Barack Obama and American voters make history
November 5th, 2008,Something that I did not expect to see in my lifetime has occurred: the citizens of the United States of America have elected an African American to be their next president. In choosing Barack Obama over John McCain, Americans have taken a historic step away from our country’s horrendous treatment of Africans. Obama’s election is a redemptive act that cleanses some of the stains left by slavery and racial discrimination.
I was not sure Americans were ready to vote for a black man, and I thought that racism might play a decisive role in defeating Obama. I am greatly encouraged that my fears were not realized.
It’s difficult to overstate the importance of Obama’s victory given our history of enslaving and exploiting Africans. Even after the slaves were freed following the Civil War, whites continued to discriminate against them. The Jim Crow laws prevented African Americans from enjoying rights that should have been theirs, including the right to vote. Empowered now with the vote, African Americans have voted in record numbers in this election, and they can look forward to an Obama presidency.
Just minutes ago, Senator McCain gave a gracious concession speech that emphasized the need for Americans to work together to solve the significant problems that our country faces. I hope that can happen, and I hope that Barack Obama will provide us with the leadership that takes us there.
November 5th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
My humble musical letter to president Obama:
http://www.writinghannah.blogspot.com
Best,
Hannah
November 7th, 2008 at 12:47 am
It is a significant historic victory and I too hope something good comes from it.
The early signs — the Liebermanesque Rahm Emmanuel as chief of staff?! increased military spending?! — aren’t what I would like to see.
But I’ve maintained all along this is a symbolic election, a change in packaging rather than content: Wall St. has its new savior, and the ruling class has gone from hiding from rising public fury against our nonrepresentative government to watching dancing in the street.
If you’re one of the uber rich right now, this is all very, very amusing.
November 20th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Well, it’s true he’s the first african-american president, but let’s not forget he’s also the 44th european-american president. In a country where the race issue is such big business I’m surprised that more isn’t being made of this. I guess there’s still time, he’s still 2 months away from taking office.
November 26th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Good point, David. Richard, you may be right, as you so often are.