After months of campaigning, negative ads, positive ads, commercials, radio spots, debates, discussions and stress, election night finally arrived. I wondered – would enough people show up to vote? Would Obama pull the targeted populations that he needed? Where would the swing states fall? Would people recognize that November 4, 2008 would go down in American history and would they step up to take part or would they sit back? And after they declared Ohio to Obama, my eyes welled up with tears of happiness and hope for a country that so desperately seeks it right now.

What was the difference? I’ll leave that to the political analysts that will inevitably be on TV for the next few weeks or months analyzing all the tiny details of each State and why some voted red vs. blue or vice versa. To me, Obama aroused a hope in people that ordinarily sat at home on election night watching Simpsons re-runs to stand up, walk to the polls, wait in lines around the block and cast their vote. I understand that to some, it seemed pointless to take the time to vote – it isn’t like one vote will make or break the election, right? Well, true, I understand that blanket statement, but millions of people with that attitude will make or break an election. Don’t get me wrong, there were still those people that remained that flipped me lewd hand gestures when I asked if they voted (now that’s more what I’m used to), but for the most part, I’ve been met with interest and a significantly higher level of knowledge this election than ever before. The fact remains that as Americans, our given privilege and duty is to partake in the election of our government officials.

As John McCain finished his concession speech I recall having two thoughts – first, I thought “that was the most graceful concession speech I think I’ve ever heard.” John McCain for all he’s been through is a respectable man and although he didn’t win my vote, he certainly does deserve respect and appreciation for his devotion to America. And as the crowd booed when the names “Obama” or “Biden” were said, I couldn’t help but wonder where we became so divided. This is not a football game, people. This is the election of our country’s leader and you may have an opinion on which one would be better, but in the end, they are both attempting to work toward the good of the country, including you. But, I believe that’s a testament to where American politics have gone – we focus on who screwed up what, whose relative is a drug dealer, who is godless, who lied when and where and for how many jelly beans rather than who did the greater good. Alas, this is an entirely different topic, so I’ll leave it alone. My second thought was “wow, I am sure glad I didn’t have to hear Sarah Palin speak again.”

I did hear over and over how momentous an occasion this was to our African-American community and I completely agree, but I might add that this is a momentous occasion for so many more as well. Obama is not only a representation of an African-American and to think of him in strictly that way would be taking steps backward from the forward position that his election has proven us to be in. No longer will your race immediately exclude you from the most powerful position in the U.S., as many assumed it might even in 2008; and this should bring hope to the African-Americans, the Asian-Americans, the Latinos, the gays, the transgendered, the young, the old, the women and the working class. So perhaps that is why people came out in record numbers to cast their measly single ballot. Perhaps it was the realization that America had arrived at a point in which politics was not a hopeless abyss controlled mainly by rich white men. And perhaps what this election will show us is that our participation and our votes do count.

When I tell the story of this historical election night to my children, yes, I will explain how Barack Obama went down in history as the first African-American president. But what this means is that he went down in history as the president that proved that this country was finally over the peak of the mountain of racism. And this is so extremely meaningful for all citizens within this country, no matter their color.

Congratulations Barack Obama – I hope that new puppy you bring to the White House is a pug.