It happened! I'm speechless, amazed, excited, elated, shocked and emotional. It's surreal that Barack Obama is our new President. Let me put this in perspective on how personal this is to me and many others who were there from the beginning over four years a go.
For those of you who have been a part of eFete for sometime, you know that we started on an improbable journey a while back. Many of you didn't know his name. In-fact, most couldn't pronounce his name. When Barack announced his run for the U.S. Senate no one gave him a chance. A State Senator with no name and no money. Friends that were connected politically told me that he wouldn't have a chance to win. Since I hadn't been involved in politics before, I didn't know what to expect. But I remember sitting down with Barack for lunch eight years a go discussing politics and our backgrounds and thinking that this guy was no ordinary politician. Therefore, I wasn't sold on what the experts had to say. In his headquarters downtown Chicago, with about 15 other folks, we discussed and planned his first fundraiser. His strategy and vision at that time was very clear and precise. He wanted to have a snowball effect on his campaign where folks would start to get excited about who he was and what he stood for. That momentum and excitement would then spill over to others, and so on, and so on. It worked and proved all of the naysayers wrong. He catapulted onto the national scene at the 2004 DNC and captivated a nation with that speech. I saw him the next week at the gym and said "Barack, that speech!". He said with a grin and a smile, "D.C. did you like that?" He inspired a nation and started something special. Many of you were there. It's personal!
Barack announced that he was running for President of the United States of America. Again, naysayers were asking, "What is he thinking?" Okay, he won the U.S. Illinois Senate, but President? Is America ready for a black President? Most folks didn't think so, but those of you that were there from the beginning knew better. His campaign strategy was no different from his run for the U.S. Senate. He inspired folks and got the snowball effect rolling. Americans understood who he was and what he stood for. Young folks got involved and people wanted a change. It wasn't about race it was about results. Everyone started to believe that "Yes We Can" and it made a difference. Barack was never about politics but about people. He is a man that cares about people that happens to be a politician. It was evident from my personal one-on-one interactions with him and during his campaign tour. It's personal!
We respect all Obama non-supporters and their differences on political views. But, whether you are an Obama supporter or not, you have to acknowledge his road and arrival to the White House was historic and unprecedented. The journey that started in homes like mine in Chicago that moved to large crowds in Missouri, North Carolina and Florida, inspired many and prompted a change. His message hit home with the majority and gave hope to the minority. It's personal!
Last night I stood in the middle of Grant Park with my arms folded reflecting on what this means. People were in the streets chanting "Yes We Can", "Yes We Can". It was surreal and the tears started to flow. So great for our country and the rest of the world. I can now tell my 3 month old son that the impossible is truly possible. I saw his vision from the beginning and many of you did also. My friend, Barack Obama, the next President of the United States of America. Yes, it's personal!Labels: african americans, barack obama, bon v chicago, chicago politics, dc crenshaw, election 2008, fete select tv, first black president, president of the united states, presidential election
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