This election, in my opinion couldn’t have come at a better time. Not only was it my first time voting, but the two presidential candidates were about to make history. On one hand we had the Democratic candidate, Barack Obama: if elected he would be the first African American ever elected president. And on the other hand, we had the Republican candidate John Mc Cain and his vice-presidential pick, Sarah Palin, who if elected was to be the first woman ever elected in to a vice presidential position.
Since this was to be the first time I was going to vote it finally gave me an opportunity to fully discuss the elections with my very Republican father. I have always been influenced to vote Republican; however, as I grew and developed my own ideals I saw that my views matched that of Obama’s. As Election Day drew close I began to realize what exactly this election truly meant for all Americans but above all I began to realize what this election meant for African Americans.
I, along with many Americans, knew what Bush had done to the country. Having another four years of the same thing wasn’t going to cut it. So, when Obama’s victory was announced on CNN close to midnight, I was ecstatic. Obama won in Republican states like Ohio and Indiana, meaning that several thousand people changed their views. People wanted change as much as I did.
This win has signified in many ways that Blacks Americans, especially those who remember the struggles of the Sixties era, truly have overcome. I was very overwhelmed when they announced Obama's win. However what truly made me see the difference I had made was when I saw how many African Americans had been crying.
Obama's victory is a victory of the people by the people. I’m glad that I took part in such a change for the country. It has truly made me believe in people once again.
Vanessa Martinez. Posted November 2008.
