When the brave, visionary leaders of the new United States gathered in Philadelphia in 1787 to form a more perfect union, they emerged with a Constitution. Amazing though it was, the Constitution was marred by an enormous and horrible flaw. Those brave, visionary leaders could not bring themselves to count the Black slaves who lived among them as more than three-fifth human nor could they give them a vote. Nor would the descendants of those slaves have the vote until the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
I am fifty-four years old. When I was a boy, segregation was still both legal and socially accepted.
Yet today, an African-American has been elected President.
Earlier today, I said that in an ultimate sense, it doesn’t matter who the President is. Presidents are human beings, each bearing the common flaws of our humanity.
But as a symbol of how far our country has come in its attitudes about race, the election of an African-American president will do.
Tonight, I can’t help but feel deep pride and renewed love for my country. We have done what the brave, visionary leaders of our country could not do. We have acknowledged equality, at least for African-Americans, as not just the promise of America, but the reality of America.
I have to stop. Tears are welling up in my eyes. God bless President-Elect Obama and God bless this blessed and special land!
[This has been cross-posted at my personal blog.]