Above: The day Barack Obama was elected President,
a roar of joyful celebration broke out in the New York
neighborhood of Harlem, which is historically known as
the center for African American culture.
(Jeffrey Phipps for Tadias Magazine)
CNN
By Paul Steinhauser
CNN Deputy Political Director
WASHINGTON (CNN) — For most African-Americans, the election of Barack Obama as president was a dream come true that they didn’t think they would see in their lifetime, a national poll released Tuesday suggests.
Eighty percent of African-Americans questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey said that Obama’s election was a dream come true, and 71 percent said they never thought a black candidate for president would get elected in their lifetime.
A woman is overcome on November 4 after
hearing that Barack Obama had been
elected president.
The poll reflects anecdotal evidence that surfaced across the country last week as soon as Obama’s projected win was announced.
“It’s history,” said iReporter Tave Johnson, who spent Election Night at the Grant Park Obama rally in Chicago, Illinois. “I’m half-black and half-white. I talked to my grandparents today, and they told me this is historic. To be honest … I never would have guessed it would happen.”
Among white Americans, only 28 percent said Obama’s victory in the race for the White House was a dream come true, with the vast majority, 70 percent, saying it was not.
The poll also suggests a racial divide among people who thought a black candidate would be elected president in their lifetimes. Fifty-nine percent of white respondents said they thought a black president would be elected in their lifetime, but only 29 percent of black respondents agreed. Read more at CNN.
Related: Tadias Photos: Election Night in Harlem
What Obama’s victory means to my
daughter from Ethiopia (Tadias)
I too believe that the election of Barack Obama was a dream come true. Dr. King had a dream that one day we would be judged not by the color of our skin but by the content of our character. That dream came true on Nov 4th. I too am one of those African Americans that feel thought they would never see an African American run for president let alone actually win. Unlike many of the African Americans in this country and all over the world, I didn’t celebrate. I prayed for Barack Obama. I prayed that he would be able to do everything he said he would do or at least establish a plan to do it. Why, because no matter how much progress this country made when they elected Barack Obama, there is still someone somewhere, Washington, that wants this man to fail. And if or when he does, its only going to satisfy them. I also don’t think it is a new era in racial relations. Obama being elected does not mean the end of all our problems. We, this country, made progress by electing Obama and made history, but we didn’t end racism in America. Again if he fails, everyone that doesn’s support Obama is going to say “I told you so.” I love what we as black people are doing by standing behind each other, but this can be as bad for us as it is good.
I am an Ethiopian American that was born in Ethiopia and migrated to the U.S. in my 20’s. I am thirty something now, I have to tell you this was one of the most exciting events that I have ever witnessed. Just like many Ethiopians I was ignorant of the history of African Americans and the all the sacrifice they made for us to come here and enjoy the fruits of their struggle. If it was not for African Americans, I would not have been able to vote for obama and or live my comfortable life in peace and freedom in America.
African Americans, Ethiopian Americans, White Americans, Asian Americans, native Americans, everybody deserves Obama. Yes, we deserve Obama! After all, he is a creation of our collective imagination!
I am so inspired by America that I am hopeful that we can also bring real change in Ethiopia. Unfortunately, we are probably 1000 years behind over there in the land of starvation (when there is plenty to eat), barbaric governance (when there is so much brain), fear and anxiety (when there is freedom somewhere else). Come to America my ppl! Don’t suffer there.
God bless you all!
I think this is great! It has removed the moderate Republicans! I want to thank all you for that! Yes, thank you very much!!
I would also like to that all the Black folk that kicked the California gays in the face! Yes, again thank you very much!! We could not have done this without you! Keep up the great work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!