Barack Obama made history on November 4 by becoming the first Black man elected President of the United States. This moment was a lifetime in the making for those who lived through the civil rights movement ... and while his maternal grandmother didn't get to witness this special occasion -- she passed away on November 2 -- millions of voters did their part to create this extraordinary event.
Groups who were ignored or taken for granted in previous presidential races -- especially women and first-time voters -- found themselves being courted by Democrats, Republicans, and other political parties this time around. Obama's ability to mobilize support among grassroots organizations was instrumental in his victory over John McCain, along with his Internet savvy in soliciting donations. While Obama's ethnicity was cause for concern during the primary season (Is he "Black enough" or is he "too Black"?), it was his position on issues like the economy and the war in Iraq that made him a better candidate to lead the country for the next four (and possibly eight) years.
Participating in the political process took me less than five minutes, while others waited more than three hours to cast their ballots in this election. That's because turnout across the nation varied according to where one was registered to vote and when they visited their polling stations. (It didn't help that there isn't a uniform standard for voting, whether it's using touch-screen devices or mechanical-lever machines.) Carrying out my civic duty on Election Day filled me with a sense of pride I haven't felt since I graduated from college, and hearing newscasters call the race for Obama felt better than winning the lottery.
In some ways, I feel sorry for Obama because his legacy is going to be defined by his effectiveness in cleaning up President Bush's mess ... but I also feel he's best suited to take on this challenge. My role in Obama's rise to power may be small, but it's democracy at work.
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