President-Elect Barack Obama
I realize I haven’t posted in a month, but what better reason than last night’s historic election of Barack Obama as our new President.
Thanks, America for getting it right!
As a white male born in the late fifties in the deep south, I witnessed my share of prejudice and racial injustices — nothing, of course, as much as African Americans who experienced it first hand — but rather as an observer raised in a liberal household where the N-word was never allowed to be spoken. I thank my parents for instilling that sensibility into my DNA.
I voted for Obama, and watching the him win last night was a moving experience. It was particularly emotional to see African American leaders like Jesse Jackson become so emotional. It not only made me proud to be an American again (yes, there were periods in the past 8 years where I wasn’t always proud), Obama’s election gives me a renewed sense of optimism.
As someone who was among this country’s very first group of children who experienced government-mandated desegregation (i.e. bussing), I also hope Obama’s mantra of “Yes, We Can” takes hold in ending an era of racial division.
Obama has his work cut out for him, but I can’t wait to see what his administration holds for us all.
