Thank You Mom

At 4:50am, you were there.  You had to be there.

You wanted to make sure that everything was set up properly.

You wanted to make sure that everyone had a chance to vote.

You wanted to make sure that the Rosemont Middle School precinct in Norfolk, Virginia would be alright.

You did this for us.  All of us – your sons, your grandchildren, your nation.

And when you left that precinct a little before 10:00pm, tired and weary, you did your duty.

The machines worked and despite the long lines, everyone voted.  You made sure of that.

As I watched the returns come in I knew everything would be alright because you were there.

You have always been there.

When President Obama said “We are all family,” I thought about you.

Our President is there because you were there.

Thank you Mom.  I love you

Corey D. B. Walker is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Africana Studies at Brown University.