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.