President-Elect Barack Obama!

Dedicated to the memories of my grandparents and my parents. I wish y'all were here. Y'all woulda really loved this...

This is for my Uncles Bill, Lanky, Gerard, and Buddy. And OF COURSE, my AUNTIE FANNIE!


Hullo, America...congratulations.


I got up Monday and tried to vote early (at the last minute). Couldn't get it done, so I waited, just like a lotta other folks. I had never had any real problems at the polls before, so I wasn't worried about getting my vote in; I just really wanted to make SURE that I counted. This election was way too important to leave anything to chance. I bit my lip and waited 24 more hours for my chance to help make history.

Tuesday; I jumped outta bed, not because the bulldozers were in full effect or my alarm went off, but because I was so excited to get to the polls. I wanted to get it done before I had to go to the TV studio to tape the 'Rock Block'. Voting was all that was really on my mind. I refused to let this get away from me. There was nothing more important to do. Nothing.

I called my Uncle Tim, the Uncle who first made me aware of Barack Obama. Tim has been a tireless supporter of the campaign and what Obama represents. I knew he would know exactly where I was to go to vote. He was working at one of the polls, just as he does every election season, but he took a second to tell his nephew where he needed to be. I could hear promise in his voice. "Big day, Unc.", I said. "The biggest, Russ. He's gonna do it." Tim has been saying, "He's gonna do it." since Obama announced his candidacy. Uncle Tim told me that I needed to go to a church on my side of town and if I had any problems to give him a call.

I taped my shows and shot out the door. I was headed straight to the polls from work. I stopped by Northside News for one more shot of coffee, though; I wanted to make sure I was fully caffeinated and awake to cast my ballot.

When I arrived at the polls, I was greeted by a number of teens handing out handbills and flyers asking for my support on various referendums and candidates. I thanked them, took their papers and made my way to the door. I stopped to talk to a cat about the sample ballot he was holding. He showed me how to fill it out properly. It really wasn't any different than taking a standardized test in grade-school, except this time I had to use a pen instead No. 2 Pencil. The volunteer told me I made "amazing Music" and to keep it up. I thanked him and made my way inside.

I told the volunteers my name. I asked if I could use their pen and they obliged. I read over the ballot very, very, very, carefully. I didn't want to mess anything up here. This was the day. This was the choice. This was the time. I filled in the blanks cautiously. I knew dang well who I was voting for a long time ago, I just wanted the rest of the world and the people counting to be certain. I colored in the circles like a child, careful to not go outside the lines.

I waited. I watched. I wept.

I was DJing a Democratic Party function. Well, not so much DJing, as watching results come in from throughout the country. My man took a commanding lead early and never let up. As the numbers came in and I started to realize that something many people (including myself) never though possible was actually happening. The night wore on and it was evident that Barack Obama was gonna be our 44th President of The United States Of America, a feeling swelled in my chest. When it got to 205 electoral votes and the party I was at started to shut down, I broke down my gear and made my way to my home. I knew that there was a speech that I must hear coming. A victory speech.

I got home around 10:40, Indianapolis time. I turned on the news channels and flipped between them. I watched CNN for the info, MSNBC for the personalities, and Fox News for the playa-hating, (which from now on will be referred to as 'President hating'.) I waited for the results from California to come in and put my man over the top. At 11 o'clock, it happened. It truly happened. I sent out texts and called so many friends and family members. There was no way to contain my excitement and I felt no need to.

I waited for my girlfriend to get to my home and we watched our next First Family take the stage in Chicago's Grant Park. Tears ran down my face as I realized that I was watching something that many people thought would never happen was happening. The victory was decisive and there was nothing anyone could do to take it away. The people had spoken, loudly and clearly. We want a new America and we want it asap. Hundreds of thousands of people waited for hours and gathered in Chicago to hear our next President speak. I had half a mind to drive up there myself, but obviously I woulda missed the good stuff. I was quite happy to catch this at home and even happier to watch this with my companion.

The last 24 hours have been the most important, earth-shaking hours of my young, American life. I am so proud to be an American right now. Anything really is possible here, the people really do have a voice, and nobody can take that away. The events of last night are something I will cherish for the rest of my life. There has never been a day like yesterday and there will never be another one. I am beyond proud of the campaign that President-Elect Obama ran, the class displayed, the promise shown. This is the greatest country in the world and Barack Obama and his election to the highest-office in the land is proof of that. We are capable of change, we are capable of great things. We can make a better world. Anything can happen in America...

This isn't a movie, kids. America has spoken. It's real.

'President Barack Obama'

Damn, that feels good.

God bless America.

Russ