First Lady,” without affairs and drama and madness and mess… yes, we can believe in a better future. So I wept.
I screamed and cried and did the happy dance in the middle of my floor. I blew up cell phones and landlines, talking on two phones at once. I wept and screamed and stomped like we’d won the World Series—because we as a nation have. I could feel the respect returning through the airwaves from other countries to soak into my skin—when I travel I no longer have to hang my head in shame as an “ugly American.” We have behaved badly abroad for way too long.
When I recently went to the Bahamas on book tour, the local folks repeatedly pulled me aside, anxious, and asking the question, “Do you think he will win? We are all so hopeful worldwide; we will come to Florida to help America celebrate.” This is what foreigners said about us here in the United States. They told me this in Customs. They told me this in cabs. They told me this in restaurants. They told me this in hotels. Everywhere we went, and my family can testify, since they too were there—people stopped us once they found out we were Americans and said how they wished they could vote with us to help the change come. I told them that I believed in this nation; that a chance was gonna come, as old folks say… could feel it in me bones, chile. So last night I cried while laughing and simply shaking my head. I felt so many emotions at once, it’s still hard to catalogue them, I’m still processing my own inner change and how I feel.
But most of all, I could feel the sudden sweep of joy-filled peace, that sort of supernatural peace that surpasses all understanding when I finally closed my eyes and laid my head on my pillow knowing in my soul… yes we can!
Much love, One Love, World Peace!
Stay in the Light… Hugs from Philadelphia, PA — A TRUE BLUE STATE!
***Leslie
Tags: African American, American, change, hope, love, Obama, politics, voting
Something is happening in America that I never had faith would. Barak is deserving and a testiment to the fact that “ANYTHING” can happen if you believe and have faith.
I guess it pays off to be a community organizer! Go Barack! I’m so happy right now. I saw this change two years ago. The vision was vague. I didn’t know who but I knew it would happen. As you said, I felt it in my bones even then. It was time and I’m glad that I’m here to witness this profound moment in history. Our ancestors are smiling down on us now. WE THE PEOPLE finally realize that the past ways of thinking isn’t the best way. Change is beautiful. I feel it in my heart that this is one of the best things that has happen in America. I am proud to say that I’m an American! The election process didn’t fail us this time. YES WE DID!
We can … and we DID!
I’m so proud that Coming Together: At Last, for which we have your amazing Introduction, will be released in ebook & print on the eve of Obama’s inauguration.
Even my 11 year old was dancing and jumping on the couch when the tally came in! For the first time in years, I have hope. Hope that we will leave this world better than when we found it. It will take time and hard work, but I truly beleive that President elect Obama will make a difference for the better. I am very proud to be witness to this amazing time in our world. I have a grandchild on the way, it will be wonderful to tell him/her what all this means for them. That Dr. Kings dream did come true.
It is a new Dawn and History was made!!! I realized for the first time last night how much I was emotionally invested in this. After two straight elections that went crazy, I did not want to hang my hope on this and decided to simply do what I could and then leave the rest in the hands of God. Still, I found myself watching and waiting and counting down as the states sent their results in and then…MAGIC HAPPENED! PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED! A NEW America emerged
I am so very happy and now my prayer is that God guides President Obama through the steps of getting this country back on the right path.
On a miscellaneous side note, I love the cover for The Thirteenth!
It is bitter-sweet though as I still can’t believe it is coming to an end. Well, the characters will live on in our hearts and minds. Congrats once again on the success of the VHL series.
xoxo,
~Preye
I’m not American, I’m not of African extraction but I am DELIGHTED that Barack Obama is the 44th President Elect of the United States of America. A man of truth, integrity, intelligence and commonsense. All who have gone before I’m sure are giving him their shoulders to stand, he has Guardians that can stand and have stood up to the worst that human kind can throw at them and through him, they prevail. My wish for the new First Family of the USA is that his road is always downhill and wind is always at his back. Politics will never be the same and history has been made and each of you helped to ensure that 4 November, 2008 will go down history.
This is a day a lot of people never thought would happen in their lifetime. It unfortunately didn’t happen during my dad’s. He passed September 4, but I know he’s up heaven screaming WE DID IT!!! He was in the hospital during the conventions and he made them move him to a room with a working TV so he wouldn’t miss a minute. His widow said to me last night that she knew Obama would win. It was 2 months to the day of my dad’s death and there’s no way this historic event wouldn’t take place. He’s smiling up in heaven rubbing elbows with Obama’s grandmother congratulating her own her outstanding grandson, now the President-Elect of the United States of America. They’re watching over the new First Family and all of us. We can rejoice that change has come.
Holy S@#$!
I can’t believe he won! WOO! I was so sure some screwed up thing would happen. Well Obama, you got the means! Now run with it my man!
Now that he has hit the ground standing lets run with strength and integrity. It will take more tahn a few years to clean up wht the Bush’s ahve done. Lets back our Brethern and show support. only a tree thats planted properly can grow.
Barack Obama winning brings us hope and it inspires us all to change–in a positive direction. I thank God I was blessed to see this happen in my life time.