Barack Obama’s Historical Moment
By Edwin Buggage

As Barack Obama took the stage as the nominee of the Democratic Party many hearts raced with anticipation of what was in deed an historical moment. It was a day of resolve as this country which has long wrestled with the thorny issue of race nominated an African-American for the nation’s highest elected office.

Someone who when the founding fathers of this nation came together debated the humanity of people of African descent eventually coming up with the 3/5’s compromise today have chosen an African-American. A man whose parents upon getting married and giving birth to him were breaking the law in many southern states; and today the product of that union stands as a symbol for what a nation can become if it can look past one’s race and where individual initiative can trump social and economic obstacles.

Today those who struggled for the rights of people to live with human dignity must be smiling as the historical clock has turned a few degrees away from the tumultuous days where racial strife threatened to tear the country apart. Today is a day where we have turned the page on a sad racial history and a new chapter may begin in the story of race relations in America. Today Barack Obama stands as the fulfillment of the proposition Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. posed on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and stands a heartbeat away from the highest seat in the land.

In accomplishing this it is more is than just a racial hurdle that has been overcome, but it is also a David vs. Goliath moment where Obama triumphed over what would easily be called the most dynamic Democratic dynasty since J.F.K excited the electorate in 1960 in Hillary and former President Bill Clinton. Obama in his victory pulled a rope-a-dope in the biggest fight of his political life and in the words of Muhammad Ali when he beat Sonny Liston; Obama shocked the world.

As supporters roared with approval in this historical moment Obama whose oratory gifts are unmatched gave a gracious acceptance speech, but given the magnitude of the occasion Obama missed a golden opportunity in maximizing the moment by mainly staying on script and sticking to his talking points. For this was a snapshot of an amazing time in American history, but his words that should have cut to soul of a nation redefining itself lacked the intensity and urgency of our zeitgeist.

His victory is symbolic of what American can become if it can cast itself in a new role and put its past behind. One in which America can become a place where people can be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. For today it seems America is getting closer to that day, for today is not just a proud day for the Obama campaign, but for those who truly believe in the American Dream.

Edwin Buggage is the editor of New Orleans Data News Weekly, one of the city’s oldest African American newspapers now celebrating its’ 40th anniversary.

Election 2008 articles