Dr. Shari Williams-Clarke: Obama's election was America's victory

November 08, 2008 @ 09:35 PM
The Herald-Dispatch

I grew up in the shadow of the civil rights movement. Like our new president-elect, I had knowledge of the struggles African-Americans had experienced, but I did not personally experience the harsh ugliness that characterized the 1960s. I vividly recall black and white footage on the evening news of police attack dogs, gas masks hiding white faces and fire hoses filled with water beating down on struggling blacks. Those photos of hate and struggle are seared into my memory.

I am like so many other Americans enthralled with the possibilities for change and prosperity in our country under the leadership of President-elect Barack Obama. His message of inclusion reflects the message of diversity; it is the model of inclusiveness that Multicultural Affairs strives to achieve.

Separateness based on differences is obsolete. The divisiveness, name calling and negative jabs at those who are different based on race, ethnicity, gender, ability, socioeconomic level or sexual orientation is harmful to society. It is toxic, and it hurts us all.

My son, who attends a private school in which a mock election was held on election eve with Sen. John McCain the victor, was giddy after Election Day. He was eager to show his classmates that as an Obama supporter he had in fact been vindicated in his vote choice -- Obama had indeed won.

When he made a comment upon exiting the car that he was going to tease his friends, I quickly stopped him and pulled him back into the car to discuss Obama's message -- we respect Sen. McCain's heroism, leadership and sacrifice for our country. In other words, it makes no difference who you voted for -- we are all in this together.

I am still in a wonderful state of mind -- a kind of euphoria that grips me throughout the day when I recall what we as Americans have done. Sen. Obama's victory is a victory for all of us. It is about country, inclusion and humanity.

I am grateful that the pictures on the evening news that my sons will recall years from now will be vastly different from those pictures I remember.

Theirs will be footage of a vibrant America in celebration, eyes filled with disbelief with the reality of a President Obama, faces of every hue shouting with joy, color photos of a world that has paused to applaud and to celebrate with us this historical choice, this great leader, this richly diverse United States of America embodied in the multiple representations of Barack Obama and the American people. Dr.

Shari Williams-Clarke is vice president for Multicultural Affairs at Marshall University.