Simply put: yes we can

And though it seems heaven sent
We ain't ready to have a black president

Tupac, Changez
circa 1995-96

I won't lie, I cried a little on Thursday night. It has been so long that we have been watching this process that it is easy to lose sight sometimes of what a truly historic watershed this is, how unlikely this was even a year ago and how even more unlikely 4 years ago.

I am only 26 but honestly, I never thought I would see this in my lifetime. I just didn't. And it is not like I am a pessimistic person. On the contrary I am hugely optimistic - I think the world we live in is getting better, morally and ethically. That is not a popular opinion but it is true. So many evils that were taken for granted for centuries before us - classism, caste systems, slavery, child labour, brutal oppression of women, autocracy and dictatorship, serfdom - have been largely recognised as the inequities they are and we are working hard at banishing them.

The world is becoming a better place but I still saw nothing at ALL on the horizon even four, five years ago to indicate to me that we would be at this point in 2008. Did you? Obama was only the third black U.S. Senator since Reconstruction and the fifth in the United States history. There was nothing that indicated to me that the United States, so fatally obsessed with race as it is, would move a black man to being so near a position of power through the ballot box. I honestly thought our best chances were in being appointed to high office.

What the heck made him think he could do it? What did he see that we did not see? I am still amazed at what the American people have done and even more amazed that Obama saw it in them when few else did.

I did not think it could really, really happen. Like, for real, actually nominated, one of two main options - real ish.

I am tingly at the thought that Michelle Obama could be the First Lady - someone like me! Like really like me! Black, middle class, striving, pulling herself up through intellect and good education. It is so amazing as a black woman to see someone that we can relate to. And we all can, whether on this side of the Atlantic or the other.

So I shed a few tears on Thursday night. Tears of sheer joy and thankfulness that this has actually come to pass and I'm here to see it!

I'm saving the big tears for November 4th. I am still holding my breath quite a bit - force of habit I guess. I cannot imagine what I would do that day.

America surprised us
And let a black man guide us

Nas, Black President
2008