Election Night
Hi everyone,
I was in Washington, DC last week on business, and had the privilege of being in Washington to watch the election results.
We found a bar in the hip, up-and-coming 14th and U neighborhood that was having a watch party for like-minded folks. MSNBC on all the televisions, but hundreds of noisy people making it impossible to listen. We got there early for dinner and sat at a table with people we didn't know at the beginning of the evening, but were friends (at least, Facebook friends) by the end of the night.
We chatted and waited for the election results to come in. As the early results trickled in, each new blue state got cheers and applause, and each red state good natured booing (and laughter). We all had US maps with red and blue crayons; some used them to make their predictions, others to follow and count electors.
We expected to stay very late, then give up and take a cab home without knowing the result of the election. I admit I was very afraid that shenanigans in Florida and Ohio (and possibly even Pennsylvania) might cost Obama the election unfairly.
When Ohio, and then immediately the election, were called for for Obama, the place erupted into cheers, screams, tears, laughter, hugs and kisses, high fives, and more. No one could believe we already had a result. We all jumped on our phones to see if it was only MSNBC or if other outlets were also calling it. When Fox called it ten minutes later, we knew it was really over.
Since we couldn't hear anything in that raucous but fun place, we exchanged contact info with our new friends and headed to catch the last metro train to our hotel to watch the speeches. And what we saw was so amazing.
People were pouring out of the bars and restaurants into the streets. (DC went over 90% for Obama.) They were laughing, hugging, cheering, "O-Ba-Ma! O-Ba-Ma!" or "Four More Years!" Car horns were honking in that same three beat pattern, joining in the cheers. Strangers were hugging and high-fiving us. A guy was walking around with a big Obama cutout and people were taking pictures with it. As the streets filled with people, the police started blocking them off for safety. I wanted to go join the moment but my companions convinced me to head back for the hotel -- I think there was some fear it might turn ugly. I knew it wouldn't; this was just an unbridled expression of pure joy.
In the Metro station, the group standing near us waiting for the train was a bunch of students from Howard University. They were SO excited! They kept saying, "Now I know I can stay in school -- my financial aid will still be there!" The whole Metro station was chanting, talking about the election, and celebrating. People would kind of look at us to see if we looked happy, and then start yelling "Wooooooooo!"
We got on the last Metro train of the evening, and things were a bit quieter. The Howard students were on the same car we were, still talking excitedly and animatedly about the results. And they were talking about which stop was closest to the White House. They were going there to continue to celebrate.
And then, I heard the best thing I heard all night. A young woman of color, a Howard student, said, "If Obama can do it, so can I."
I was in Washington, DC last week on business, and had the privilege of being in Washington to watch the election results.
We found a bar in the hip, up-and-coming 14th and U neighborhood that was having a watch party for like-minded folks. MSNBC on all the televisions, but hundreds of noisy people making it impossible to listen. We got there early for dinner and sat at a table with people we didn't know at the beginning of the evening, but were friends (at least, Facebook friends) by the end of the night.
We chatted and waited for the election results to come in. As the early results trickled in, each new blue state got cheers and applause, and each red state good natured booing (and laughter). We all had US maps with red and blue crayons; some used them to make their predictions, others to follow and count electors.
We expected to stay very late, then give up and take a cab home without knowing the result of the election. I admit I was very afraid that shenanigans in Florida and Ohio (and possibly even Pennsylvania) might cost Obama the election unfairly.
When Ohio, and then immediately the election, were called for for Obama, the place erupted into cheers, screams, tears, laughter, hugs and kisses, high fives, and more. No one could believe we already had a result. We all jumped on our phones to see if it was only MSNBC or if other outlets were also calling it. When Fox called it ten minutes later, we knew it was really over.
Since we couldn't hear anything in that raucous but fun place, we exchanged contact info with our new friends and headed to catch the last metro train to our hotel to watch the speeches. And what we saw was so amazing.
People were pouring out of the bars and restaurants into the streets. (DC went over 90% for Obama.) They were laughing, hugging, cheering, "O-Ba-Ma! O-Ba-Ma!" or "Four More Years!" Car horns were honking in that same three beat pattern, joining in the cheers. Strangers were hugging and high-fiving us. A guy was walking around with a big Obama cutout and people were taking pictures with it. As the streets filled with people, the police started blocking them off for safety. I wanted to go join the moment but my companions convinced me to head back for the hotel -- I think there was some fear it might turn ugly. I knew it wouldn't; this was just an unbridled expression of pure joy.
In the Metro station, the group standing near us waiting for the train was a bunch of students from Howard University. They were SO excited! They kept saying, "Now I know I can stay in school -- my financial aid will still be there!" The whole Metro station was chanting, talking about the election, and celebrating. People would kind of look at us to see if we looked happy, and then start yelling "Wooooooooo!"
We got on the last Metro train of the evening, and things were a bit quieter. The Howard students were on the same car we were, still talking excitedly and animatedly about the results. And they were talking about which stop was closest to the White House. They were going there to continue to celebrate.
And then, I heard the best thing I heard all night. A young woman of color, a Howard student, said, "If Obama can do it, so can I."
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