Election Night in Winnipeg Manitoba

There were African dancing, jubilation, screaming and crying in many areas of the City of Winnipeg when Barack Obama was declared the 44^th President of the United States of America. It was like the light went on and the beacon of the freedom and democracy in the world became visible again. No where was this more obvious than in Phase 2 Cabaret, a local nightspot in the heart of this friendly multicultural city, at which people of various nationalities and ethnicities gathered to celebrate this history making moment while they shaed curried chicken and rice and a big screen view of the election results.

Present was the full cadre of press reporters and videographers including the CBC, Winnipeg Free Press, Global Eyes Magazine and CTV News. They were there to capture the moment for posterity and to witness the reactions of people, particularly people of African heritage whether Barack Obama had won or lost the election. Either way for many of the Blacks at Phase 2 Cabaret on election night, Barack was seen as a winner. He was a contender on the ballot and that is farther than any other Black has gone in the United States of America.

One woman who identified herself as Bose, a Nigerian, said "Barack has taught us many lessons tonight. He taught us that you can achieve anything you want if you work hard, if you are determined and if you persevere, he also taught us that people can change if you present them with hope and he taught Black men that they do not need a Blonde and blue-eyed wife to achieve and reach the top."

This vibrant group of about 70 people cheered and shouted and cried every time the number of electoral votes escalated on the Obama side and when Barack Obama was declared the 44th President of the United States of America, the screams reached a crescendo with shouts of "yes we can", "yes we can" with tears of joy flying all over the place in wild abandon. The moment was electrifying. During commerical break and as we waited for Senator McCaine and President Barack Obama to take the podium, the Nigerians played hi-life music and the crowd took to the dance floor and let themselves go.

Uzoma Asagwara, Winnipeg born of Nigerian parents, a local basketball star and recent graduate of University of Winnipeg with a Bachelor of Science in Psychiatric Nursing, said Barack Obama's winning means "change, new hope. We can achieve concrete representation in the world, and the belief that we can actually change anything. He is a good man".

Christie Zatorsky, Winnipeg born and raised said "Barack Obama represents change for America and an end to the typical old boys club. He is someone who is good for the world. Maybe we will see an earlier pull out of Iraq." Zatorsky is a graduate of University of Manitoba with a BA in Administrative Studies.

An older Caucasian man who did not want to be identified said this night reminded him of the sixties when as a young man he participated in civil rights marches for freedom and equality. He said that Obama is the man for this time.

Titi Tijani, a Nigerian and mother of Canadian born children said that Barack will inspire hope for her children in Canada. They can dream of being anything they want because they have seen it happen.

And the revelers could not agree more with this sentiment.