GirlTalk

The past two days have been somewhat of a whirlwind of emotions for me as I try to settle in to accepting that Barack Obama has actually become the president-elect of the United States of America.

At 24, I can imagine Nov. 4, 2008, as a day I will remember for the rest of my life. Much like my parents can tell me exactly where they were when Kennedy was shot, when Nixon resigned or when the Berlin Wall came down, I imagine I’ll be able to tell my kids exactly where I was and what I was doing as I watched poll numbers come in and as the Associated Press reported this country had elected Barack Obama to be our nation’s first black president.

Of course, I think it’s important to remember that Obama is of mixed race, a symbol of unity and love in and of itself. As he said in his acceptance speech, “this is our time.“

The word “our,“ now can truly apply to Americans of every race color and creed for the first time in my eyes. This election, politics aside, has been so inspiring, so historical, so full of faith and means more to the future of our culture than any election before it. The election of Obama to our nation’s highest office changes the fabric of our society and marks a true turning point of change. His victory is an accomplishment we are all a part of, and it’s implications are as numbered and diverse as the people of this country are.

His victory means that a majority of people this country have moved past color. His victory means that a child born to a white mother and black father has less limitations than before. His victory means that black children will have more hope than before, because when their parents and teachers tell them they can be anything they want, they are no longer lying. His victory means that in a lifetime, this country has moved from fire hoses, church bombings and burning crosses to acceptance, understanding, respect and love of peoples’ differences.

The road has been long and, at times, exhausting, but the people did not stop fighting. Now is the time to rejoice in a major victory.

The road also, however, has not come to an end. What I would hate to see happen is for people to start thinking “well, a black man is president, so everything is equal now.“ From gender to race to religion, people in this country are still diminished and discriminated against on a daily basis. This is not the time to relinquish. We can not let up now. It is time to push onward, to ensure that inequalities citizens of this nation still face are not dismissed or forgotten.

What happened on Nov. 4 proves to me that “yes, we can” continue to move forward build on everything that is great about America. I have found a faith that I once lacked, and I am thankful to my country for giving me that gift.