After November 4, 2008

Now that Barack Obama is President…..

The world cried, danced, cheered, and even had riots, but what does the country expect now that the first African-American has been elected to run this country? Will health care be accessible to everyone? Will the economy miraculously lift itself up on the day of his Inauguration? Will keeping the world “green” become as second nature as breathing? What do the citizens that helped to put Barack Obama in the White House expect from him after his inauguration?

For many people, particularly the “baby boomer” generation (anyone born between the years 1941-1964), the fact that Obama is indeed the President-Elect for the next four years is still sinking in. Carolyn Johnson, 67, a retired beautician and surviving cancer patient, thought she would never see the day a black person was elected President of the United States. “I remember that there was a time in my life when I just knew, without a doubt, that there would never be an African-American anything! Let alone president,” said Johnson “I was so overwhelmed that night that all I could do was cry and praise the Lord that I lived to see the day!”

Johnson added that, she regrets that many people that she grew up with weren’t able to see this day. But despite her optimism, she is nonchalant about what Obama may offer the country. “He is still a politician at the end of the day,” she said. “To rest all of my troubles on him [such as health care] would make me naïve. I just can’t believe that all of this mess can be fixed in just four years and I don’t expect it to be.”

Louis Bacot, a retired mechanic, 86, has similar thoughts, but is apprehensive about Obama’s safety. “I’ve been on this earth long enough to know that there are hateful people in this world, and they come in all shapes, colors, sizes, and even races,” said Bacot. “I fear for his safety because even though this was a great win, there are still people in this world that are crazy and hateful and can’t deal with a black president.”

As far as Obama’s promises goes? “If I live long enough to see it, I know that there will be change! But I believe that he can’t do it by hisself. We got him in office, now we got to help him with his plan.”

Scottessa Hurte, a volunteer for the Obama campaign, also has high aspirations for the four year tenure of Obama. “He has engaged the country in a way that I have never seen, and he is challenging us to get involved in making our country a better place.” She expressed that she has high expectations not only for Obama, but for the country. Though many of the citizens expect Obama to change the country, Hurte expects him to be honest. “I think more than anything I expect him to be honest with the American people about what is taking place and making sure we are aware of issues that were hidden from us before. A transparent government will make all the difference in the world.”

http://www.change.gov/