America, we were wrong

America... my bad. We were wrong about you. We completely underestimated you.
And this morning, I am happy to admit I was wrong.

I am only in my late 20s, no grizzled veteran of the civil rights era. I came of age in a time when apartheid ended and the possibilities seemed endless for those of us blacks born on this side of the Atlantic where our ancestors had been on the receiving end of oppression for centuries.

I knew the possibilities were endless but yet I never, ever envisioned this possibility. Not in my lifetime, not ever honestly, as the racial demographics of the United States continue to shift and my people become a minority within minorities.

Like many, even most other people around the globe and certainly the majority of black people, I did not think that Americans were ready to elect a black president. I was convinced, as we all were, that you could not overcome your 'original sin' of slavery that has tainted racial relations for all of your existence.

Clearly, President-elect Barack Obama saw something that the rest of us did not see. Clearly, you knew within yourself that the world was wrong. That you were bigger and you had come far enough and you were ready.

I am in awe. Even when I decided, just about a year ago to throw caution to the wing and believe, after Michelle Obama exhorted us in that profound interview with Mika Brzezinski to have more faith in ourselves and not place limits on what we believed... I was still doubtful. I was tentative, nervous and often questioned my support. Even after the ecstasy of the Iowa caucus I still battled internal doubts even as I showed an outwardly confident and positive face. People laughed at my determined optimism in Obama as naive, too hopeful. Even as more and more started to come around, there was still a strong undercurrent of doubt and cynicism.

'The United States is inherently racist' went the meme. 'At some point this dream has to stop.'

But it didn't. You didn't let it. You went through all the way and gave Barack Obama, a black man, a resounding victory.

I was wrong about you, United States of America. I am so glad I was. I see you with very different eyes now.