Now Is The Moment

Barack Obama has won the Democratic nomination for president of the United States of America.

I savor the thrill of it and then, with a nod to Michelle Obama, I feel proud of my country for the first time in a long time--eight years too long. Not only is this moment historic, it is truly life changing, mostly for those who don't know it, such as my beloved grandson.

My grandson will grow up in a world where a black man can (I hope will) be president, where a woman can be president, where he and his friends of whatever shade of skin, of whatever gender--and perhaps, by the time he is of age, of whatever religion, of whatever sexual preference, of whatever whatever--can do and be anything. The distinction between those who can and those who don't? Education. And perseverance, and talent, and lots of other qualities, but the biggest factor in achievement will be--hello--achievement!

As a teacher, never mind as a human, this moment is a dream un-deferred. This moment is the real no-child-left-behind. This moment is a role model, an example, a call. This moment is a black boy raised by a single mother who became the first black editor of the Harvard Law Review! This moment is everything we need.

Of course, my grandson won't realize the importance of this moment, thank god; he'll take it all for granted. That's as it should be, at long last.