Jeff –
I’m about to head to Grant Park to talk to everyone gathered there, but I wanted to write to you first.
We just made history.
And I don’t want you to forget how we did it.
You made history every single day during this campaign — every day you knocked on doors, made a donation, or talked to your family, friends, and neighbors about why you believe it’s time for change.
I want to thank all of you who gave your time, talent, and passion to this campaign.
We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on track, and I’ll be in touch soon about what comes next.
But I want to be very clear about one thing…
All of this happened because of you.
Thank you,
Barack
For as long as I can remember, my parents instilled in me the ideal that “I could be whatever I wanted to be, as long as i worked hard.. Race etc wouldn’t matter” Only problem was that as African Americans, we are born with racial and success cynicism. We know in THEORY we can do whatever we want, but there was always this little voice telling us “yeah right.. not in your lifetime”. Tonight, that voice remains silent. Tonight that voice sang its last song. Tonight, Barack Obama accomplished the improbable, and shocked the WORLD!
This is bigger than the Jets Win, Bigger than the Giants upset over the Patriots(18-1 FOR LIFE). Bigger than the miracle Mets. This victory cemented a legacy, and hopefully became the catalyst of the next paradigm shift for African Americans and the USA. As I arrive home, on this historic night, THE historic night, the feelings I have are indescribable… but I will try. This feels like waking up on Christmas day to a trailer load of presents, being a proud parent, winning the lottery, and being named Man of the year all rolled into one! Euphoria is an understatement! i feel as if my bank account should have billions in it right now!!
Understand, no other race knows what this victory means to us. You may THINK you know, but you have NO idea! To those who supported Obama, you supported a man who you felt was right for this country. For African Americans, we supported a challenge to the status quo. We supported a challenge to common perceptions of our race. We supported a challenge to racism, cynicism, voter apathy, stereotypes, and apprehension. Obama tonight, lives a dream that ALL African Americans share by BIRTHRIGHT: The Dream of truly saying “We are equal and on the same level as any person in this country”
This country, built on the backs and blood of my ancestors, for 400-500 years, who shunned my people as being sub-human, who made us fight for common rights that the forefathers prescribed in 1776 when revolting from Great Britain, today stood together. We stood as Black, White, gay, straight, Old, young, republican, democrat, and decided that “A change was gonna come”.
My mother, a Haitian immigrant, who recently became a citizen, and my younger sister who recently turned 18, voted together.. both for the first time. I waited 3 hours since 6:40 along with all of QUEENS, to have our voices heard. We shattered all voting records. We spoke to each other with pride and hope. The same thugs and hood n*ggas on my block were challenging the straight arrow 9 to 5′er to vote. As a race, and a people, we came together to show the WORLD that our vote counts and that America will stand against the foolishness and negative direction of this country and truly take a step in the direction of change.
People celebrated in the streetz, facebook is going crazy, all races rejoice even now in NYC. I remember watching CNN and seeing Obama get Ohio and Pennsylvania. My friends and I proclaimed that this race was curtains if we get Florida. THEN VA came thru and said “Yes WE CAN!”. At that point, the last drop of cynicism started leaving my body.. I knew it was a matter of time. then, in the club where I gathered to witness history, CNN projects Barack Obama as the next president of the United States. The feeling was surreal. I cheered, but afterwards… I don’t know. I’m still in shock, but I had to document this moment. Everyone in the club, especially the African Americans, looked towards each other with a glimmer in our eyes that spoke what no words could articulate “YES.. we did it.. finally”.
My only regret is that my father, who passed away 364 days ago, did not witness this moment. i know he looks upon his family, and this moment with one of his trademark “WOW…. How about THAT!” phrases. Thank you dad for making me strive to be better than my best ever will be. Thank you for telling me those typecast “You can be anything you want” speeches because I NEEDED to hear it. thank you, because without you being a great father and a role model, you would’ve never become one of the precursors to this moment.
Thank you Barack. You shattered a glass ceiling, forged out of 500 years of Racist labor. Welded by hate, bigotry, and fear. Cemented by oppression, and sealed with divisiveness. Today, you affirmed a race, and a Nations belief that one voice does matter. one voice can make a difference. one voice is all you need to succeed. Thank you for being the official benchmark for all African Americans going forward. You have eclipsed all of our past heroes, not by one accomplishment, but by building on all prior accomplishments to build the greatest success our people have ever witnessed.
Thank you Barack, for FINALLY giving us a hero OTHER Than Martin Malcolm and the like. You motivated young black youths to vote, when many saw their vote as nothing more than bullshit. you motivated all youths, all races, all creeds, to unite and become a part of this movement we now know as CHANGE. I received more emails, voicemails, phone calls, etc from your campaign than some of my closest friends, and it was all worth it. Your dynamic approach to this campaign set the new standard for American politics. You took on the strongest political machines and emerged victorious. You withstood 22 months of hard labor to capture the Presidency.
President-ELECT Obama, similar to another African American mainstay, you inspire the musician to play noble sentiments, and assist the chemist to convert ungenerous personalities into individuals of great worth. I hope you can destroy all ignoble impulses along with that! because of your bravery, audacity, and determination, my children will look to your achievement as status quo, and realize that the highest offices in the world are at their fingertips, if they are willing to achieve it!
The real question remains; Whats next? We voted this man into office and proved we were motivated about change. Going forward, we must support our new president and make our voices heard so that our country and his history making achievement wont be in vain. We have a lot of issues. A financial crisis, Wars, unemployment, healthcare, among others. this wont change overnight, but with our help it will CHANGE!
The United States of America has hope. Has a new, improved swagger. my mom even said after this she felt “Like we were finally equal with white people”.. WOW…Has the means to better itself and finally get back to more prosperous times. it starts with Barack. A Living Legend, a symbol of achievement.. for a race, for a country.. for a world. Not bad for a community organizer, huh?
Hope, Inspiration, and Change, have all manifested themselves in the spiritual form… and its new name is BARACK OBAMA! Thank YOU Barack. I hope we don’t let each other down
“Rosa Parks sat so Dr. king could walk. Dr. King walked so that Obama can run. Obama is running so our kids can fly.” - Jay-Z
You know the thing that touched me the most was seeing the "thugs" and people from the block at the polls. People who would have never voted, people who prior refused to vote came out and their voices were heard. This election has been monumental in SO many ways, and this is only the beginning. It is so disappointing to see so many nay-sayers still out there bitter because they can't see past the man's color. I think they are afraid that he is actually going to be a great leader for this country. As you stated, it won't happen overnight and we as a country need to step up. I am sitting at work trying my BEST not to act up and display my joy. There are some sad, angry people around here today. It is funny because those of us who supported Obama just have a look that we give eachother passing by in the workplace to kind of show our joy since we really can't say anything else. It's amazing.
Kudos Jeff, great post that brought tears to my eyes! I am still in shock, awe, amazement, excitement, pride…and the list goes on.Thank you for sharing…
Thanks for the love yall. I was very inspired! This is a great time in our history