Obama and Other Heroes

O-BA-MA!!! O-BA-MA!!! O-BA-MA!!!

Tomorrow, the Lord willing, we will see history being made.

A Black Man will take the oath of office and will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America.

What a suppm!!!

I must confess, I am one of the ones who never thought it would happen. And when I stayed up late, eschewing my beauty sleep (which really isn't working anyway) to follow the US election blow by nail-biting blow, I couldn't believe it when they declared that Obama Had Won.

The next morning I watched the re-runs of the Obamas taking the stage and waving to the throngs of excited fans - sorry, voters, supporters - who had gathered to celebrate the Obama victory. And as I watched Barack (yes, we're on first name terms; is mi bonafide) and Michelle (she's cool) walk hand-in-hand, with their children, my eyes misted over.

OK. I bawled. Snot and everything. I had lived to see the USA vote for a Black Man to become President.

I know that reality is already setting in. This is the worst possible time to become head-of-state of the most powerful nation in the world (that's what they say about themselves). Mr. Obama barely has a honeymoon period. Majorly serious tings a gwaan outta street. Personally I'm glad I don't have the kinds of ambitions he has. I can barely rule my doggie, much less an entire nation.

But I am still allowing myself to wallow in the euphoria of this moment. The word 'milestone' is almost inadequate. I'll be on Facebook and CNN. Hopefully I'll get some work done in between, cause, Obama or no Obama, I still got bills to pay.

But... what a day, what a day.

What will we learn from this as Jamaicans? Hopefully not just "Is black man time now!" Or, like I've heard secondhand: "Wi nuh need nuh visa fi go a farrin... Black man ova deh a run TINGS!"

Hopefully Jamaicans my age and younger will look on and understand that Obama and the black race in the USA are reaping today, what was sown in blood, sweat and a deluge of tears in years gone by. And the sowing and sacrifice must continue today if we - or more accurately, our children - are to reap tomorrow.

When we turn off our television sets tomorrow night, let's reflect on our own heroes, on whose backs this nation was built.

Nanny.
Paul Bogle.
Sam Sharpe.
George William Gordon.
Marcus Garvey.
Norman Manley.
Alexander Bustamante.

The unsung heroes living among us today. Are we fashioning a Jamaica that's worthy of them?