President-Elect Barack Obama

"I have a dream that one day my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal."

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

As I watched on television the November 4th 2008 election coverage it was the night the nation changed. When the winner was announced- the President-elect of the United States of America is Barack Obama the tears rolled down my cheeks. The tears rolled down my cheeks as I watched the dream of Dr. king being fulfilled before my eyes. This was an event that I never thought I would live to see.

I watched as freedom rang from New York.

I watched as freedom rang from Pennsylvania.

I watched as freedom rang from New Hampshire.

I watched as freedom rang from Chicago.

I watched as black men and white men, rich and poor, young and old came together. I watched as veteran voters and first time voters screamed in excitement and jubilation. I even watched the next day as the globe celebrated.

The tears continued to roll as I thought about those who died even for the right to vote. I thought about the Emmett Tills' and the Medagar Evers's and the ones whose names never made it into the history books. The ones who were lynched, the ones who had the water from the fire hoses blasted upon their bodies. The ones who had their flesh bitten off by vicious dogs just for the right to be treated fairly and to share the same liberties as others.

The tears rolled for those who fought so hard to bring about change and did not get a chance to witness this historic event. The tears rolled for those in my family who had passed away and did not have an opportunity to behold this event, but in my heart I know that they make up the cloud of witnesses and I believe that they too were rejoicing.

A new day has arrived when you can look into your children and grand children eyes and tell them that they can be anything they want to be and really mean it. The self-limitations, the boundaries and all the excuses have been torn down. The days of yes I can have arrived. The days of I can be whatever I want to be. Yes, I can be the Vice-President of the United States or even the president. The color barrier has been crossed and the veil torn down.

President-elect Barack Obama has a long hard road ahead considering the condition the nation as a whole is in. This nation is really at one of its lowest points in history. President-elect Barack Obama has displayed the true character of a leader ready to lead. We as a nation realize that change will not come overnight, but he has built a bridge of hope for this nation.

Congratulations to our 44th President-elect of the United States of America Barack Obama.