An appeal to my ears. I never really paid attention to the
election, except at the very end when it was time to select a winner. However,
this was my first election being able to vote and I was very excited. It was a
bonus that an African American was running. That did not mean he was
automatically going to get my vote, but that made the election more
interesting. This made me want to pay attention to the campaigns and the
debates.
Obama appealed to my ears and I liked the promises that he
made. In an election that is how people choose their vote, based on promises;
because no one really knows what a candidate will really do once their in
office.
But after careful observation of Obama and the way he spoke
and composed himself when Palin and McCain criticized his lack of experience, I
knew he had my vote. So on Election Day I gladly smiled and walked into the
polling booth, so excited because I was contributing to the change America needed.
I was even more excited to know that he won. I feel like my vote really
counted.—Shahidah Burwell
A New Pride. This is the third election that I have
participated in and it has meant more to me than the first time I voted. My mother is from South America and has
always instilled in me that the United
States isn’t the only country in the world
and doesn’t rule the world. When I was
15 she bought a plane ticket for me to visit England to see hownon-Americans lived. It was a great experience. However, when I revisited England
this year, 11 years later, I was able to appreciateand notice things more.
I remembered sitting on the bus with my cousin and seeing an
Obama sign in a window. I was shocked to
see that people outside of the States were showing support for us. Especially
from a place where £1 is worth twice as much as $1 and is quick to put America
in its place.
However, along with many others, I was ready for a change
and wanted to be proud of MY country. When the announcement of the election result was made I couldn't stop
screaming. It still hasn't become a
reality for me that President-Elect Obama has won and most likely won't until
he's inaugurated.
This election has been long, stressful and exciting. In the
end it was worth it to witness such a great part of history. I've felt a sense of pride in the air since
his win and for the first time in my 26 years I've said to myself that "I
am proud to be an American".—Ramona Alcantara
A Whole New Direction. This was my first time voting and I
was extremely nervous about the entire situation. When I got to my voting site
I couldn't help but think to myself, "What if something happens and my
vote doesn't go through?!" Something tells me it did, because a little
after 11 o'clock that night, Barack Obama was announced the
President-elect.
For the United
States, this election is the beginning of us
walking in a whole new direction. There's already talk of Obama making several
changes that will hopefully get us back on feet.
As a young woman of color, I can't help but to feel
emotional about this historic event. We've gone through so many obstacles to gain respect in this country,
we've had to sacrifice so much! I don't know if something this astounding will
happen again in my lifetime, but it brings a tear to my eye to know that I have
an intelligent, sophisticated, motivated, family-oriented, BLACK man as
President!-Frances A. Perez- Rodriguez
A lot of work to do. It took me a while to actually take in
the significance of the election. And once it sunk in, I understood why men
cried at the sight of their new president. This election wasn't just about two
men fighting for presidency. No, it was much more than that. This was the fruit
of the struggles of millions of people over centuries of hardship and
discrimination. This was a tug of
affirmation in the heart of black men and women who swore to their children that
anything is possible with hard work and education. This was a cornerstone in history and a blow
to racial bias. This is the beginning of a new beginning. And yes, it's the era
of change.
Barack Obama promises change, but he has a lot of work to
do. Wall Street, the recession, Iraq,
Iran...all
these must be handled quickly and wisely.
I'm pessimistic of the possibility of one president to bring
radicalchanges, but I cannot deny the impact Mr. Barack Obama has
had upon us. I hope President Obama will lead our country into being the
"Great Society" that President Johnson once envisioned. But he has a
lot of work to do.—Mauricio Moreno
Voting. My first voting experience as a 19 year old college
student. Although I had classes all day, I was in anticipation for the big
moment. The power of being able to make a difference as a United States
Citizen. The privilege to be able to choose who I would like to nominate as our
next President of the United
States of America for the next four years. I've
been watching commentaries from Lou Dobbs to Ali Velshi to Glenn Beck regarding
the election. In my mind I had my own opinions and strategies of which way I
was going to vote.
There was no doubt or pressure on my mind. The decision was mine, all mine. I walked into the middle school in my town and signed
in. Ientered the closed curtains. The power was in my
fingertips.
As I read all the choices, and put the big "X" on
my nominees I felt like a proud adult. I opened the curtain and started
bragging about how it was my first time voting. When I was done, everyone
clapped their hands, commemorating the moment of freedom that people in the
past have risked their lives for.
Wow. What a
Presidential Election year. This is an
election that willgo down in history for a woman and a black man running, and
I am so glad that I was a part of it. I
will remember this forever and I will be able to share it with my children.—Amy
Patel
Inclusion. I was very surprised at the reaction of the
country and the world to the election of the first African American
president. I noticed that it has been very emotional to everyone for
different reasons. Most people are open to the change and open to the idea
although he has not been their personal choice. I have notice that people
are reflecting on what it means to have a Black man as the Head of
State and how we got here as well as the journey of African Americans
especially in America.
His message is a good one and that is inclusion of everyone not
exclusion.—Glenda Montgomery
Possibilities. Under slavery, for hundreds of years black
men and women were kept in captivity and being treated as less than human. America was
built on the backs of black people and so I see it as only fitting for it to be
run by a black man today. It may have taken some time but they day has finally
come.
To finally have a black man as president makes me proud in
so many ways. We have a black role model for young black men and women, and I
believe that I can really be or do any thing I want to in this country.—Kerra
Hunter
Meanings. This election had a lot of meaning for me. This
was the first time thatI was actually really interested and followed politics and
elections.
Never before did I really see the bad shape our country is in. This election also means the first African American president.
Now, I can honestly say that I witnessed and experienced one the largest and most
historical election to ever take place. This election means a lot to me for my
future as well. I will be out of college and looking for a job in our economy
when Obama has only been in office for 2 years. I am hoping that he can keep
his promise to us Americans and fix this problematic economy we have. It has
direct implication on my future and hopefully Obama can come through and make
our lives just a little bit more relaxing and less stressful when it comes to
money and our economic situation.
To the US
as a whole, this was more then an election. This is a newbeginning to what many label as a fallen empire. With Obama as
ourpresident and everyone hoping that he can "change"
things, the US
has a new hope which most Americans have been waiting for for a
really long time.
To have a president who puts himself in our position really sends a message to us that he cares and really will do everything in his
power to put this country back on the map they way it used to be. With this new
beginning comes time of change and transitional effects of Obama's transition.
With the popularity that we as Americans showed towards Barack Obama, I don't
think that many will have a problem with waiting for these things to unfold as
long as he comes through. Obama has a lot on his plate, and us Americans are
hoping for the change that was promised so we can be back on track in pretty
much every aspect of his country. This also would put trust back into the
president and the White House that was mostly lost during the presidency of
George W. Bush.- Jonathan Keller
Shahidah Burwell, Ramona Alcantara, Frances Perez-Rodriguez, Amy Patel, Glanda Montgomery, Kerra Hunter and Jonathan Keller are students at Rutgers-Newark. Posted November 2008.
