America Grows Up

The "Bradley Effect" is no more. For all the talk of race being an issue in this election, it turns out that race was not an issue at all.

Half a century after "separate but equal" was shot down by the Supreme Court, the American people have shown that equality for all is not just a slogan.

Barack Obama wasn't supposed to be able to win in the "rust belt." He cleaned up from Ohio to Pennsylvania. He wasn't supposed to win with white voters. He did better with white voters than any Democratic candidate in recent history. He wasn't supposed to win the Latino vote. He was supposed to have trouble with Jewish voters. He carried both groups with ease. He wasn't supposed to win in the southern "red" states. He won Virginia and Florida and, as I write this, he stands to perhaps win more.

To be sure, we are still not done with the after effects of the American Civil War. Where most of America is headed in one direction, many of the states of the American south still appear headed in another, or, at the very least, resistant to change.

But this is not a day to talk about division. We are a great country. We fall down but we get up again. In our darkest moments, we always rise to the occasion. How can you not truly be proud of this nation tonight as we seek to rise above the tragedies of our past and to confront the problems of our present? It was, at times, an ugly campaign but it was also a historically astounding one. No matter whom you voted for, if you are an American, today is a day to unite and to prepare to face tomorrow together.

For my parent's generation, racism was an unavoidable fact of life. In my generation, we worked to avoid prejudice when we saw someone whose skin color was different from ours. The new generation no longer even sees a difference. What a terrific world tomorrow will bring.

I don't own rose-colored glasses. Obama's victory doesn't mean all is once again right with the world. There is much to be done. We have yet to elect a woman president. The fact that a candidate's religion or lack of religion is even discussed shows that we still have far to go when it comes to judging others. As African Americans achieve new heights, we still seem determined to limit the rights of another group, gay people. And, of course, Obama still needs to govern and show he can deliver on his message.

But for now we become one nation again. Now we unite and march forward and once more work on making the American Dream come true. Today we reject race as a deciding factor. Today we reject the politics of hate. Today we reject "Joe The Plumber" as the image of what "real" Americans are supposed to look like. For "real" Americans, and presidents, it turns out, can be almost anyone. Today is a great day for America. Make no mistake about it. Martin Luther King's dream is coming true. At last.

Read more reaction from HuffPost bloggers to Barack Obama's victory in the 2008 presidential election

Comments

[vegas9999]

Let us hope that the Republican party treats Obama with the same respect and class that the DNC treated W. I know I am really hoping.

[za2008]

Respect and class? Particularly from the party of the RNC that immediately welcomed Clinton with derision and open disdain? And whose W. presidential arrogancy rode in on a lower popular vote and a disputable electoral majority? I guess that's all OK IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN? (IOKIYAR)--the greatest load of political hypocrisy that's been dumped on the country in the past few decades.

Expect to have that prospect returned in multiples by a 2 house majority congress and a President with a 52% popular / 2:1 electoral / ~2 million plus donor mandate.

[vegas9999]

Donor mandate from where?

[ElBruce]

This isn't just a rejection of racism, it's also a rejection of fear in all its forms. Since 9/11, we've been guided by the cowardice of the NeoCon agenda. No more. Now we can actualy do what we should have been doing all along.

[robXdion]

Sorry, but as a black male I'm still not that convinced. Obama might be the new president, but those of us with black skin still have to live with reality. Obama's win is only the beginning of the discussion and a removal of the denial America has practiced for ages. Because there's still older citizens with issues. This will take time. Don't let the euphoria fool you.

[Bruce Tenenbaum - Huffpost Blogger]

I agree that it will take time. See my paragraph on generations. But, we are headed in the right direction. Unfortunately, as I wrote in my newest article, we are not yet headed in that direction for several other minority groups.

[ElBruce]

I see your point, but one thing that Obama's method has demonstrated is that while racism does indeed exist, it's more effective to decide to end it than to admit/discuss how much there is at any given moment and who's to blame.

Even if Obama weren't black at all, the victory of this approach would still be a watershed moment in the ongoing equality movement if only because of that.

So instead of insisting on removing the denial, let's instead give that denial teeth and transform it into a repudiation. Let's move towards the goal rather than standing around arguing over the exact measurement of its distance.

[robXdion]

The problem with what you state is it's just more typical avoidance that presumes to dismiss the very real anger of blacks because it's psychologically uncomfortable for non-blacks. It's patronizingly insulting. The problem is that Americans want redemption without confession. So it's easier to act like it all never happened because to challenge the conscience of non-blacks is the bigger offense??? Not buying it, and I don't think Obama does either. He just needed to get thru that election, but he's will revisit the issue and confront the real root of the cause. History cannot be ignored and it is prologue for the present and future.

[Gib]

Yes, but ... I can't help thinking that to secure the victory of Obama over McCain took an unprecedented effort from a vast number of people. Obama had to raise twice as much money as McCain, needed an army of highly-motivated volunteers, and required millions of people to spend hours in lines at the polls. All this to elect a candidate who was head and shoulders above his opponent in every respect (an opponent handicapped by an obviously-­unqualifie­d running mate), at a time when the sitting president is deeply unpopular, the country is involved in deeply unpopular wars, and the economy is in a shambles.

The fact that so many people still voted for McCain/Palin, that the margin of victory in the popular vote was only 4-5%, says to me that race was a major factor in the voting. The conjunction of so many factors favourable to the Democratic party will probably not recur for a long time. How will a non-white candidate fare without such assistance?

The election of Obama is inspiring, but the world hasn't changed.

[robinmiami]

WOW! As usual, you said it perfectly, Bruce!
Yes, we CAN!

[Janet A]

It is not only a great day for America, it is a great day for the world.

Our generation grew up in awe of Martin Luther King, and his words are still read, but never before was a people brave enough to step forward and pursue his dream. Today, America is indeed United, on many fronts... and our hope in the UK at the electing of Barack Obama, a historical landmark for all, is once again restored in the Liberty and Freedom you strive for... an 'enlightened' America.

And I love this comment before me... "...all I can say is that when the success of a young black man can make an old white woman cry tears of joy and heave a great sigh of relief, it is indeed a happy day!..."

[kpostero]

Today is indeed the springboard of hope. I have spent months worrying that the outcome of this election would be another stolen victory for the Republicans. My faith in American voters, however, has been somewhat restored. I am not surprised that my state, Georgia, remains a Red State, but I was delighted to see that we greatly increased our Democratic turnout. I still hold out hope that political savvy is on the rise and the emotional, knee-jerk voting will become a practice of the past.

I have been involved in civil rights issues since my teens, much to my family's dismay here in the "old South." So, after all these decades of hope for real change, all I can say is that when the success of a young black man can make an old white woman cry tears of joy and heave a great sigh of relief, it is indeed a happy day!