November 11, 2008

Change

Regardless of your political back ground or beliefs, I doubt there are many Americans out there who would not have been moved by witnessing the celebrations of so many last Tuesday. Following the confirmation that America had elected Barack Obama, I watched as people swarmed the streets with joy. I've worked on several political campaigns (including three presidential campaigns) and have never seen this level of excitement in any political candidate.

Women, children and men of every age and race danced in the streets, their presence blocking traffic. Cars began to honk. I quickly realized the cars were honking in agreement with the celebration, rather than to prevent the festivities from blocking the road. Many drivers placed their cars in park and got out to dance themselves. Peaceful and joyous chants of "Obama, Obama" rang through the streets. Chants of "Yes we can" quickly transitioned to "Yes we did!" I watched as strangers hugged other strangers - a sight I had obviously never seen on the streets of D.C. Tears streamed down the faces of many celebrants. Within minutes, the crowd grew to hundreds in this D.C. intersection - the very same intersection that saw riots and burning after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. some forty years prior.

But on this night, we were united. On this night, we were all brothers and sisters. All overwhelmed by this momentous moment in history, all grateful to be alive to witness it. Victory over the demoralizing world of the past eight years. What made this triumph even sweeter still, was the fact that not only had we elected the candidate that we believe has what it takes to change politics and to change the lives of the average American. This candidate also happened to be African American. The crowd grew and spread to side streets. I stood in amazement, holding back tears.

I had worked briefly on this election as well. I had been battered by the last eight years. I had been shaken by the sight of voting lines the length of which I'd never seen. This very day had begun by my witnessing a remarkable and historic movement of citizens to their polling locations. Although I witnessed this, I had not allowed myself to believe that our nation's best chance at freedom from the past would be elected. I could not allow myself to accept that Americans might do all that was needed to heal our great country. I had witnessed too many losses in the past, far too many apathetic citizens staying home rather than going to the polls. I had felt my heart ache too many times.

But on Tuesday, Hope won. Americans rose from the beds, in some cases before dawn; in some locations they stood in tremendous lines. They made their voices heard. Americans believed that this great country can unite towards the Good and can break new ground. And now, those Americans were celebrating joyfully and peacefully.

I had never witnessed such a united crowd. Even passers by would stop to clap and shout and sing. A police officer danced next to his cruiser. I watched on as a group of people began to play drums. An older white man danced and hopped to the beats with a young Black woman. Another woman, standing on the sidewalk held her cell phone to one ear and blocked the noise of the celebration from her other ear. "MOM!" she screamed. "Oh my God, Mom.....We did it!"

Yes we did.