What it really means

This moment is not just for me, this moment is for the enslaved woman in the 17th centry America. She lay there on her back staring at the stars. Its cold and wet outside but she rather lay outside on the soft soil than the hard wood of the shack where the others are. As she stares at that sky she wonders about her son and whether he is ok. She wonders where he is. She wonders if he is alive. She wonders if he is thinking of her. The enslaved woman longs for her husband who was ripped from her arms a few weeks before. Who was he sold to? Is he dead? All the woman can do it wonder. All she can do is pray. So she prays. She prayed to God, "God please keep my family, my son and my dear husband. Their skin is black and their hearts are strong. Please keep them. One day God, my child won't have to be afraid. My son will walk free. My husband will walk with his head facing the sky. Please God keep my people. The master and his family will one day bow down to my people on THIS soil. Amen" She prayed that prayer for you and me.

This moment. January 20th, 2009 is for that woman. I am experiencing this for her. I will never forget that. I can never take that for granted. I, myself, was not there for the struggle. But I can sit here today and say I am proud to be an African American woman. I am proud of my heritage and the strength that my anscestors had. My blood is rich and full of life because of those who sacrificed and died. I was not there for the struggle but the electricity of joy, excitement and pride shoot through my body just the same. They are with me, the people who came before me are here with me and living through me. They too are smiling today. They too are rejoicing for this marvelous occassion. The United States of America now has a Black President. I love my brown skin and I love this country. Thank you God for Barack Obama.

~The Young Lady