Paint a picture in your mind if you will. It’s 1961 in the United States of America. No British invasion, the counter-culture is in its infancy, the free-speech movement hasn’t started yet, the pill has just made it’s way into mainstream America, we haven’t even set foot on the moon yet. In a hospital room in Honolulu Hawaii, a young man from Nyangoma-Kogelo, Siaya District, Kenya and a young woman from Wichita, Kansas are awaiting the birth of their son, Barack Obama. A relatively common event. Little did they realize, the little boy being born that day, would want to change this world in a most profound way. Ann Durham, Barack’s mother was for the most part a single mother. Barack did not grow up rich. He did not come from an affluent family. He had an extremely interesting childhood, growing up in Hawaii, and Indonesia. He went on to graduate from Punahou School in Honolulu, to attend Occidental College for two years before transferring to Columbia University, graduating in 1983. Barack then went on to work as a community organizer in Chicago before attending Harvard Law, where he became the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review. Soon after graduation he returned to Chicago to become a civil rights attorney. He didn’t go to some big money law firm; he went to work for the people. His advocacy work had paid off and allowed him to become an Illinois State senator. In 2004 Barack Obama ran successfully for the United States Senate. During the campaign, Barack took a huge risk and spoke out against the war in Iraq. This was risky because coming out with such a bold statement early in a campaign can break it for you. Fortunately for all of us, it paid off. Barack also delivered the keynote speech of the 2004 Democratic Convention, thrusting him onto the national stage. I remember thinking to myself “Who’s this Obama, and why isn’t he running?”
Fast forward to February, 2007. Barack Obama makes an announcement that he is running for president. Since starting the campaign he has gone on to being 17 pledged delegates away from a majority lead in the race to the nomination. Some people have come out to criticize Barack Obama saying he’s an elitist, like he thinks he’s above everyone. Let me say this. I was brought up by my mother too. My mother, just like Ann Durham had to go at it alone for the most part when it came to raising me. I haven’t had the opportunities Barack has had, but I too have worked hard, real hard, for what I’ve got. I find it offensive that a man who is married to a woman who is worth 100 million dollars plus can call a man who just within this past year finished paying his student loans off an elitist.
Barack Obama along with us is the change we’ve all been waiting for. Barack Obama is my definition of the American Dream. We have a man who has risen up through everything the conservatives and others have thrown his way to make his stamp on history. We need someone to end this senseless war in Iraq. We need someone to take away the failed policies of the Bush administration and turn things around. Barack Obama is ready to ensure everyone in this country can afford an education, have access to good jobs, and get our economy back out of the dumpster. Barack Obama has a real plan for universal heath care. He wants to ensure that if you as an American worker want to organize, you have the right to do so without repercussions. Barack Obama is ready to take this country back from the lobbyists and the oil companies. Barack Obama speaks to the core values of the American people. Barack Obama speaks to me. Barack Obama is the epitome American Dream, and that is why I support, volunteer and have voted for, and will vote again in November for Barack Obama.
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
Organizing for Change 