Open thread: We did it

by Carmen Van Kerckhove

More coming soon from your Racialicious crew, but for now… Where were you last night? How did you feel when his win was announced? How did you celebrate?

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Comments

Chris wrote:

I was in total disbelief when I was watching it, seeing as how MSNBC was calling states in Obamas favor with <= 10% of precincts reporting.

I was still is disbelief when McCain gave his concession speech.

It didn’t really hit me until after the Obama and Biden families hit the stage after Barack’s speech.

To celebrate, I hugged my girlfriend and repeated my “McCain ain’t gonna win” dance, and promptly fell asleep on her couch while watching the post-election analysis.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 9:36 am ¶
chocomiel wrote:

YES!!!!!

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 9:45 am ¶
Mammith wrote:

Wooooo! The rest of the world says thanks.

I stayed up till 3 in the morning here in Britain watching the results (sometimes my insomnia comes in handy). Going round my American friends house later for a little impromptu celebration.

Heres to change!

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 9:58 am ¶
bdsista wrote:

I spent the evening with my Dad and Mom who are 81 and 78. When they announced Obama’s win, my Father cried and cried during the speech and screamed for Michelle Obama (my Mom thinks he associates her with me, my name is also Michelle and I am a lawyer, but my Obama hasn’t come yet). They were born in 1927 and 1929, it was incredibly moving for me and gave me so much hope for the future.
My hope came from all the people of all races, creeds and colors who came together to make this happen. It came from the elderly white man I sat next to yesterday calling PA at Obama headquarters. It came from the lady who came with cookies with chocolate and white icing asking people if they wanted Obama/Biden cookies. It came from the text message I got from my Latina colleague last night who wrote, now my children can see someone who looks like them in the white house. It came from the phone call from Korea of my buddy in the service who said they were going out that night to celebrate. Even my ex-husband called.
The pundits asked themselves, is this more than just an election? Can it be that this is a movement? There were 100, 000 people in Grant Park last night. Yes, this is a movement and a lot of my friends of color are saying. Now we are all Americans!
Hallelujah!

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 10:06 am ¶
Sean wrote:

I was at home with my 17 yr old mixed-race son. He’d accompanied me to the polls at 7 am because he “wanted to be part of this.” When Obama’s win was announced, he broke down and cried.

I don’t mean a tear or two. I mean ten minutes with tears streaming down his face. This is a kid who has an IQ of 149, but when he turned in his first high school English paper was asked, “Who helped you write this?”

This is a kid who is deeply sensitive, but for the most part is told that to succeed as a black man, he has to be a “gangsta” who cares only about money, drugs, and sex.

This is a young man who, for the first time in his life, believed that he could be anything. He cried for ten minutes as his heart broke open. I cried with him.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 10:08 am ¶
Phrone wrote:

I was at the University of Michigan and people went /crazy/. Everyone was out on the streets screaming and there was a complete flash mob. I ran through the halls of my dorm as soon as CNN called it — my friends were calculating and the moment we realized Virginia had won it for him, we all freaked out. Students were in the streets, shouting “YES WE DID”, “NO MORE BUSH”, and “OBAMA.” It was fantastic. Obama made me believe in democracy.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 10:18 am ¶
Lorraine wrote:

I went to an election watch party the College Dems were holding. HUGE.

I screamed, so much. I cried. Some bawled around me, others fell in their knees in disbelief and screamed and cried in joy all at the same time.

I can’t even tell you the effect it had on me. It changed my world view, it changed me for the better. I will never forget November 4, 2008 as long as I live.

It was the best night of my life.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 10:19 am ¶
HeatherMarie wrote:

I was at the World Cafe Live in Philadelphia and it was jubilant! Spontaneous dancing and singing – there was palpable relief and happiness when it seemed like it _might_ happen, and beautiful pandemonium when it _did_ happen. I don’t think I have ever hugged so many strangers in one night

Sheryl Lee Ralph sang “God Bless America” and it was the first time I felt proud to sing along.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 10:22 am ¶
miss a. wrote:

For the first time, the President (elect) has mentioned the word “Asians” in the list of diverse entities that make up these United States of America. We have been a part of this country for over 100 years, and today was the first day we were recognized as being a part of America, too. That was when I cried.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 10:22 am ¶
atlasien wrote:

I went to a local sports bar for the watch party. The energy was incredible. Post and video here. I missed the speech but will have to catch it later.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 10:29 am ¶
Chris wrote:

Also, my gf and I were thinking of heading down to Grant Park to join the really, but instead figured that we’d actually be able to see and hear Barack Obama’s speech better if we watched it on TV.

Part of me wishes I would’ve been down there, but part of me is just glad I got to witness that monumental speech on the night that history was made.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 10:33 am ¶
talulah_m wrote:

The only two elections that I remember really clearly are the 2000 and 2004 ones, so I didn’t really see the point in torturing myself by staying up all night. I went to bed at a little after ten, the way I normally do; my roommate woke me up at a little after eleven to tell me that OBAMA WON, BITCH (I believe those were her exact words). I’d taken three tylenol PMs before I went to bed (tense? Me? Never!), so I was groggy and out-of-it and didn’t quite believe her. I celebrated by panicking that she was wrong and then falling back into a drugged slumber. This morning, I was convinced I dreamed the whole thing–so the first thing I did was check CNN.com.

It still kinda feels like I dreamed it, honestly.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 10:45 am ¶
Lisa J wrote:

I was at a bar in downtown DC, every state that came in for Obama, a cheer went up. I live on Capitol Hill and while walking home I heard some thumping, took my headphones off and realized the Democratic National Committee (2 blocks from my house) was having a party. I walked past and saw the place was hopping! I walked towards my house passed a black couple in a car who had their windows down and were screaming for Obama and I screamed too and yelled, “GO OBAMA!” I went in my aptartment , flicked on the tv saw that the election was declared a victory for Obama, called my Mom, and we discussed. I watched McCain’s fairly gracious speech, went back out to another Dem bar down the street (which was packed wall to wall) watched Obama’s speech and the energy was electric, everyone was cheering and clapping at the best parts of the speech and screaming, “Yes WE CAN” and then when I walked back home, people were honking horns and cheering, screaming, yelling “GO OBAMA” It was AMAZING. I’m so glad I didn’t go home in tears again this time like I did four years ago.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 10:45 am ¶
Niki wrote:

I was nervously watching at home. It really didn’t hit me until the Obamas walked out on stage in Grant Park. I cried–making the “ugly cry face” and everything. It was like the spirits of all of those who came before me –who had to battle firehoses and police dogs just to have the right to vote– finally exhaled.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 10:50 am ¶
Korolev wrote:

Sitting at home, watching the TV – here in Australia, Obama is very popular (especially amongst the young people) and I and my family were all very relieved that he won. It has renewed my trust in the United States – a country that I love to criticize, but have always respected in terms of its origin and its founding principles.

I can’t say I lept for joy – I was extremely happy, but I knew he was going to win for weeks. Every poll, all the odds, all the gambling institutions predicted a big win – so I wasn’t shocked or surprised when he won – only happy. The US has a real chance, a great chance, of beginning along a new path to international admiration and glory that has been so very lacking during the past 6-7 years (I say that because Bush was still liked in 2001, and it was only afterwards that everyone realized who he really was).

I have renewed trust in US democracy – it’s not a fraud like some people said it was.

Obama is going to be a great president. He will do good work. My only fear is that people might hold him to unrealistic standards. He’s facing huge problems created by the Republican administration – I have no doubt that he will rise to these challenges, and start the US on the right path, but I hope no one expects him to magically fix everything. No one can fix the monumental problems that the US (and the world) is facing in 4 years.

But, best of luck to him. I can now listen to “Stars and Stripes Forever” (one of my favorite piecies of music) and actually relate the optimism it brings with the reality of the situation.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 11:01 am ¶
Me wrote:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=asXRi3XES1g

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 11:01 am ¶
Peter Pixie wrote:

Listening to President-Elect Obama’s speech brought tears to my eyes and hope to my heart.

I feel like we are at the Dawn of an Age of Heroes. I hope I am correct.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 11:03 am ¶
Myles wrote:

I was drifting in an out of sleep, and someone called me looking to see who called them and they asked me why I wasn’t more excited and didn’t I know that Obama had won. lol.

I really happy that Obama won and I celebrated by getting the most sound sleep I’ve had since Bush got elected.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 11:08 am ¶
CVT wrote:

I went to bed. I couldn’t stand the anxiety. Some friends called (I talked directly to one) and left screaming victory messages on my answering machine, but I wasn’t willing to believe it. It was based on exit polls – they couldn’t be accurate. I was going to wake up in the morning and find out they had mis-judged.

I woke up at 5am this morning (and a million times before that). I finally caved, ran to my computer to see if it REALLY happened. I’ve been crying off and on the last two hours as I read every article and watch every video I can of the event.

I NEVER believed this could really happen.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 11:09 am ¶
Carmen Van Kerckhove wrote:

I blogged my thoughts on last night here: http://tinyurl.com/62yox2

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 11:10 am ¶
CVT wrote:

Oh yeah – I carefully planned my outfit to wear to school (I’m a teacher) today:

White long-sleeved shirt with a red mandarin-collared Chinese shirt over the top. White khakis and blue shoes with red and white laces.

It happened – I’m finally proud to be an American.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 11:14 am ¶
macon d wrote:

I think the enormity of it all hit me when I saw Jesse Jackson weeping as he listened in that sea of people to our new . . . black . . . president. . .

Then I thought, “Rosa. Malcolm X. MLK. And Barack Obama.”

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 11:15 am ¶
Rachel wrote:

I was watching the entire coverage from around 8:30 to late with friends in my dorm. It was amazing. I still can’t believe that it has happened and I am so so happy. He seems ready to get in there and do good things. I so happy when he mentioned Native Americans. As a Native and Black woman, the simple recognition of the fact that we exist was so nice to hear for once. Go Obama!

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 11:16 am ¶
Nina wrote:

I was outside on the phone with my father, I heard from a few miles away the sounds of voices and cheering. I live in a small town, so its not like u expect to hear a crowd. Fireworks were going off, car horns honking, guns being shot.

I went inside and wept a little. Called my mom back who said “You have a a black president.Your first one.” I texted my friends. I wept then during his speech I CRIED. Like all red faced contorted boohoo sobbing. I then had a swig of dark rum straight from the bottle, txted a pic of it to my friends, cried some more and slept on the couch with MSNBC on.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 11:18 am ¶
Jennifer Gandin Le wrote:

Chris and I were at home with friends eating good food and waiting anxiously. I had about 5 screens open on the computer, and we were flipping through our non-cable channels to see what different stations were saying.

The craziest thing is that we got the news from FOX NEWS CHANNEL. They were the first ones to put up that glittery “OBAMA BECOMES PRESIDENT” caption that we saw. I thought I was in an alternate universe.

We were hollering and yelling and crying and so excited that I forgot to take any damn pictures of the night after McCain’s concession speech.

The peak moments of joy: Obama mentioning Asians in his speech, the broad smiles on his and Michelle’s faces, all the tears in the audience, the realization that my future children will grow up in a world where a man of color can be President of the United States…. I am overwhelmed with pride and joy.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 11:21 am ¶
EL wrote:

I thought I’d never be able to say this, but: “We took our country back, BEEYOTCH!”

A new era has dawned – and no one can deny it.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 11:32 am ¶
Diana wrote:

Last night I yelled and screamed and hugged my friends. This morning I danced, cried, danced, and cried some more. My dog, whose new name is Obama, looked at me like I was crazy. Then I sat down and composed my thoughts on my blog http://www.mesoamused.com

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 11:34 am ¶
Rob Schmidt wrote:

I was home alone watching TV while working on PECHANGA.net on my laptop. Real men don’t cry, but I admit I choked up a few times. It might’ve been the best night of my life too–certainly the best political night.

(Second-best political night might’ve been when Bill Clinton beat the right-wing impeachment rap–also a fantastic moment.)

Death to the politics of Bush, Cheney, Rove, McCain, and Palin!

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 11:37 am ¶
merq wrote:

I hosted a viewing party for a bunch of friends. Together we watched it happen, damn-near losing our minds when he hit 292, losing it even more when the new first family walked onstage, and responding “yes we did” every time he said “yes we can.”

Interestingly enough, only three in our gathering of 20 were Americans — the rest of us claim citizenry everywhere from Jamaica to Ukraine to Nigeria to Israel. Yet, we’d be damned if anyone tried to tell us this wasn’t our victory too.

And then came the champagne-soaked phone calls to friends and relatives.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 11:43 am ¶
SarahSimone wrote:

My best friend lives in England and she stayed up all night to watch the returns. We were on the phone and for some reason BBC was getting everything a few seconds before CNN. She screamed “we won!” and then it came up on my TV screen. I tore a lap around the house, then collapsed onto the couch and started weeping from happiness.

I am so so so happy. As I walked to the train this morning things felt different. I’m actually excited about what the next 4 years might bring!

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 11:44 am ¶
Naomi C wrote:

i am so happy obama won but disappointed by my state of georgia. not because of the ppl but because of the dirrty politicans.

screwy things are going on in that state, including the fact that around 600,000 early votes from the atlanta metropolitan area (which is prob the most democratic area of the state) still have NOT been counted. that would definitely make a difference.

the reason why wasnt because of mccain and obama.
but because of the senate race with incumbent republican chambliss and democrat martin, which is tighter than tight.

my parents, who are mccain supporters, didnt’ even support chambliss.

not that obama needed georgia to win (thankfully), but it would be a nice icing on his cake. and a good kick in the ass for the good ole boys there

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 11:53 am ¶
Rob wrote:

My only fear is that people will use this as an example of how racism has “ended.”

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 11:54 am ¶
Naomi C wrote:

a quote i found online to prove my point:

“I’m not saying there was deliberate fowl play. But there are whole counties around Atlanta (huge, growing, majority black counties that break 75/25 for Democrats) where voter turnout is only up about 3% over 2004. These are, again, fast-growing counties where turnout increased by 25%+ between 2000 and 2004. Clearly and obviously, something has gone drastically wrong.” “

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 11:55 am ¶
Sobia wrote:

As a non-American I too say thank you for electing Obama. And from what I’ve been hearing on CBC radio here in Canada it seems most of the world is grateful and relieved with these results. Obama was the world’s candidate of choice – no contest. And from what I’ve heard from my friends it seems that many have now regained a lost respect for our neighbours. For the first time in my life I actually wish I was American, too.

This is indeed a great moment for African-Americans of course, but also for other people of colour in North America – and perhaps in other countries in which we live as minorities.

Additionally, as a Muslim, I must say that it is heartening to see the majority of Americans reject the disgusting Islamophobia and xenophobia the McCain campaign employed. Thank you. I do hope things get better now for Muslims.

I have a feeling I won’t feel AS tense when I cross the border now.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 11:59 am ¶
Ki wrote:

I was waiting at the bus stop after work, on the phone with one of my friends who was my only source of news since my job didn’t have a tv or radio inside.

“Wait a minute, does that say 284?!”
(Pause)
“Oh my God, it does!”

I started getting excited, but it wasn’t until I told her to flip to FOX to make sure that it hit me. I started tearing up a little bit, but over all, I was just all smiles. They started celebrating in the streets a little – people yelling his name, firecrackers/works went off somewhere. Personally, I went home, settled into my warm little living room & watched the coverage – that was celebration enough for me, LOL. I tuned to NBC to see the reporters covering a party in my hometown, which just got me MORE excited. So, overall, a GOOD night

Even now, I still think I’m dreaming… but finally I can truly say, I’m PROUD to be an American.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 12:04 pm ¶
christine wrote:

I have been on muscle relaxers for 3 days. Since I live in California I got to go to bed relatively early, I was asleep as soon as the west coast polls closed and Obama was the definite winner. I’m glad they are replaying his speech this morning so I am coherent enough to appreciate it!

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 12:04 pm ¶
rosmar wrote:

I’m in North Carolina, so my state hasn’t been called yet. (Which itself is really exciting, though I’m still hopeful that Obama is going to get these electoral votes, too.)

My students were freaking out with happiness, and then I saw on the television that there was a huge spontaneous party in the streets downtown. I was tempted to go, but I’m getting old, so I just watched TV and danced around my house and cried.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 12:11 pm ¶
Roni wrote:

We watched it at a friend’s house that snowballed into an improptu watching party. We cheered, booed, and drank to coverage from 6pm on. When Obama finally won there was a lot of hugging and crying and texting. We didn’t stop watching until about 1am. I’m trying to temper my enthusiasm and be realistic, but I’m really, really optimistic for the future.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 12:15 pm ¶
ecru wrote:

I celebrated with tears…big round fat tears.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 12:15 pm ¶
melinda wrote:

I didn’t believe it when it was first announced – it was only 8pm here in California – and I just couldn’t stop crying when it finally hit me. Meanwhile my four year old daughter was jumping up and down chanting, “we won! we won! we won!” with the biggest smile on her face.

I am so proud and thankful today. It really happened. It really, really happened.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 1:06 pm ¶
El Guante wrote:

In Minneapolis, a few friends and I just muted the TV and listened to our neighborhood. So many people celebrating. It’s really not hitting me until just now.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 1:17 pm ¶
Rosie wrote:

I saw the most beautiful thing last night. My whole dorm was watching the returns in the common room and when Obama claimed California the whole campus went crazy cheering, jumping, crying, and hugging eachother. We had a party outside of the student center, and danced… and drank some…. It was amazing.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 1:17 pm ¶
Will wrote:

I’m in Massachusetts and I went to a bar to play pool and watch the Election counts. My night started badly because I sat next to some Republican knucke-heads at the bar. All was well until they began deriding Sarah Palin on experience etc etc. All was kosher until I heard “Yeah, and she’s married to some fucking Eskimo” said derisively. I just shook my head, finished my beer and my buddy arrived and we got a table and begun playing pool as we waited for our other friends (some had come direct from voting).

As the night wore on I was on tenter-hooks, I remember 2000 and 2004 well enough. It didn’t finally sink in until they announced that Obama had won. All I could do was stand and gape at the TV in disbelief and joy as I realized that this was an Electoral college and popular vote landslide. There was no way this was going to get stolen again.

I then listened to McCains concession speech (a total class act from him, not so for the crowd he was addressing). I then begun text messaging my friends with “He won!!!” and the text messages began coming in.

Shortly after I drove home and listened to Obama’s speech (an amazing speech) on the radio.

I am still absolutely proud and just totally happy. I’ve always thought of myself as a relatively dispasssionate person, I debate and argue on logic but this has changed over the last few months. This election, and all that has happened, has given me reason for fear, anger, despair as I watched someone who looks like me derided and attacked solely for the color of their skin and foreigness of their name. It has also given me hope for bounding joy, absolute happiness and absolute optimism as I watched a large part of the U.S refuse to buy into fear and xenophobia.

Of course, this is the honeymoon period, there is a lot of work to be done, and already there are attacks, Rep Jim Moran on Rush ‘the drug addled idiot’ Limbaugh’s radio show said

These guys want to tear up the Constitution and use it for toilet paper.

But the optimist in me thinks that these are the fading words of dinosaurs who will be swept off the American political landscape by the asteroidal impact of this election.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 1:17 pm ¶
Fatemeh wrote:

I was also in shock until Obama’s acceptance speech. I bawled my eyes out and called everyone I knew…the real celebrations start today!

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 1:19 pm ¶
Fatemeh wrote:

One thing…when Obama included all those races in his speech, he curiously forgot some of us…but he has the next eight years (God willing) to make up for it.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 1:23 pm ¶
Eva wrote:

I’m such a bad person. Yesterday I waited almost two and a half hours to vote, then I had a doctor’s appointment, then I went shopping for my Mom, shopping for myself. By the time I got home, I was tired. I fell asleep at 9:15pm.

I woke up at 1am and saw the light on my answering machine blinking. It was a friend I hadn’t heard from in two years telling me, “HE DID IT.” So I turned on the TV and couldn’t get back to sleep for the rest of the night.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 1:24 pm ¶
Alicia wrote:

I was at the rally, about 150-200 feet from the stage. As it came suddenly over the screens that he had won, I seriously cried like a baby for five minutes.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 1:26 pm ¶
Andrea R. wrote:

I was trying to get my friends to come out to a bar with me. I knew this was a great moment in history and I just felt like I needed to be a part of it in a social setting, rather than on my couch. Only one came, but I wouldn’t have changed it for the world. I was with my boyfriend, and my childhood friend from Uruguay, but has spent the last 20 years of his life in this country. I’m a crier, so I cried as I saw the disappointment in McCain’s eyes, but how he told his party to unite under one America and how important this was for African-Americans. I cried when Obama spoke of the 106 year old woman who’s seen so much. I cried cuz finally, FINALLY, we are not lying to our children when we tell them they can be anything they want in this life, even president. This isn’t just an major impact for African-Americans, but also for us Latinos, Asian, Middle Easter, anyone who’s ever felt like an “other”. Then I called my mom and said we did it. Even though she was *this close* to getting her citizenship before the election, (her oath is next week) she knows she is part of this too, having been here over 40 years, she sees that yes, her children can be anything they want. And my children will finally see familiar faces in high places.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 1:27 pm ¶
Cara wrote:

Wow, Westwood was on FIRE!!! I spent the night watching the election results with a crowed of about 60 or 70 ppl in the cafeteria of the student Cooperative near UCLA. Everyone was excited!

When Charlie Gibson annouced Obama as the “President-Elect” after calling California; the room lit up….and so did the rest of the UCLA/Westwood community. I could hear ppl screaming and celebrating (literally hundreds) well after 12 am!

I spend about 30 minutes trying to reach my Grandmothers. The phonelines were jammed in NC, but I finally got through to my Grandma, Mom, Dad, Auntie, and Sister. It was a very happy occation for my family and other African American descended from slaves…..but we know we are not alone. This achievement belongs to everyone!!!!!!

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 1:34 pm ¶
jo wrote:

I live in Italy. Flat broke at the moment, couldn’t go to the local Americans-abroad election event, so I stayed up until five am, alone, in front of the internet. Cried and went to bed. Got up and bawled some more. If the neighbours heard me through the wall, they probably thought I was a McCain supporter. Did a little dance today in the post office when a woman heard my accent and asked if I was happy.

Sure, I would have liked to be celebrating in Chicago, or NY, or SF, but you know, I kind of was anyway. Would have liked to have gotten drunk, but you know, I kind of was anyway. I haven’t felt this close to the US since I left ten years ago.

I know _exactly_ what Michelle Obama meant back in February when she said “for the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country”. I understood it then and boy, do I understand it now.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 1:38 pm ¶
Ike wrote:

I watched the election coverage in my friends’ suite lounge with about 10 people in the room at any given time. We counted out loud the 10 seconds before the polls closed on the West coast, just like people count down for the new year. And then Obama was announced as the next president of the United States of America, and we all cheered. I quoted Michelle Obama, saying that I was proud of our country for the first time. And we all cheered when Barack announced that his kids were getting a puppy. =)

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 1:42 pm ¶
DomiX wrote:

I watched with my boyfriend, and I cried. It was such a beautiful moment, and it made me even happier to know that my cousin and little sister who missed the election by a few months were keeping track and that they were proud too.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 2:01 pm ¶
Arturo wrote:

I was outside the storm, working at a pollsite in a relatively small, reasonably diverse district in mid-town San Diego.

(Brief aside: I can’t exhort you all strongly enough to put in to work at your local precincts, for elections at any level. Even here, in San Diego, the Registrar of Voters is hurting for multi-fluent and non-senior workers, if the training seminars are any indication. And to appeal to anyone’s mercenary side, I made $145, so it’s not exactly a day wasted, either. Ok, aside over.)

As poll workers, we purposefully didn’t track much of the election throughout the day. Neither did we encounter the long lines nor inflamed passions that seemed to spring up in other areas of the country, or even the county; while a couple of No on 8 supporters got “uncomfortably close” to our site for a couple of observers, we didn’t have any real dust-ups. During a break on the action, I voted — Yes for Obama, No on 8, if you’re keeping score at home.

I didn’t really start asking for updates until the evening, when our turnout tapered off (though it *was* higher than usual). I didn’t really exhale until it was over, until it was called at 11 EST — I remember Mexican politics of the ’80s, after all. After we closed our site and sent two other workers to turn in the ballots to the registrar, I walked home, alone, and couldn’t help but wonder at the quiet. There were no impromptu celebrations, no whooping it up, not even any sadness for McCain around me. Just a neighborhood league softball game at a nearby field. I knew something was in the air, around me. I just didn’t feel part of it.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 2:12 pm ¶
Sulyp wrote:

I was at my husband’s colleague’s home. I brought chilled champagne, and was dressed in my finest.

It was surreal. I am on the West coast, and we all knew to wait for the magically 8 pm hour… which did deliver the results we so hoped and prayed for. I admit, things of this magnitude take a really long time to sink in. I’m not sure I have fully comprehended it yet, even as I sat there yesterday crying when he gave his victory speech.

If I can finagle a way to fly out to the capitol for January 20, 2009, I would be on cloud 9. That’s when it’s going to finally sink in.

.:Happy Sigh:.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 2:14 pm ¶
Paz wrote:

I looked at the screen in disbelief when Wolf Blitzer announced Obama the winner. Breaking News: Obama Elected President. Switched to MSNBC. Winner.
I was speechless.
When they announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the First Family” and the Obamas walked out, the feeling was indescribable.
I can’t believe it. Two years of holding my breath, trying not to get my hopes up, thinking, It’s too good to be true, disillusioned from 2004. This is a brand new era.
Just thinking about it still makes me teary eyed. Seeing Jesse Jackson with tears streaming down his face was so powerful. I think, if I am so overwhelmed and overjoyed by this win, I can’t even imagine how it must feel for African Americans who lived during segregation and the Civil Rights movement. People who have been treated like second-class citizens and felt their lives endangered simply because of the color of their skin.
What I loved most about his speech was when he pointed out the events of the 20th century–Civil Rights movement, moon landing, the fall of the Berlin Wall–and he said, Imagine what we can accomplish in the next 100 years.
I know it’s going to take a lot to repair this country. Not even Obama is a miracle worker. But we have a chance for change now. This is the first time that I can say from the bottom of my heart that I am so damned proud to be an American.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 2:20 pm ¶
thesciencegirl wrote:

I was at Grant Park, 15 people from the front, cheering and crying. I posted about it at length, with photos, on my blog.

I’m still in shock.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 2:31 pm ¶
Joanna Eng wrote:

Here’s my reaction:
http://spinthetruth.wordpress.com/2008/11/05/wrapping-my-head-around-the-news/

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 2:45 pm ¶
gatamala wrote:

1. buckwild at the White House

2. On the phone giving live info to Japan

3. trying to have a discussion with McCain supporters

4. relishing being a TarHeel at heart

America!!! God Damn!!

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 2:50 pm ¶
Arturo wrote:

Meanwhile, what was Ralph Nader doing? making an absolute ass of himself.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 2:56 pm ¶
Oi-Yan wrote:

I left Hong Kong last Thursday, after helping my mom recover from a surgery she could not get at home in Massachusetts. As a Cali resident I campaigned during primary season for Obama in CA, Nevada, and Hawaii. Leading up to yesterday I’ve campaigned in Nevada and Florida. Right after getting back from Hong Kong, I came to Florida and have been here since Saturday. We turned Florida BLUE!

I was at the Tampa campaign party. Before the actual pronouncement, I refused to really let myself feel the victory I was almost certain we were headed toward. Every now and then I’d start jumping up and down or laughing in anticipation. I didn’t think I’d cry, but when the crowd started counting down to the polls closing in CA, WA, and OR, I turned to my friend and said, “in 23 seconds we are going to have a new President!” When they announced it, I started crying like a baby and hugging friends and strangers alike.

The people in the ballroom looked like the United States as opposed to the McCain gathering which looked… not like the US

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 3:19 pm ¶
Brinstar wrote:

I was at work dealing with an emergency and following everything on the internet. I was only half focused on the national elections because of Proposition 8 in California. It’s hard for me to celebrate completely because it’s not looking good for opponents of Prop 8. However, I’m still incredibly happy that Obama was elected.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 3:21 pm ¶
Rita wrote:

I was with a bunch of socialist marxist COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS. I cried my eyes out all night long. Didn’t go to bed until well after 3 AM.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 3:33 pm ¶
Nicole wrote:

I am so proud to be alive to see this historical event. I live in Alabama, so I have crossed the Selma bridge, visited the 16th Baptist Church, and talked with some of the last soldiers of the Civil Rights Movement. I have heard my elders talk about how times were bad for Blacks and sympathizers. My mother often tells me how she and my grandmother had to go to the back door for services like clothes or food. My mother always reminds me that my grandmother’s friend Hazel would always buy school dresses because she could pass for white. My father who was raised by his grandparents didn’t think it would happen. In his life time, his grandfather was discriminated against for being biracial, not black nor white, just the middle. My parents like Jessie Jackson didn’t think they would live to see this day that someone Black like them could be elected president in the United States. This day has changed my family so completely that I cannot fully express in words how I feel, but I can say that I finally feel like I am in the Promise Land.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 3:46 pm ¶
gh wrote:

I danced in the streets screaming Yes We Did and cheering with all of the honking cars and slapping hands with everyone that passed by. My friends and I were all terrified about props 6, 8, 9 passing….. but at the same time, we needed to feel a victory and just screamed and danced all night. It was so beautiful. We knew it went far beyond Obama. We’d never seen people of all races so excited to be so close to each other…and Obama just gave us a reason. I think that was the best night of my whole life.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 3:48 pm ¶
Emma wrote:

I spent most of the night reading Harlem Renaissance lit for class today while getting regular updates from a friend. Until she called and told me the numbers, I really didn’t believe it was actually going to happen. When the final results came in, my mom, who grew up in Georgia and Virginia in the 60s and 70s, called me in tears, and we cried together. I keep getting teary again every time I think about it too hard.

The only thing bringing me down today is prop. 8, but right now, I feel like we can do anything, and we’ll take it down.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 4:36 pm ¶
Kaonashi wrote:

I’m still bawling my eyes out, and every time I see pictures of people from all over the world celebrating and holding pictures of Obama it makes me cry more.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 4:41 pm ¶
Nancy wrote:

I grew up in a typical, conservative, white family in a suburb outside of Detroit. During the race riots of the 60’s, I remember my mother telling us to stay near the house because the black people were setting fires downtown, and she didn’t want us to get hurt. I was about four years old. Where did she think I was going to go by myself?

Very few black kids went to my school, despite being only a few miles from Detroit. One of my friends in high school was a black woman, and we shared a dorm room in college. Although she was accepted by white friends, our black hallway neighbors called her an “oreo”. I remember her crying all night some nights. I think living between two worlds was very hard for her. I wish we had kept in touch – I would love to know how she feels about this election result. I would love to see her smile.

This year, my children and I have volunteered hundreds (or maybe thousands of hours) on the Obama campaign. We have worked with and become friends with people from all areas of our city, of all ages, all “races” and colors, all religions. We have been enriched, nourished, loved and supported. We have made lifelong friends. It has been the greatest year of my life.

Recently, my son told me about a friend from school many times before I met the friend in person. I was surprised to find out the friend was an African-American boy, because all of the times my son played with him, he never mentioned it. He told me he was smart, an accomplished athlete, and interested in politics — but he never mentioned he was black. How things have changed since I was a kid!

Today, I have hope. Hope that the stupid, superficial things that have divided this country for so long will someday very soon be history.

Pray for President Barack Obama – that he has good health and ongoing support to lead our country toward peace and justice for all.

I am so proud to be an American today. G-d Bless America!!

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 5:05 pm ¶
Storme wrote:

i was on the phone for my best friend waiting anxiously to see if VA pulled for Obama. as soon as i found out we did, i got hysterical (im a VA voter)

then California fell for Obama and the next thing i knew CNN was projecting that Obama had it won completely.

i fell to the ground hysterical and crying. it felt so good. it feels good still.

im happy in a way i can describe. im proud of my country and her citizens who came out to vote and donated their time.

today i feel truly patriotic.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 5:22 pm ¶
ej wrote:

My night was very low-key, being 7 months pregnant and all. I made an Obama cake and took it to an election party at a friend’s house. We passed the time watching CNN, eating, drinking, arguing amiably about politics and sharing our hopes for the future. When CNN called the race for Obama, there was a lot of crying and hugging, and even more champagne-drinking (in which I could not participate, sadly). After watching McCain’s concession speech, I went home and watched Obama’s victory speech in Grant Park, and sobbed uncontrollably. I then spent a little time talking to my in utero daughter, telling her about the election and the victory, and telling her that Barack Obama would be president when she’s born. I talked to her about how hopeful I was for the country that she was going to be born in soon. It was a very tearful, if one-sided, conversation.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 5:29 pm ¶
Jane wrote:

@Phrone:
Hey, I was in the big crowd at the University of Michigan too! I have a lot of problems with the University, but last night made me so proud of our campus. I just couldn’t get over how happy everyone was last night–I got hugged by at least 10 complete strangers. It felt so inspiring to be in such a large, diverse crowd of young people all shouting “Yes we can!”

Did you see the video? It doesn’t really capture it, but you can still get an idea of how elated everyone was:
http://www.mlive.com/annarbornews/news/index.ssf/2008/11/video_university_of_michigan_s.html

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 5:53 pm ¶
Kendra wrote:

@ Brinstar and gh:

I’m worried about Prop 8, too. I heard that the equivalent amendment might be passed in Florida. My friend told me that about 20% (including him) opposed the measure with the majority supporting it the previous day.

I really hope that we can defeat Prop 8 this year.

I’m also looking forward to hearing the results for the other propositions.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 6:12 pm ¶
emma wrote:

I was in Oakland, CA. I watched the whole thing on my computer. I heard happy shouts erupt all around my neighborhood right around 8pm when they announced the results from California. I am so, so proud of my country for speaking up in huge numbers for this man.

It’s like a dream. I imagine even more so for someone who has lived through segregation. I am so glad to be alive in this historical moment. I mean, even aside from his promising policies and background, we have a half Kenyan black man in our country’s highest office. I don’t think there’s anyway you can deny that we’ve come a long way.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 7:43 pm ¶
BSK wrote:

Two things:

1.) Maybe others have moved on this and I haven’t seen, but how do we go about changing all the “Yes We Can”s to “Yes We Did”s?

2.) I saw something today was simply unbelievable, awesome, and a million other words that still won’t do the sight justice. I ran into the Giant Supermarket in Silver Spring today and noticed a long line of people stretching down one aisle, most of them elderly people of color. Some had folding chairs and there wasn’t any apparent reason they were there. I asked the cashier as they checked out and she replied, “They’re waiting for copies of the Washington post… they’ve been here since 3.” This was at 6PM, by the way. Wow. I think that just said it all for me and gave me about 10000% more perspective on just what this means. As a 25-year-old white male, I clearly lacked one iota of understanding of what this moment really means.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 7:43 pm ¶
DollyAnn wrote:

I was in my dorm room, on my bed, eyes glued to my television. At first I was watching Comedy Central, but when I heard Stuart announce Obama as president-elect, I didn’t believe it. So, I switched over to MSNBC. Then, sure enough, Keith Olbermann confirmed it. The camera panned to all the people cheering in Ohio. It didn’t hit me. I just kind of stared and waited.

Even when McCain came on and gave his acceptance speech, I was skeptical. It wasn’t until the moment that Obama got on that stage and gave his speech that I had tears streaming down my face. I was mesmerized. My RA ran into my room and we started hugging. People on my campus were shouting with joy on the streets. My mom called me; my sister called me. It was a defining moment of my generation. I’ll never forget it.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 8:23 pm ¶
chi wrote:

@ Phrone + Jane — i’m a UMich alum (April 2008) and wish i could have been on campus when Obama was announced as president-elect. i’m near tears watching that clip of students going insane. such a beautiful thing.

last night, i was home in maryland and spent the evening watching the returns with my dad, who had voted earlier in the day for the first time since he became a naturalized citizen over 10 years ago. once PA was called blue, i knew it was a done deal and yet i was shocked when the official announcement came. still much so as obama spoke during his speech and even now.

it’s definitely been a euphoric day to say the least. as a young black woman born to Nigerian parents, i feel like i can do anything. so happy right now.

on a side note — newspapers ran out QUICK. what a sight to see people picking up 5-6 copies of the Washington Post

YES. WE. DID. 2008

to President-Elect Barack Obama — WELCOME TO DC!

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 9:34 pm ¶
hexy wrote:

I was at work, watching my LiveJournal friends list light up with dozens of posts screaming “OMG, he did it!” As soon as I finished, I headed to the pub for celebratory dinner and drinks with a big group of my friends, and we talked excitedly for hours about the election, the lead up, and that speech.

And we’re Australian. This is the first time I can think of a bunch of Aussies, of varying races, getting so worked up over another country’s election.

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 9:36 pm ¶
Jeanne wrote:

I was driving down the road about a block from my house and I saw blue fireworks bursting in the sky in my neighborhood. I was sure that I was missing the big news so I drove faster and then my son called and started singing ” We are the Champions” into the phone. He is only 13 (and he is white) but he was so excited! I just revelled in his joy. He started reading me the state by state results and within Colorado he was reading me county results. It was so fun. He was at his Dad’s house so I settled in at my own house, rewound the Tivo, and enjoyed the moment of annoucement and the McCain speech as if I didn’t know they were “old news” already. I grew up in a mixed race household and I know what its like to go into a restaurant and not be served because of the color of your skin – or in my case because of the color of your sisters skin. I know that kind of thing still happens but my husband and I sat there last night with hearts full of hope that a day was upon us when all Americans might truly move past racism and see the humanity in everyone. HURRAY OBAMA!

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 10:57 pm ¶
Nina wrote:

Was at home watching the returns while my husband was on a conference call to Sydney, Mumbai and Singapore (talk about bad timing). When the election was called I rushed in to tell him and he relayed the news on the call and they all cheered. Then I proceeded to get texts and emails from relatives in Africa. A historic night for the U.S. and the world!

Posted 05 Nov 2008 at 11:58 pm ¶
dottie wrote:

Rob wrote:

My only fear is that people will use this as an example of how racism has “ended.”
———————————————————
I wholeheartedly agree with you. Honestly, after this, I just feel like no one should be trying to use the color/race card because he is now proof that color shouldn’t matter. For some that do, that’s on them. For a African-American woman, my parents didn’t raise me that way. Sure, there’s racism…it’s everywhere, but let’s not keep using it as a crutch every time a POC comes across some misfortune. It’s time to look at every thing a little different now at least

Posted 06 Nov 2008 at 12:32 am ¶
chicagorose wrote:

I seriously contemplated hoping a train to downtown Chicago which lets you off at Grant Park. But at the time, funds were limited, bills needed paying and I had an appointment the following day. I could have. But I settled for a trip to the store to pick up a frozen pizza and some blank video tapes, and I recorded both PBS and ABC’s news coverage up to and after his win and speech. The only think I could think to do beyond playing town cryer by calling friends working the nightshift was to skip through the house screaming like a nutjob “Yes, yes YES!!” And between a heatwrap round my neck, my feet soaking in hot water, and enjoying a boiler maker, I don’t regret my choice. And I still need sleep!

Posted 06 Nov 2008 at 1:19 am ¶
ak wrote:

At my college, the minute CNN announced Obama’s win, every person ran outside of their dorm and started dancing, screaming, embracing, and crying. I had never seen my campus so united before.

I was shaking with excitement for over an hour. As I walked home later that night I was still in disbelief. I’m of mixed heritage, Chinese and European. I realized last night that the thought of a multiracial president had literally never occurred to me until Obama became a candidate. Of course, that’s not why I voted for him, but the fact that I could so personally identify with the next PRESIDENT was almost shocking.

I hope that everyone can be patient with President Obama. My main worry now is that people will get restless and critical far too soon, expecting more immediate change, and not understanding the time that transitions take.

Posted 06 Nov 2008 at 1:34 am ¶
Jessica wrote:

Post the calling of Ohio, we just knew it was a matter of the networks calling it. John McCain’s speech did it in for me, I was so glad it was not going to descent into a 2000-style recount–the electoral college domination ENSUED! Then, beginning at 11, Harvard Square was a ridiculous, happy mess of jubilancy. You could hear screaming from all sides after 11 pm. Dancing in the streets to “my president is black”. Every car horn honking “Yes we can” as we crushed around them to high-five the people hanging out the window. Hugs all around. Singing of the national anthem. Hundreds and hundreds of us celebrating something that was not a sporting event or something like that. Many many moments of the past 24 hours I have been on the verge of tears. This is just so beautiful and so surreal to see people embracing. Especially as I have been studying the black experience in America this semester…it is truly phenomenal to see the progress of this nation. I do think the challenge is to get all of those people afraid of “Socialism” and “terrorism” and “their money being redistributed”…on Obama’s side. I hope that when he does good for them that they will realize it.

Posted 06 Nov 2008 at 3:06 am ¶
Princess wrote:

It is truly awesome to see so many people come together and speak out for change via the voting process. President Elect Barack H. Obama is truly a brilliant mobilizer and man of character. In this election, I believe America did get the President we deserve.

Please browse Office of the President Elect @ http://www.change.gov

Posted 07 Nov 2008 at 1:04 pm ¶
Christine R wrote:

I grinned from inside out, thinking, Oh my goodness, more than half the people in this country are now sane….for ONCE I imagined that the majority of people wanted what I pray for….peace, compassion, humanitarianism as a national value. I was most heartened by the things Obama had peeved the now less than dominant culture…tax breaks for community service, we HAVE to start to help others and give up a little of our greed. I was really tickled when SO many WHITE people started saying:

I AM FINALLY REALLY REALLY PROUD OF MY COUNTRY.

Posted 25 Nov 2008 at 9:06 pm ¶

Open thread: We did it

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