History

It's a big day. I need to go buy a newspaper. Of course, I recognized the gravity of this election as it was happening, and last night as I got a little teary watching Obama address the crowds at Grant Park. Perhaps it is because I live in the city in which--around 40 years ago--a great man was shot for a dream of equality. Perhaps it is because I work with many black students who remind me that the opportunities in this nation are not always equal and availble to them. Politics and policy aside, you must agree that in the arena of sheer progress, last night was monumental.

This morning, as I heard my African American colleagues share their feelings about watching Obama last night, I realized that there is an element of the sacredness of this day that I will never fully be able to feel or grasp. I can appreciate, I can marvel, I can applaud, but at the end of the day I cannot pretend to understand what a gift it is to finally see a black American hold the highest office in our nation; to finally be able to tell my children that, yes, you too could be the President of the United States. In a land where racism and prejudice are still alive and well, that's a big deal.

No matter which candidate you supported, no matter how you are feeling this morning after, I think we all have reason to celebrate.