It's been a CRAZY 48 to 72 hours.
WE DID IT!!!
Change has come to America and while I'm not deluded into thinking that Barack or any one President or any one person can solve all of our problems, I know that we are off on the right direction again. I know that my President is a man of honor, intelligence, respect given and great respect received around the world. I have NEVER seen the election of an American president this acclaimed and celebrated around the planet. People and nations that were fearful of us before, angry with us before and felt that America's greatest days were behind her will be lining up to work wit this man and that is good for us.
Wow...we can want our children to be like the President, the ULTIMATE positive role model...not just for African-American children but for all children. Just like Dr. King. He wasn't an African-American hero, he was an American hero who just happened to be black and I know tha Obama has yet to earn 'hero' status but something in me tells me that he will.
His presidency will be rough, he'll make mistakes along the way but I believe him when he says that he won't lie to us and that he'll make his decisions the same way he ran his campaign. With discipline, with thought of the future and with the welfare of the American people in mind always.
On a personal note, aside from intermittent crying for the last 36 hours, the second they flashed the words 'BARACK OBAMA HAS BEEN ELECTED 44TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES', I've been so proud, so hopeful, so overjoyed and so reflective. In Astoria, we poured out into the streets cheering and dancing then we heard one of the most inspirational speeches in American history from our new President and I have never heard anything like it.
Then Michelle and I drove to Harlem and I was born and raised there and even I have never seen a scene like it: a brass marching band down 125th street, fireworks, people of ALL CREEDS, COLORS AND WALKS OF LIFE hugging, cheering, dancing, celebrating. I held back the tears as I drove and honked my horn and thought to myself that this scene...is LITERALLY...Martin Luther King's dream come true.
We are one...finally, we are one.
I then proceeded to drive to my grandmother's house (she is 77 and she was still up at 1am) and I double parked the car and RAN upstairs with my huge Obama poster, lawn sign and book to give it to her because if there's anyone who appreciates this moment in history, it's her.
I knocked on her door, she opened it and we were both crying...I've never seen my grandmother cry. She's a strong woman who has had to be strong all these years to endure what she has. We hugged and talked and I presented her with the things and she immediately said that she'd need a frame so that she could put Barack's picture 'right next to Martin's...where it belongs'.
Tuesday night was such a special night and we all made it happen. I think that's the most special part of all this. It was a victory for ALL Americans and even people in other countries are ecstatic.
History.
