Obama the President

Well, as we shared the news of our new president this morning with various Mozambicans, there wasn't much interest. However, when we told them that the new American president was a black man, it was amazing to watch their faces. A slow grin crept over them, ending in a beaming smile. "Wow!" many of them said.

You see, it never would have occured to most of the people here that a black man could be president of a country like America. The USA is revered as the "land of milk and honey" and widely considered the most powerful country in the world (whether that is true or not). And for Americans to CHOOSE a black man as their president. Well, that is amazing.

Here in Mozambique, many black people consider themselves inferior to whites. There are many reasons behind this, related to the tortured history of this place, to the poor quality of education that many receive, and also due to the whites that they see coming through here in their big trucks and seemingly loaded down with money. Whites are powerful, educated people. So for a country of whites (their perception of America) to choose a black man is truly surprising to them. They think to themselves "Wow, a black man can be president in a country like that!" I love watching that realization dawn on them. It is a real self-esteem booster for them and makes me feel so good.

It also makes me proud to be an American. From over here, we see and hear terrible stories of racism from all over the world. There are many places where a black man (or anyone of a minority race) would never have a chance to hold the most powerful office in the nation. But in America, it is possible. Putting politics aside, forgetting about all the issues and about all the people who agree or disagree with our president-elect, I am proud that we are a nation who can look beyond race. And happy for my Mozambican friends to know that THEY are capable of great things, that their color does not mean that they are less. It's a beautiful thing.

-Cami