I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Regardless of which side of the political aisle you stand on, what happened on Tuesday at the moment that it became clear that Barack Obama was our president-elect was amazing. In all of my adult life I have never seen anything like it. None of us have. It was a moment of such pure joy, relief, disbelief, and transformation, that I considered pinching myself to make sure I was awake. I wasn’t sure I wasn’t dreaming.
But then, I knew I wasn’t dreaming. I was on the phone with my best friend, Lisa, when I saw a shift in the demeanor of the crowds in front of the cameras. I had the TV muted, but I stopped and picked up the remote. It was 9:01 PM Mountain time. The polls had closed a minute earlier in California, Oregon, and Washington State.
“Wait. Something’s happening,” I said.
I hit the sound button. I heard an incredible joyful roar as a banner scrolled across the screen: Barack Obama elected the 44th President.
“I can’t believe it,” I said.
Lisa turned on the TV in New Mexico, and we watched together, for a while unable to speak.
“I can’t believe it,” I said again. I told her I needed to make another phone call.
I called my mother; she was weeping.
As I watched TV in complete disbelief, people from Kenya danced in the streets. I couldn’t stop my tears. In NYC’s Times Square thousands of people embraced, sang, dropped to their knees, and exchanged kisses. A mosaic of humanity shimmied in Harlem and screamed in Seattle. Flags pulsed in the air in Grant Park in Chicago. CNN scanned the crowd there and found Jesse Jackson, his face wet with tears. That said it all. Whether you voted for Mr. Obama or not, we witnessed history on Tuesday night, and this country is forever changed as a result.
I will keep this country and her people in my prayers. I will keep Mr. Obama and his beautiful family in my prayers as well. The years ahead will be filled with challenges. There is nothing particularly quick or easy about digging out of the financial mess we find ourselves in. There is nothing easy about ending wars or working to defeat poverty. There is nothing simple about dealing with job losses or global warming. But I have faith in this country. I have faith in our resolve and resilience. We are an innovative and creative coalition of people. We come from a history of people who have defeated tyranny and built our economy brick by brick. We know how to work hard. We are capable of caring deeply. We are a diverse nation and nothing is impossible. I believe in change. I believe we took a leap into the future on November 4.
I am profoundly grateful that I witnessed it.
Yes, we can.
Yes, we did.
Yes, we will.
© 2008 Shavawn M. Berry
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