Yes WE DID!

“If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.” – Barack Obama 

It’s been exactly 7 days now since Obama’s grand “blue”/”red” state sweep (both Pennsylvania and Virginia?!?) and the excitement of family, friends, associates and complete strangers is still ringing in my ears.

Many of my “international” friends (for search of a better term) living here in the DC-Metro area hail Obama’s win as a victory for African-Americans, AND for me, a woman of color, —an American who happens to be black and who, similar to Mr. Obama, does not regard herself as a “hyphenated” American (but that’s another blog entry all together). 

And Yes! As a Black American, I admit, I do feel honored and buoyed by President-elect Obama’s success. His victory was most impressive and astonishing. It is amazing that we find ourselves here at this place. No one of us expected this would or really could happen.

It clearly sent a message that there was a strong desire for change in this country and that we, as a nation—at least a majority of us—were ready and willing to embrace it and to exercise our power in hopes of making that a reality whether we were black, white, yellow, or green. I find that at times I still feel overwhelmed by the gravity of it all, and especially after learning the thoughts and feelings of people who did not grow up in America but who have lived among us for many years.

Two friends, both newly minted Americans, one from Russia and the other from Egypt, were able to vote for the first time in this election. It was a very emotional time for them both. One was proud to be “both an American and a Virginian” (as Virginia hasn’t voted Democratic since 1964).

One moved here in 2000, close to the arrival of the current administration and so never knew any other kind of America. This friend felt deceived to have left their own country (in search of the American Dream) only to find something similar to what was left behind. “I felt that all my dreams were bogus and there was no way out ...but guess what...here comes this guy that says the stuff that I always thought is good and true.”

Another friend from South America penned, “I cried yesterday! It was awesome. You must write about this victory…in every sense it’s made history for every minority not just African Americans. As a Latino woman, it was amazing!” 

I’m sure I can only begin to imagine what they have experienced with all the new immigration policies and procedures, post 9/11. Much of it was, to a degree, absolutely necessary, to ensure the safety of our country but some of it was carried out so cruelly and inhumanely that it only served to further fracture us as a people and nation. (I, however, have my own special brand of memories, having grown up during the 60’s).

The discussion that was most surprising and touching came from French friend who said that for all the years living here (mostly under Mr. Bush) there had never been a desire to apply for American citizenship (spouse was American) but watching Mr. Obama’s campaign and election changed all that and "now, I want to be an American" (ok, no jokes about the French please because for me they were never “freedom fries”).

I, among a multitude, feel inspired and empowered because Mr. Obama is just another human living on this earth who had/has a dream, a desire to achieve a set goal, whatever it is, whether big or small. He went for it against incredible odds and he won.

In the preface to The Audacity of Hope, Obama writes of his budding political ambitions and describes those feelings of doubt we have all battled at some point in our lives:

“I had begun to harbor doubts about the path that I had chosen; I began feeling the way I imagine an actor or athlete must feel when after years of commitment to a particular dream, after years of waiting tables between auditions or scratching out hits in the minor leagues, he realizes that he’s gone just about as far as talent or fortune will take him. The dream will not happen, and now he faces the choice of accepting his fate like a grown-up and moving on to more sensible pursuits, or refusing the truth and ending up bitter, quarrelsome and slightly pathetic."

President-elect Obama’s victory, in addition to his articulation for a better America, gives hope to us all. We hope and believe that America can renew, regenerate and rescue itself from the onslaught of the policies and scandals that have left us on the brink of bankruptcy and despair. And we all now want to see him walk the walk. And I believe he will. After all, why give up on the dream now? It’s like he said, it’s not just about his ability to bring change. It’s about ours. We ALL have to work like our lives depend on it. If we can come together as one nation, as one people and hold onto hope, tomorrow will be brighter. Yes WE Can! because divided, WE fall.

Congratulations America! Congratulations for taking that leap of faith to vote for a candidate based on the content of his character and not the color of his skin and for proving that the dream is still alive in our time. 

Yes We DID!