I’ve always hoped for and believed that it would happen, but didn’t know if it would happen in my lifetime. The fact that I witnessed the day that people, a couple of generations from slavery, were able to cast a vote for a BLACK MAN is amazing.
The fact that my parents, both born in the segregated South and witnesses of the trials and tribulations of that segregation, were able to vote for a BLACK MAN is just as amazing. The fact that my young black son and daughter in their 20’s were able to cast a vote for a BLACK MAN is out of this world amazing.
Throughout all of this amazement, I’m more excited about the man who changed the way the world looks at hard work.
This is a man I relate to because our backgrounds are similar. Like him, I was raised by a single parent who preached hard work in everything I did, stressed the importance of family and, most importantly, pushed education. I also relate to President-Elect Obama because, like him, I am working my way through college to achieve my goals to do work in a field that isn’t highly glorified.
Has change really come to America? In many ways, it really has. Working the polls yesterday allowed me to witness and assist people of all ages, ethnicities, religious backgrounds, economic class, education levels, and political affiliations participate in the election process.
The only thing left to say about all of this is: two weeks ago under the Arch, I shook the hand of the man with the master plan.
Michelle R. Robinson
Via email