Epic.
About a year and a half ago I read Barack Obama’s book Dreams From my Father. I was mesmerized by his story and shortly after I finished it I read The Audacity of Hope. I knew from reading those two books that I would vote for him if I had the chance.
I followed the news, read the articles, watched the debates and talked about this election probably more than was healthy. I devoured it mostly because I believed the opportunity to vote for someone like Obama is rare, probably a once (hopefully twice)-in-a-lifetime event. The poignancy of his words, the promise and hope in his leadership, and the understanding he has for the average American sets him apart. For these reasons, I hardly slept Monday night before Election Day. On Tuesday, I was up before the sun and at the voting booth early along with a mass of other excited, early-rising Brooklynites. The energy in New York City was electric even at 7 in the morning.
I said a prayer.
Then I voted.
And I walked out of PS 196 on Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn with a smile on my face and so excited I thought I could explode.
That evening, we watched with the rest of the world as the overwhelming majority of America elected the first African-American to be president of this nation. We listened to the speeches, cried, hugged, screamed, and jumped up and down. Swarms of people poured into the streets shouting with excitement, smiling, and united by the fact that the majority of our country had put an “X” in the same box. It was an X that stands for our belief that Barack Obama and Joe Biden will make this country better. It was an X that stands for so many things we want to see changed and improved. But in that moment the X we all put in the same box stood for those millions of faces flooding the streets in NYC, packing out the city of Chicago, and celebrating all over the country. The first change in this country happened that night – it was those few hours after Obama accepted the nomination for presidency in which we were united and smiling. The words “united” and “smiling” have not been used to describe this country for a long time.
There is hope here again. I can feel it. And while, we’re not even close to approaching the finish line, I trust that our decision yesterday will put us on the right path. And I pray that Obama is given the strength and the wisdom he needs to lead this country and to do the right thing regardless.
God bless America.
Vive le Obama.
Thanks for voting.
