What Obama's Inauguration means to us

I am one of those black people who has never set myself apart from other people. I refuse to segregate myself. I shy away from black-only situations, and like to be in the middle of the action, no matter what color that action is.

Still, while I have managed to transcend race in many areas of my life, I am surrounded by people who don't think like I do. I have siblings who feel held back by "the man". I have gone to college with people who already felt defeated. Insecurities based on nothing more than being black is a horrible thing to witness.

For me, seeing Obama actually become the president means that whenever someone makes an excuse that "the man" is holding him back, my argument won't be empty talk. It means that there are no excuses for being less than great. It means that someone came before you, it has been done... what is your problem.

I think my kids explained it best.

After the inauguration I asked my 14 year old son what this moment meant. He said it meant that he could do anything in his life that he wanted and nothing should be able to hold him back. I asked if he felt that he could not do these things before. He said he had doubts.

I asked my 12 year old daughter the same thing. She replied, nothing has changed for me. I always knew I could do anything I wanted. She asked why skin color mattered anyway? It's silly.

I agreed and told her what I felt about that. I feel that now that we finally have a black person reach the highest office in the United States that perhaps race can finally stop mattering.

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