Black in America


Taqwaa Falaq Saleem
Taqwaa Falaq Saleem

The Savannah Tribune announces the second in a series of articles written by guest columnist Taquaa Falaq Saleem. Taquaa is a 2008 honor graduate with the B.A. in English Language and Literature from Savannah State University where she was also awarded the coveted President’s Second Mile Award at the commencement ceremonies. She is currently a graduate student and teaching assistant at Georgia Southern University. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

By Taqwaa Falaq Saleem

America made me proud on November 4th by showing that change should not always be considered some sort of poison but can be a valuable medicine or treatment. America asserted voice and voted for change in this election. Not since immediately following the September 11th tragedies have I felt such pride in being American. Everyone will remember where he or she was when the announcement bellowed through airwaves around 11:00pm EST that Barack Obama is the President-Elect for the United States of America. Shocked to stillness, I sat on the edge of my bed to witness history unfolding. I thought my ears were deceiving me until emotions spilled from my eyes. We had done it and I was and remain so humbled and proud.

Being black in America is the awareness that our country has regained control of its trajectory. We as a people can now tell our children, without any doubts or reservations, that they can be or do anything, including becoming president. Being black now is feeling the awareness of forward strides in economic, healthcare, educational, environmental, gender, and social issues. Being black is looking past color and on to character. Now is the time where we are seeing glimpses of acreage in the Promised Land that we’ve not seen before. Now is the time for action. Change will not be instant but I believe change will be increasingly steady. Being black in America feels powerful. There is an example of finer humanity, struggles overcome, grace, and determination in the highest position of the free world. He looks and sounds like me, the black American. Moreover, he looks and sounds like Americans who are Hispanic, Jewish, Islamic, Asian, or Native American because Barack Obama speaks on the issues that relate to the masses of people, regardless of shades, hues, or complexions. Being black in America is feeling the ties of brotherhood and sisterhood as felt by those on the front lines of the Civil Rights movement. A new day dawns and we have the responsibility to look onward and upward. Being black in America is about broadening our knowledge and patterns of thinking by continuing to actively and attentively go to work or school. We must shatter the glass ceilings that our ancestors cracked. Now is the time to embrace the change we prayed for. The future President and first family are black in America. Our country has a new face to represent us globally. Being black in America is looking the world in the eye and saying, with valor and dignity, we are rising.

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