A Dream not Deferred

While the camera panned over the crowd for reactions after Obama's speech, I saw the one woman, an African American woman, whose facial expression just said it all for me. Obviously most of the faces that the camera allowed us to see during Obama's speech were white ones. Their expressions ranged from beaming and proud to teary eyed, amazed and moved. But I have no personal reference point to the connection of white voters to the spirit of Barack Obama. I only know they like him essentially because he speaks well and supports many of their ideals and he's non threatening and makes them feel good. Though they were clearly moved by Obama, they did not move me. This woman's face for the brief instant that she was on camera, completely captured me. She was out of body! Her hands on her mouth and her eyes wide with wonder and realization, she looked as she had just seen a vision! Her eyes reflected back something akin to a miracle. As a person of color, watching another person of color react to Obama is very different than watching a Caucasian react to him.

In the entire history of America THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED! And people of color have been here since the beginning of time! We brought about civilization! Still, only now for the first time ever in America do we have the opportunity to be represented by someone who looks like us! It is a gargantuan moment. So seeing what I saw in that woman's face, I'd finally seen all that I needed to see tonight. No matter what happens that's what counts. That's real to me.