an excerpt...

of a historical, fictional conversation between my grandchild and me as we reminisce on the days of old. the first black president of the united states. a conversation dedicated to my mimi who told me about sacrificing "nylons" during WWII so they could make more parachutes, among other historical lessons.

child: so did you vote for him?
me: well child times were different, i was young and uniformed. i had been raised to vote for republicans. i slept through my zero hour political science class. i didn't know right from left or red from blue. the week of the election i frantically emailed my older and wiser brother and sister to see who they were voting for, and they both said mccain. i had a lot of discussions with the people i worked with, my roommates, neighbors, and it was a toss up, because i thought it would be great to have a black president, but i wasnt sure that i really believed in obama. i wasnt convinced. i stuck to what i knew and voted straight republican. thats the way i voted, but i was still excited with everyone that he won. and when i went to vote, i had to stand in line for two hours. i was late for work, but it was excused. i was one of about 20 white people in the building voting. i was living in a place where i was the minority. there were tons of people in line. the girl behind me was voting for the first time. she was there with some friends, and they kept talking about the people they saw coming out to vote. these girls said they were respecting some of the men they saw showing up to vote. i thought that was surprising to hear. i knew people would come out to vote, but i was still surprised that it was really coming out that way.

child: so what happened? were people really that excited??
me: yes! child! oh well you know i happened to be living in new york city the metropolitan capital of the nation in those days. and i happened to be living in a predominantly jamaican/ carribean neighborhood, so they were ecstatic at the results. there was obama artwork hanging in my building. when it was announced we started hearing some yelling in the streets, that yelling turned into shouts of joy. people hanging out their windows singing "hallelujah". cars were driving down the streets honking in celebration. everyone came outside and shared the joy. it was a nice uplifting spurt for nyc because spirits were definitely down because of the financial state that affected so many new yorkers. the city needed a pick me up. and that is just what happened. the next day at work everyone was so excited. tears of joy, champagne, parties, news papers sold out, hugs, kisses, smiles, high fives, you name it and if it is associated with celebration it was happening. the city was walking on a cloud.

and you know what one of the headlines said? i dont think i could ever forget it. it has always stayed with me, "One man to change the nation" that is what everyone was believing. Everyone thought that this one man was going to change their personal state of being and in turn change the nation. and about that. that was a really sad thing to watch. i think i remember that headline so well, because i thought if people could believe that mumbojumbo, then couldn't they believe the gospel too? one man did change the world. but still these people had put all this hope into obama's empty promises. he made promises of change, and i think people took what he said and thought it meant direct, immediate change. the whole campaign was based on hope. that obama was the hope our country needed. well ill tell ya i didn't buy that. i knew obama would eventually fail those people in numerous ways. our hope is in the Lord. he is the one that brings about real change. but ya know even back then with my skepticism, i knew it was an exciting time to experience another step towards a less racist country. which reminds me of another thing we were thinking on election night. i remember thinkin i hope he doesnt get assassinated right now. he didnt but we were all so fearful for him that that would happen.

child you need to be thankful for the place where you have been raised. be thankful for where our country is today, and know that in the midst of good and bad history shapes who we are and who we become and who comes after us. so when exciting things happen don't throw them to the wayside take it in and experience it.