OH HAPPY DAY!!! An historic one for this country when Democratic SENATOR BARACK OBAMA accepted the nomination of his party to became the FIRST African-American to win the nomination!

I for one was PROUD to see the moment, long in coming, FINALLY! It had been a lengthy road for the young handsome Senator since February 12, 2007 when standing on the steps of Abraham Lincoln old State Capitol Building, Springfield, IL, surrounded by his beautiful, picture perfect family - MICHELLE, daughters MALIA, SASHA, the audacity to proclaim his intention to run for the Presidency of the United States in 2008!

Black politicians especially, who early on supported the PHENOMENAL Senator HILLARY CLINTON’s candidacy to become the first woman President, perplexed over his announcement, and faced with a critical choice between the two. Obama’s announcement came the same day radio talk show host TAVIS SMILEY’s 9th Annual State of the Black Union Forum held in New Orleans, aired on C-SPAN, asked the question “What is the State of the Black Union and The Black Agenda: Reclaiming our Democracy, Deciding Our Future!”

Tavis and attendees, a Who's Who in Black commentary, and several members of the BLACK CAUCUS, had no thought this Black man of mixed racial blood - father a Kenyan, Mother a White woman from Kansas City had a chance! They scoffed at the idea PLUS angry the Senator did not announce his candidacy from Smiley’s platform! Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH) endorsed Clinton before the Primary campaign began, noted the Black Caucus is the consciousness of the nation, made the argument “Some of us have to be over there while some of us are supporting the other candidate - some of us don’t want to get LOCKED OUT!” Meaning if they pulled their support behind Obama (not believing he had a chance), would lose favor with Hillary. Sadly Tubbs died several days before the Democratic Convention opened in Denver, but in party UNITY supported OBAMA.

It was a tough haul for Black elected politicians, literally kickin’ and screamin’ STUNNED - not believing what they were seeing in Obama’s candidacy; an outpouring of people from all racial groups, ages, lifestyles. - trying to keep their loyalty to Hillary, a sure winner until OBAMA HIT THE SCENE!

Nothing deterred my enthusiasm for Obama since he captured my attention with his 2004 speech at the Democratic Convention. FELT HIS SPIRIT, his cadence! Marveled over this fresh new face and voice on the political scene! On several occasions in 2007 tried to meet this audacious man of hope when he was on the campaign trail in the City, check book in hand to give the MAXIMUM, but couldn’t get a handle from those in the know that INCLUDED MRS. DEWSON!!!

THANKS to San Francisco District Attorney KAMALA HARRIS my day came to meet Obama on January 17, 2008 (the picture you see captured by San Francisco photographer Mona Brooks)...tired feet suffered in high heels, at least 2-hours standing in line in a St. Francis Hotel Ballroom on Union Square, patiently waiting to MEET DA MAN CALLED OBAMA!

NOW THAT WAS AN HISTORIC MOMENT!!! AHH, HE WAS AWESOME, struck by his aura as our hands grasped in greeting, not to lose the moment, BOLDLY wrapped my arms around his neck (the picture you don’t see) ... his warm infectious smile anointed me, as I looked up at his handsome face, not too much older than my son, shared I was proud of him!

SO as I watched the process Thursday evening at Invesco field at Mile High Stadium, from my living room, recalled our first meeting - a MAN of DESTINED TO LEAD US out of these miserable 8 years of the BUSH Administration! TIME FOR CHANGE - A NEW GENERATION HAS BEEN MOVED - HOPE FOR A BETTER AMERICA FOR ALL PEOPLE!!!

40 years after Martin Luther King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech, AND 400 years since SLAVERY! Lest we forget The March on SELMA! Civil Rights struggle STILL PAINFUL for ELDER Statesman Georgia Representative JOHN LEWIS (D-Atlanta) who marched with Martin, beaten, hospitalized! Every time he speaks, I FEEL HIS PAIN!!!

Originally a Hillary supporter, but in good consciousness to his constitutes who overwhelming voted for Obama, Lewis realized “Something is happening in America, and people are prepared and ready to make that great leap!” Lewis had been moved by Obama’s recent victories and his ability to transcend racial and geographical lines.

I tell you, those who have struggled in the trenches for Civil Rights should have felt some sort of REPARATIONS to see a BLACK MAN lifted up to lead this country. Somewhere I read in a book during the late 90s (can’t remember the passage) A BLACK MAN would lead this country! At the time envisioned GENERAL COLIN POWELL as the one!

Thursday night to see Obama walk on stage - cool, calm and collected amid the tumultuous roar of the crowd, flash bulbs - music. The STAR flashed that winning smile in boyish demeanor; to see Michelle seated in the special gallery box, next to Obama’s Vice President running mate Senator JOE BIDEN and his gorgeous wife all smiles; Michelle had that special look of pride, love for her man, as he commenced to address the crowd with “I ACCEPT the nomination of the party!!!” SHE TOO ACCEPTED!!!

Obama represents a NEW GENERATION! I’m part of the old , BUT INSPIRED to GET ON BOARD THE OBAMA TRAIN for change. REGARDLESS of NAYSAYERS, Obama’s GOT THE RIGHT STUFF to be president and lead this country at a time we desperately need positive change!

LATER for Republican nominee Senator JOHN McCAIN, A WAR HERO, BUT in my estimation showed HE ‘S NOT THE ONE TO LEAD THIS COUNTRY!!! Would be disastrous if WOMEN in particular voted for him because of his Vice President running mate Governor SARAH PALIN of Alaska in hopes she will capture WOMEN VOTERS WHO BACKED HILLARY - AN INSULT TO THEM! Regardless how I felt about Hillary’s campaign against Obama, she is one DYNAMIC lady whose QUALIFIED, but whose time was not yet!!! BUT will play a major role when Obama takes over the White House!

Some are fearful for Obama’s life, Hey, there’s a HIGHER POWER AT WORK...be not afraid! We who BELIEVE must pull together on November 4, as Representative John Lewis spoke in Denver, MARCH TO THE BALLOT BOX!!!

This writer encourage ... OBAMA KEEP ON PUSHING - THE ROAD AHEAD STILL TOUGH, THE FINISH LINE NEAR, HOLD ON - JUST WIN BABY - JUST WIN!!!

HEY, ITS NICE TO BE NICE AND TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE ... LOOK FOR ME ... I’LL BE THERE ...
E-MAIL Rochelle at iheard@earthlink.net