Now What?

Alexis E. Barton

Somehow, Alexis E. Barton always knew her SAT-worthy vocabulary and wacky turns as an artist's model, pageant runner-up, freelance etiquette coach and event planner would pay off. She's a twenty-something award-winning writer living in the Deep South who rides the Crimson Tide and believes in high ...

Alexis E. Barton

Wednesday, November, 5, 2008

Did what I think happened last night REALLY happen??? Or are we all having the same extraordinary dream? Tonight I saw people cupid shuffling in Birmingham and rejoicing in a Kenyan village. I saw vendors hawking tee shirts and planning bus trips, crowds chanting in parks and bars across the nation. Praying. Weeping. What did you see?

No, I’m not referring to the Crimson Tide being ranked number one in the BCS poll.

Last night, the United States elected an African-American man to the Presidency by an overwhelming majority. A wife and two daughters of color will join him in the White House. Anything-anything, y’all-is possible.

What does this say about the strides we’ve made past racism?

What does this mean for other minorities who dare to hope?

What does this mean for Joe Six Pack, the hockey mom, the working poor?

This mantle will no doubt be heavy. The exuberance of last night’s historic victory will fades into stark reality, and we will return to the daily struggles which unite us across race, gender, sexual orientation, education, religion and socioeconomic status. If President-Elect Obama can’t deliver all the things he’s promised, if he can’t part the Red Sea of debt or rally home the troops quickly, if he can’t heal us of every ill, will the masses desert him?

Time will tell. Tomorrow will come soon enough.

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herlurie

We need to step back

Posted Wed, 11/05/2008 - 07:56

I agree - we need to step back and take a second to breathe and reflect. I too am amazed and inspired that we have elected an African American president. I think it speaks volumes about how far we have come in our struggle with racism, a struggle that I know is still far from over (I can't remember where but I heard the other day that some extremists are saying that Hussein is the name of the anti-christ, therefore Barack must be him). I admit, I got caught up in the excitement of the moment. But your blog has helped me come back down to earth. Obama is only human after all - we need to celebrate, but we also need to keep that in mind. He won't be able to work miracles, he won't be able to solve all of our problems. I don't expect him to, and I hope that no one else does either. We all need to rally behind him and continue to support and celebrate his presidency even when he makes mistakes and especially when his opponents stand up and try to say "I told you so."

onetwothreebirds

We need to embrace

Posted Wed, 11/05/2008 - 08:55

We need to realize we're all much more alike than different. We need to realize everyone wants to live in a country with a strong economy, with more peace than war, everyone wants to feel safe and be sure their children are offered the best possible education-- and a bright, bright future.

We need to embrace. We need to stop spreading goofy rumors. We need to stop trying to divide our country and start working together for our future.

We've got a lot of work to do, it will go faster and smoother if we do it together.

We need to embrace each other.

~ Rhi B.
http://rhibowman.wordpress.com

krrobi

I feel Obama will make the

Posted Wed, 11/05/2008 - 10:50

I feel Obama will make the changes we need in America. I am very excited to be alive to be part of this Historical Event! Democracy Rocks! :)

writeousbabe

"If President-Elect Obama

Posted Wed, 11/05/2008 - 20:22

"If President-Elect Obama can’t deliver all the things he’s promised, if he can’t part the Red Sea of debt or rally home the troops quickly, if he can’t heal us of every ill, will the masses desert him?" -- Such a good question and something I worry about. I fear that even if Obama does everything right people will be dissappointed if he's not like a Messiah. Nonetheless, I'm excited to see what changes he will bring to our country. P.S. -- I was born and bred in Birmingham and I graduated from the University of Alabama. In fact, I was in T-town for homecoming this past weekend and watched them crush Arkansas State to become #1. Roll Tide Roll!

pleasebelieveme