It’s been a week since the great day, and now that I’ve calmed down (just a little), wiped the tears away, and my face has gotten back to normal from exaggerated smiling, it’s time for me and you to get back to reality.

The day after the election, I saw a young Black woman wearing a tee shirt that read “My President is Black”. Biological technicalities aside, President-elect Barack Obama will forever be viewed as America’s first Black President. This is something every American should be proud of and every Black American should be inspired by. However, Barack Obama was not elected and did not receive over 66-million votes to be a Black President, Democratic President or Liberal President. He was elected to fix the economy, create jobs, end the wars in the Middle East, and bring about real change in Washington. Each of these top priorities are monumental tasks Obama must attack knowing he will be under the proverbial microscope 24/7 and knowing political debts must be repaid and campaign promises must at least look like there’re being kept. That is the reality of politics and winning an election. Obama is sincere in all he wants to accomplish but he is also a master politician who realizes time is short and before you know it he must begin running for the 2012 election around 2010.

After January 20, 2009, President Obama will use Executive Orders to make some initial changes to George Bush policies but nothing that Black Americans will view as being something specifically for them. That is a good thing. Now more than ever before is a tremendous window of opportunity that is open for Black Americans to join other Americans in taking advantage of everything this country has to offer, just like Barack Obama did.

If Black Americans wait around for President Obama to do something specific for them, they will look around and say “Nothing changed for us.” That’s because nothing will change.

But if Black Americans can turn our re-charged pride into local political action, community organization, a renewed spirit of being entrepreneurs, being kind and respectful to each other, strengthening our families,  and being involved parents, we can say “Yes We Did” and be talking about ourselves as full partners and participants in the America Barack Obama talks about for everyone.

Say It Loud!