image courtesy of Patrick Moberg
In the wake of all the countless hours of election coverage, from amongst the seemingly endless stream of interviews being thrown at us from every local news channel, one little five-second snippet caught my ear more than anything I’d heard in the past week about this historic election: an elderly Black woman, decked out in Obama gear and holding an American flag, said enthusiastically into the microphone, “It’s not just a Black thing, it’s an Every thing.” After she said it, I stopped to think about it, and I realized how true that was – how much this election signifies, not just for the minority populations, but for all of us as Americans, and what it means for the rest of the world.
For us, it’s a monumental achievement for, but unfortunately probably not the conclusion of, the Civil Rights movement, proving Dr. King right and millions of doubtful voters wrong with the election of an African-American president (who is, quite literally, African-American). Nothing I write here could possibly express anything that hasn’t already been said or felt, and I realize that while Tuesday meant a whole lot to me as an American, it meant even more for most of SASSY’s readers, and I’d rather not trivialize that by going on and on about that particular aspect of the election.
So why did I just bid a paycheck I don’t have (Thanks economy!) on a limited edition Shepard Fairey Obama campaign poster on eBay? Because on November 4, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or gender, we banded together as a nation and stood up for what we believe in, for the hope and change Barack Obama represents, for a break from eight years of failed policies, misinformation, and ruined reputations in the eyes of our global neighbors. This man crossed lines, brought people together, mobilized an entire generation. He even redrew the political map! States that haven’t voted Democrat in nearly half a century went blue on Tuesday. And what did that prove? That we, as a nation, as a generation, are not as apathetic and lazy as everyone would like to believe we are; that we are a force to be reckoned with and that we will not take “no you can’t” as an answer; that when we really care, all things are possible.
That the election of Barack Obama incited celebrations of millions around the world is only testament to the impressiveness of our decision. Just when everyone else had given up hope that we’d ever elect someone different, someone who can possibly restore this country’s wealth and reputation (which, admittedly, is yet to be seen), we go and elect a guy that isn’t old and grey and White. For once, we took into account how our next president might influence the rest of the world, and how the result of that influence will ultimately come back to us. More importantly, the victory of this election isn’t just for America, it’s an example for the rest of the world, a challenge issued from the people of this country to every other electorate on the planet: yes we did, and so can you.
But now the question is: will people listen? Will other countries follow in our footsteps and stand up for what they think is right? I think it’s safe to say that this isn’t the nail in the coffin of racism or of oppression in general, but it’s at least a huge blow. Now it’s up to everyone else to contribute to the fight. You think they will?
-Allison
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Well said! I honestly felt that “WE won!,” a sentiment shared among President-Elect Obama’s supporters. This collective victory has certainly heightened my sense of responsibility to this country, and I’m sure others share that feeling as well. Of course everyone will not contribute wholeheartedly but I do believe that some will step up. I’m more than anxious to see how these next few years unfold.