I Am History - Obama '08

In the Multicutural lounge in Sarazen, sitting there watching CNN was my best friend Amanda, and my friend Ricardo. Downstairs in SSU 241 my latino friends were practicing their show for Fall Fusion. This was November 4, 2008, everyone had so much anxiety, we were texting our friends at home and hoping that maybe the United States is hoping for change. That its not a race thing but just wanting change period. As I write this blog, tears of joy and happiness come down my eyes and I am a person not to ever cry about anything. At 11pm CNN flashed across the screen "BARACK OBAMA ELECTED PRESIDENT" There was a still pause for about 5 seconds and our mouths just dropped. Seconds later you heard screaming, tears of joy, phone lines were busy, you would have thought that we were celebrating the new year.

People looked at us(the minorities) like we losted our minds but I don't think anyone will understand the pride and the confidence that we feel now. Not to make this a race issue but my president is well-educated black man. I never thought in a million years, I would ever see this and I am only 17 years old. I called my mom during all of the screaming and running around the Student Union and you know what she told me "Tai, when I pulled the lever to cast my vote, I cried."

My great grandparents grew up during a time of slavery when blacks were considered 3/5ths of a person. My grandmother grew up during the time of segregation and the civil rights movement as african americans had to fight for their right to vote. My mother grew up during the 1970s when there was the Black Panther Movement. And now in my time, I get to see to the first black president in history. I was not able to cast my vote because I am only 17 but I had hope and prayed for everyone that was eligible to do the right thing. For the sake of people like me who are to young to vote and to think about our next generation, our future.

Barack Obama has given minorities across the U.S. a sense of pride, hope, and courage that we would have never gotten from any other president. Now when I see Obama, I see me.

People might say this and that about him but can you give the man a chance?! Some people don't like change and this change is drastic. I want our troops to come home, I want the recession to be over before it gets to a depression, I want my extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins to not have to worry about how they are going to get their next meal and how they are going to pay for rent, electricity, basically how are they going to survive.

If you never understood where I have come from and who I am, I hope you do now. Just give him a chance. He may not be able to change in six months or a year but give him time.

I AM FINALLY PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!

Bonner Love,

Tai