A moment to celebrate

Nelson Graves
Published: November 5, 2008

I sat anxiously before the television that was tuned to CNN and waited for Virginia’s polls to close. Virginia was a bona fide swing state, which meant our votes played a significant role in whether Barack Obama or John McCain would be the next U.S. president. I figured Virginia’s results would be indicative of the election. As it turned out, Obama didn’t need Virginia’s votes to get him over the top.

When Obama was projected to be America’s next president by CNN around 11 p.m. election night it ended an evening of anxiousness. I felt good but not great realizing that Obama had won.

Like most African-Americans I’m very proud of his accomplishment. Although he should have won in a landslide considering the ill feelings most Americans have for Republican congressional candidates and the low approval rating for President Bush, the race was close.

Close to midnight, thanks to new Democratic voters in Northern Virginia and the Virginia cities with large black populations, Virginia voters finally joined those in other states that selected Obama.

After Obama was projected the winner, McCain made what I felt was his best speech ever. He congratulated Obama publicly after doing so privately before taking the stage in Phoenix.

It would mean more to have joined others in a watch party but living in Augusta County didn’t provide the opportunity. So I joined Obama supporters on TV. There were crowds at the White House. CNN even showed Africans celebrating Obama’s win in the Kenyan village where Obama’s father’s side of the family lives.

After congratulating McCain for his campaign run, Obama reminded everyone that he will be president of all Americans. He acknowledged that the job ahead won’t be easy or painless. With an economy that’s in the tank and an America that isn’t positively thought of throughout the world, he has a huge job ahead of him.

As expected, Valley voters overwhelmingly supported John McCain. I can imagine how they feel because I felt similarly when George W. Bush was selected in 2000 and re-elected in ’04.

Earlier in the week I received an e-mail from a former high school classmate. It was a chain e-mail that was sent by African- Americans to other African- Americans. The message highlighted the proper etiquette to be shown the day after the election, should Obama win.

We were advised not to enter the workplace high-fiving, dancing or shouting as we headed to work stations. That we should be compassionate, humble and reserved.

As I read the e-mail, I was reminded of a piece of advice given by a famous former NFL running back. I don’t remember if it was Jim Brown, Barry Sanders or Walter Peyton.

When asked what he thought of today’s younger players who when crossing the goal line dance, dunk the football over the goal post or engage in some other unnecessary over-the-top ritual, the older pro replied he’d just hand the ball to the closest ref because he didn’t want fans to know it was his first time to score.

On my way to work today I heard a deejay commenting on the e-mail. I thought about the advice. At first I agreed with her, and then changed my mind.

Why shouldn’t African-Americans be proud, loud and animated? Ever since we first arrived in 1620, we were denied compassion. Instead, we were mistreated, enslaved, beaten or killed for trying to escape the system. Our women were raped and forced to have white owners’ children. Finally freed by the Civil War, we then endured being lynched and taxed in order to vote.

And worse, to this day in many cases, we’re still treated as second-class citizens. So should we be humble and have empathy for our white co-workers?

Hell no!

Nelson Graves, Western Virginia director of the Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council, writes a weekly column for The News Virginian. E-mail him at .