A Day of Days
[col. writ. 11/5/08] (c) '08 Mumia Abu-Jamal

I'd expected an Obama win, and only the prospect of grand theft could've changed that expectation.

That's because I'd read of the polls, listened to the pollsters, and studied the political map. Plus, the coolness of Sen. Barack Obama's campaign was in sharp contrast to the frenzied style, and open infighting among supporters of Sen. John McCain (R.-Ariz.).

There was also the nasty derisive tone of many who supported McCain, as perhaps best encapsulated by the Republican Convention where a slew of presenters mocked Obama's past experience as a "community organizer."

It elicited guffaws and gales of laughter. Implicit within the critique was an almost audible question: 'Community organizer? Who does this ni---- think he is?'

Now we see that such skills, aided of course by the reach and ubiquity of the Internet, were perhaps more valuable than a law degree.

I'd expected it, but no one could've predicted the enormous outpouring of emotion, both across this country and around the world. Within moments of the election results' announcement, streets filled with people in Harlem, in Chicago, in Kenya, in Washington, DC., in San Francisco, and beyond. Celebrations erupted in Europe and Asia; in Japan and Australia.

And almost all the celebrants were young people.

In nearby Pittsburgh, college students and other young people just took to the streets, a spontaneous demonstration of joy.

Unlike any election in generations, this race drew out enormous numbers of first-time voters, and young folks between 18 and 30. Indeed, Obama carried all age groups up to those over 65.

This was, in sheer historical terms, an impressive political event.

Now, the hard work begins, for of all the challenges facing the president-elect, the economy (upon which all else depends) is the most daunting. If the recent big bailout is any measure, there's far more bad financial news to come.

Businesses and banks will fiend for more public monies, like a dope fiend craves crack.

In a sense, capital entered its vote the day after election day, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling some 50 points!

The challenges facing the President-elect may ultimately prove insurmountable.

Yet they are his.

--(c) '08 maj