President Obama Offers Us Hope

As I watch President Obama’s speech in front of the joint session of Congress, I think about January 20, 2009. ?It’s a day I will never forget. ?A historic, thrilling, exciting festive day. ?A day that overwhelmed me with happiness, inspired me and renewed my faith that a black man in America has as many opportunities to succeed as a white man. ?As I watched millions of people come together in peaceful unity to praise and support our new President, Barack Obama, I knew change had arrived.

People see skin color before anything else.? President Barack Obama was labeled as black, even though he was just as much white as he was black. ?Bi-racial children that have “brown” skin are automatically labeled as a black. ?My son is bi-racial and takes on his dad’s looks much more than mine. ?When my son was first born he had very fair skin. ?Even though he had dark brown hair and eyes, his fair skin color matched mine identically. ?As my son got older, his skin darkens into a deep caramel and in the summer when he’s out in the sun his skin turns dark milk chocolate. ?Regardless of what season it is my son, just like President Obama, is labeled as black because of his skin color.

I used to fear that my son would grow up in a world where being black meant you were the inferior race to whites. ?But on January 20, 2009 when President Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44^th president of the United States of America, my fear turned to hope.

I have hope that one day my son can rise to a position of power, and to a position of leadership. ?I have hope that he will not only be treated equally, but also seen as an equal. ?Even with his brown skin, he will have the opportunity, if he so chooses, to be elected to the highest office in America. ?My son may never choose to go into Politics but if he chose to that door would have already been opened my President Barack Obama, a black man.

The masses on the National Mall, along with people worldwide,?cheered that day for a man who they believe in and trust. ?A man that was able to break through the color lines, bringing change to our country. ?When President Barack Obama stood proudly on the podium taking his oath of office as our President, our Leader, it became apparent that America not only wants change, its embracing change.

I’m glad I watched his speech. ?I’m glad he offered hope to our nation again. ?I look forward to what the future holds for us all. ?It’s not going to be easy, but nothing worth while comes easy.

Guest post written By Britney