The end is finally here. After 16 long, grueling months, we have a Democratic nominee for the presidency. His name is Barack Obama.
As I sat watching the Montana and South Dakota primaries on Tuesday night, I have to admit that it was an emotional moment for me. When it was announced that Obama had reached the magic delegate number and that he was the presumptive Democratic nominee, it was as if this newfound sense of hope had washed over me. At that moment, I felt that anything is possible. Being a black person myself, I can attest to feeling the brunt of racism in this country. As far as we have come, this is still a racist country. We have always had white people running this country, and I have often wondered, “When will we be good enough? When will black people be considered worthy enough to grace the halls of the White House?”
Though Obama has not yet won the general election, the fact that he is the nominee is a huge step. We are watching history in the making because never before has there even been a black nominee from a major political party. The fact that he has made it this far signals to me that, even in light of the racism in this country, we have progressed. I truly believe that if Martin and Coretta were here, they would weep. Over 50 years after the official beginning of the Civil Rights Movement, we have a black person who actually has a chance of becoming the president of the United States of America.
I just want to congratulate Senator Obama on, not only the nominee win, but also his latest win in Montana. I commend his efforts and his courage. He truly does not know just how much he has affected people all over the nation, particularly me. My only prayer is that he keeps moving forward. In the words of that old Negro spiritual, I feel it appropriate to say: “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”
