Yes. We. Can.

“We just might be OK / After all . . . / We just (just, just might be OK) / Just might be (we just, just might be OK) / OK, OK” – Lupe Fiasco, “We Just Might Be OK”

Normally, I try to stay away from all things political on here. It’s just easier that way. This blog is pretty light hearted, for the most part, and some times politics is anything but. However, I would be completely remiss and doing myself and you all a disservice if I didn’t post something on the history that was made last night.

I spent my evening at an Election Viewing Party with my close friends Esquire and his fiancee’ (we’ll call her Tiffany and Co. for that big ring she’s got!). The event was hosted by a law firm and held for young, Black professionals. And it was amazing to see so many of us filling the room, surrounding the bar (and the free buffet) mixing, mingling, networking and anticipating. The whole night we kept joking how they were going to call the election at 10:30 pm because the states just kept rolling in for Obama. Seriously, it was our running joke of the evening. And I remember, that at 10:59:20 pm we watched the countdown of more states start to roll in with their results. California, Hawaii, Washington. We were only half paying attention – chit chatting and watching the screen aimlessly.

At 11:00:01 pm (well it seemed like that) the room erupted in cheers. CNN just called the election for Senator Barack Obama. Wait what? I did a double take. Then, a triple take. I rubbed my eyes to make sure my contacts weren’t tricking me. Nope. It was still there. “Barack Obama Wins Presidential Election.” And then I knew it was real because the texts and pings (a.k.a. messages on Blackberry Messenger) started to roll in.

“WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! OMG” – S. Dot

“CNN just called it!” – D-Magic

“He did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” – My Daddy

And I was in shock. Complete, utter shock. Dumbstruck. Gobsmacked. It happened so fast. I almost wasn’t ready for it. And the celebration began. And the speeches were coming. And the music was played and the shots were flowing. And I was still in shock.

And I stayed in shock until I got to my car. (Truthfully, I’m still kind of in shock – but it’s a good shock, I swear). And when I got in the car my CD player was playing Loopy’s (Lupe Fiasco) song “We Just Might Be OK.” And that’s all I heard – I lost it. Tears started pouring down my face; so hard and so fast I’m still not sure exactly where they came from. Trust me, after Voldy, I thought I’d cried every last tear out of my system. But they just kept coming. And coming. And coming. They were coming for my grandparents who didn’t live long enough to see the day where a Black candidate would win the election. For my parents, who spent years telling me and my brother that, just because we were Black, it didn’t mean we couldn’t do or be anything we wanted – and now that was true. For my nephew and Godchildren who will be in a better place because November 4, 2008 happened. For my brother, who voted for the first time yesterday and got to do it for the best candidate . . . who happens to look like him. And for the little old lady who was first in line at my polling place and so overcome with emotion that she forgot to push the button to submit her vote for Barack Obama – and for the man who ran outside to go get her because he knew what that meant.

They were tears of joy, or pride, of complete elation. Don’t get me wrong – I know that the road for Barack Obama will not be easy. I know that the road for America will not be easy. I know it will be difficult, painful and downright hard some days. I’m not unrealistic. I’m reasonable. And, I understand there is a tough road ahead. But I can’t help but think about the slaves who built the steps to the US Capitol building. About my ancestors who built this country from the ground up. My grandfather, who served in a war for a country that didn’t consider him to be a worthy citizen. My parents who were born into segregation. About Martin who walked so that Obama could run so that my children can fly (<- OK, so I borrowed that). I can’t help but think about all of those before me who sang “We Shall Overcome.” And I can’t help but think, that in some way, last night, we did.

Yes. We. Can.

Signed,
I stayed up way past my bedtime watching CNN and Jorge Barbie

~ by countryclubbarbie on November 5, 2008.