History

I love history and had often whined to myself that I wasn't lucky enough to have lived during a more exciting age: I sometimes like to think that I could have been a Tuskegee Airman, Buffalo Soldier or beatnik. Instead, I grew up in an America that often felt like occupied territory. After freeing Europe from the Nazis in the Forties, and then blacks in the Sixties and women in the Seventies, politically, the next thirty-odd years have largely been a depressing, embarrassing, soul-grinding drag. Throughout those years it often felt like the Empire struck back and would never return this nation back to its people. So I escaped in my mind, consoling myself by writing about the Airmen and the Beats.

But last night history came to me.

I love those pictures of Victory in Europe day in Times Square: all the confetti, all the young women and sailors spontaneously making out. Last night Times Square seemed almost as jubilant as back then. My Manhattan neighborhood fifty blocks north erupted in cheers and cars and trucks honking and spontaneous street parties till the early morning.

Is America really America again?

My friends, black and white, had been so nervous about yesterday. I'd been relatively calm. If the polls had been closer, then the Empire's dirty tricks might have been able again to put their thumb on the scale and steal another win. If McCain had been a more predictable servant of corporate interests than they might have fought harder for him. In the run up to election day I was sleeping pretty well.

Then imagine my surprise when, upon seeing CNN pronounce Obama the winner, I burst into tears.

It wasn't my first time that day. The kids and I both had election day off so after going out for breakfast we walked down the block to our polling place. Chet, my seven-year-old, wanted to stay outside and play. Ava, ten, wanted to come into the booth with me. I didn't even really know she could. I almost let Chet stay out then remembered that I was about to make history and brought them both in with me. The older black women working the polling station were all atwitter around them, counseling me on the best way to have two kids help me vote. "One pulls the lever back, the other forward," one of them advised. She must be a very good mom. They all applauded when my kids went in with me and shouted, "First time voters!" Inside, I lifted Chet up, against his protestations, and we all flipped the lever for Obama.

"What's the matter, daddy?" asked Ava as we headed back up the hill.

I had to breathe a few times before I could speak.

I'd voted for him in the New York primary but didn't yet see much of a difference between him and Hillary. I really just wanted our side to win. By any means necessary. And as a progressive, her politics on key matters like health care, were actually much closer to my own. Back then I voted for Obama anyway because, frankly, he seemed so much like me. But as the race wore on he seemed to get bigger while she seemed to shrink (the same thing seemed to happen to McCain). Then his magnificent race speech in Philadelphia cinched my full-throated support.

The old century stubbornly clung on well past it's sell-by date as we all suffered under the B Team from the Ford Administration. Yet today, almost nine years into the 21st Century, the future finally, actually, begins.

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

Comments

[duckfan00]

Trey...the farmer's son has arrived and at the right time...God Bless President Obama and America...

[molucky]

Its a remarkable time, the whole world stood still for AMERICA, I know now this is truely GOD'S own COUNTRY, God trust in America as Americans trust in HIM......, I can see the hand of the ALMIGHTY in all that is happening in U.S, GOD ll always be with newly elected President.

[texasben]

Mr. Ellis, I think you have hit the nail on the head. The way you felt about America is the way many of us felt. With nothing to challenge us, we could not rise. I cried and I can't explain the reason, and I will never try. November Fourth. Our day. Great post.

[prestfx]

I voted for Obama because I believe that he is the most qualified person at this time to be the president of the united states. I think that he is a remarkable person and that he has the ability to help us recover from the failures of the Bush years. I find myself struggling with two conflicting emotions when I read articles like this one. On the one hand, I feel elated that our country has elected a black president. It is absolutely a monumental moment in the history of the world. No doubt about it. But on the other hand, I hope that our country will someday be able to look beyond black and white and simply vote for the person they believe is best qualified for a position. I guess I worry that many people voted for Obama based on his race. My own mom told me that she voted for Obama because she felt that this country needed to finally have a black president. I don't think that her reasoning was wrong, but hopefully Obama's victory will help us all someday get beyond race and allow us to see people as people and not as black people or white people.

[Craig Calvin Jones]

A good post, with interesting comments abounding. Race could not help but be part of this presidential race. But with Mr. Obama's heritage, with a father from Kenya, it seems like to me that this has allowed the USA to focus on skin color and avoid a debate on the legacy of slavery. This debate I would guess must eventually occur (or at least should occur). For now, it is deferred by 2 wars, a recession, and host of other issues.

[woodsywizz]

My parents were church workers in Central Africa. I was born & raised there. Coming to America was weird, the racism & hatred unimaginable to me.

All these years, all these years.

God Bless the USA.

[Devin111]

Imagine the swell in the heart of Abraham, the tear upon his cheek, when on January 20, 2009, the first black President of the United States of America, perchance, lays his head on the pillow inside the Lincoln bedroom at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Think for a moment of the incredible intertwining of karma surrounding Barack Obama, and the seemingly implausible dream of Abraham Lincoln. Their karma, surviving the span through hundreds of years of history and generations of people, to emerge at this point in time, driven by the masses, delivering unto us in the twenty-first century, this solitary man, who willingly, accepts the seemingly implausible task, of leading us toward a better future in America.

We are truly fortunate to witness an event such as this in our lifetime - the return of America to its" own shores. And it is an honor to be here, as our country gives birth once again, to the ideals of a true Democracy.

~ Deborah Webbe~
United States of America
2008

[bosse]

NOW people who criticized Mrs O, will understand why she said, she was proud , for the firs time, to be an American! Yes I am proud to be an American any day. But this election would make all understand, what she meant. WE have to treat all, equally with justice and love, Do not doubt any one, suspect any one just because of their origins! Look at their character! America, I am very very proud I am an immigrant that looked for a day like this after arriving here 44 years ago.
So let us go to love and respect and let this man fulfill his promises! ktb

[Pulemerci]

It is exciting to live during a historic event like this. JFK was the first Catholic POTUS. Almost 50 years later we have the first black POTUS. For a relatively young country like ours, I think that's progress. Maybe not at the pace some would like, but progress nonetheless. Here in NY, we have a black governor. Nationally, we have a black (female) Secretary of State and a Hispanic Attorney General. Barriers are being broken every day.

I sincerely hope that President-Elect Obama is an inspiration to children of all races that anything can be accomplished if you work hard enough. I wish him all the best in leading our country.

[robbie44]

History landing on arrival...............Obama 08

[daddysboy]

I cried over the revelation that America has finally transcended race and began the long journey toward greatness again. The moment I was sure that I hadn't misheard the announcement that he is our next president I couldn't stop myself. That reason alone is historic and so BIG, it has to be mentioned over and over, but is only the beginning of a LONG list of reasons that Obama will be everything that America needs to succeed and thrive.

[mrsbee]

I went into the voting booth and coudn't wait to push those buttons....but I made sure I double checked three times before I left...I will never forget the yr 2000 when I lived in Florida and was tricked by the new machines ...but I felt so wonderful last night and today...I couldn't stop cheering last night...i haven't felt this joyous over a leader of this country in 48 years....I'm sure JFK, RFK, and MLK were all cheering in heaven last night right along with all of us ...thank God we have someone finally that we can believe in and who is OUR President ...not the Pres of the right wing fundamentalist radicals.

[salidon]

Can this victory be any sweeter?

[Kathrynkeats]

In confidence I write.
* A HIGHER CONSCIOUSNESS HAS PREVAILED.
* AND WE ARE ALL PART OF IT.
* EVERY PERSON WHO STEPPED OUT AND VOTED FOR EITHER CANDIDATE.
* NOW, WE MUST CONTINUE TO VALUE OUR VOICES AND UPHOLD WHAT WE HAVE ALL ACCOMPLISHED.
* IT IS OUR JOB TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE FEARFUL OF THIS CHANGE SO THEY MIGHT JOIN US IN THIS CELEBRATION.
* PLEASE ALLOW ME TO ADD...HOW MANY YEARS DID MY PARENTS GIVE TO THIS MOMENT? HOW MANY YEARS DID MY GRANDPARENTS GIVE TO THIS MOMENT? HOW MANY YEARS DID SO MANY? THEY GAVE THEIR ENTIRE LIVES, FIGHTING FOR EQUALITY OF THE GOOD PEOPLE OF AND FOR THE WORLD.
* MY FATHER AND MOTHER, MY GRANDPARENTS, ALL, FROM CHICAGO, JOURNALISTS, EDUCATORS AND, EACH DAY, RADICAL CHANGERS OF TIME, PIONEERS FOR THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN, LGBT AND CIVIL RIGHTS. THEY CELEBRATE, NOW, WITH US, IN SPIRIT.
* THERE WAS NEVER, NOT ONCE, A DEROGATORY WORD OF ANOTHER , NO MATTER THEIR COLOR, SEXUAL PREFERENCE, RELIGION OR ECONOMIC ABILITY, USED IN MY HOME. WE NEVER KNEW THIS OPTION. WE WERE HELD TO THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF GRACE FOR ALL GOOD PEOPLE. AND WE ARE SO MANY GOOD PEOPLE.

THIS IS THE HAPPIEST DAY,
KATHRYN KEATS

[Rosey]

As someone who lived through John Kennedy's election and assassination, through theViet Nam era, Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon, Martin Luther King's life and assassination, Robert Kennedy's life and assassination--- wow, too many assassinations so I am going to quit "remembering." The point is Senator Barack Obama's election is truly a defining moment in our lifetime and one that we will remember as (hopefully) a break through for a better America!

[dianhow]

Rosey. JFK Jr may be one of Obama's people soon. I hope so. Maybe even Colin Powell. Whomever he chooses will be a 500 % improvement, compared to those like
( Abu Graub ) Rumsfield & Cheney. Sure..there will be some miscalculations, but let's give Obama some latitude..he has the potential to be a great President ! No more..'shooting from the hip ' comments ala Bush. ( Bring em on ) I've always wondered what Bush 1 & Barbara Bush thinks of their son. I also recall the JFK, RFK & King years. ( and 9 / 11 ) Those was horrible times ! But we got thru it..we always do. USA is still the best place in the world. Thats why so many fight to come here. I am proud to be an American...especially today. We have come so far !

[dobberdoss]

This is great for America & the world, As a NZder living in your country Id just like to say one thing, DONT BLOW THIS! "History" can be made from this day forth for America and the world if we "choose" to follow you. Notice i said "choose" No more bullying, do this right and the world will follow! You have some huge holes to fill & some major relationships to fix after the horror of Bush Co.

First job, close Guantanamo!

Second job, fire the Fed

Third job, withdraw ALL troops from foriegn soil,

Forth job, Listen to other nations!

Fifth job, Admit your mistakes

[propax]

Wonderful comment, dobberdoss.
I couldn't agree more with all your points, though it's hardly a complete list.
I believe that, if Obama is to be considered successful, he must engender a basic change in our view of ourselves. The USA can no longer attempt to push the world in the direction its ruling elites want. Rather, we must come to see ourselves as global citizens, extremely priveleged and therefore with responsibilities to act in the interests of *all* mankind, not just of ourselves. We can still be the "best country in the world," but not by dint of pounding everybody else into the ground.

[dobberdoss]

Believe me my list could have gone on & on but i these ones i thought were critical to the success of this new Admin. I love the US but for the past 8 years its been like a living nightmare. I just want to move on & i'm sure many Americans do aswell, NEVER do i want to come so close to WW3 again. "Peace & Deplomacy go hand in hand" Security for all is the result