I couldn’t sleep the morning of November 4th. Awake and bright eyed at 4 AM, I rose out of bed, showered, dressed, made breakfast, and fixed myself some hot green tea. Today was a brand new day, and after what seemed like a political eternity, I was finally able to vote and hope that others would too.
Our polls opened at 7 AM, and as I walked to the polling station I had an undeniable sense of urgency and hopefulness. Inspired is a word that has been thrown around so much during this process, but it wouldn’t be used if it were not indeed true. Today, my vote would matter. Today, WE would help to make change indeed happen, and hopefully elect Barack Obama as the president of the United States of America. When I arrived at Qwest Church, there was a line already formed of about 40 people. The polls had just opened and apparently I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t wait to get in line and exercise their right to vote. The line moved very fast and soon enough my ballot was in the machine and I was on my way back home. The line outside the church had disappeared as had the rain. Today was shaping up to be a beautiful day.
As we all know by now, Barack Hussein Obama did in fact win the historic election of 2008. As the father of a 5 year old son who goes to daycare in very racially diverse setting, and as the father of a 2 year old daughter who was adopted by a mixed race (african-american/caucasian) family, I bask in the glow of victory for some very personal reasons. My children will never understand the struggle that so many African-Americans went through to see this day actually happen. My children will grow up in a world that is not seen through the filtered lenses of skin-color, but will instead be blind to that and just see people for the measure of the man. That is a beautiful thing.
Today, is very much a new day, but we still face many of the same challenges we faced 3 days ago. I just pray that with a new direction, a new hope, and a new sense of what it’s like to be an American that we will change this world for the better.
Jake
Jake is a hairstylist at both VAIN downtown + Ballard. Check out his full profile on vain.com.