I've been feeling dare I say…emotional, for the past two days and that's because I can truly say that for the first time in my life I feel confident in my hope for my people and my country. For months as we watched Barack Obama go from a long shot for president to the front runner for president, the media became enthralled in the sensational story of America's first black president. As wonderful a book and Hollywood film as this all could make its much bigger than a feather in the cap of American history.

America is a country with an ugly and painful history when it comes to race and race relations and that goes beyond your typical black and white argument. We toot are horn as the greatest country in the world with all our democracy and "fair" judicial systems, but when it comes down to actions we often talk the talk way before we consider walking the walk. As kids in AmericaUnited States…at least not one who didn't act completely disconnected from black culture. They teach us that we can be anything we want to be, but they don't teach us about the glass ceilings. I'm 24 years old and until I was able to witness the eloquence and intelligence of Barack Obama I NEVER thought that I would live and see a black man who had a chance in hell of becoming the President of the

I'm a grown man and I can say that Barack Obama has become a role model for me, so imagine what he's going to be to children around this country and around this world? In a world where black people are often portrayed as violent, inferior, and lazy Barack Obama has kicked in doors and smashed glass ceilings and said "Its not what you though it was America, lets do some redefining". I'm proud of Barack Obama and today I feel a great since of pride for black people because Barack is that person that we've been missing in our community for decades. After Martin and Malcom who did we have to turn to? Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton!?

People try to pigeon hole this election into a big race thing, like Barack is going to be the great black savior or something, but it really is bigger than race. I'm not going to pretend that much of my excitement is rooted in a great sense of racial pride, but its also the fact that Barack wants to heal this country not just the black community. He's how I look at it. When I was a kid the first President I was conscious of was Ronald Regan, an old white man. Followed by George Bush, Bill Clinton, and George Bush, all old white men. Since I could talk old white men have been the ones running this country and they've been the only ones that have even had a legitimate chance of running this country. Having nothing but old white men running a country as diverse as the united states since its inception is like  A 20 year old black man having twelve 70 year old women as a jury of his peers. Its time to shake things up. This country gets more diverse as every day passes, but our laws, and governing don't' represent that. I am touched and amazed by the prospect that there could be children in this world who will be introduced to the concept of President via Barack Obama and those little children regardless of their race will not see any reason why anyone regardless of race couldn't be president.

Barack is a man with great knowledge, great temperament, and great respect and understanding for views and ideas that might not represent his own. He's the perfect man to lead our country out of the darkness its been stuck and and finally face the issues and problems that we've been sweeping under the table. I'm proud to have cast my ballot for Barack Obama and pending a victory for the first time I will truly, whole heartedly, and honestly be proud of my country. Not because we elected a black man, but because we were able to finally see the bigger picture and forget about race and think about our futures.

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