The election of barrack Obama as president is, in my own view, the second emancipation of the black race in America. The first was done by Abraham Lincoln. The one thing so unique about President Obama's election is that it is slowly changing the perception of the black race by other races in America, as well as inspiring black men and women, stirring them away from the" hopeless" mindset that has characterized our attitudes toward life, in general. How far this would go to refine us, I do not know. My call to every colored man or woman, is to embrace Obama's victory as a great challenge.

A challenge to change that dangerous mindset that "life is a game". It totally destroys any sense of trust among us. I have experienced or rather witnessed the consequences of this mindset and the negative impacts it has had on our ability to genuinely relate to one another. Life is not a game, at least, in my opinion. It must be planned, sacrifices must be made, hardwork must be embraced, humility employed, honesty incorporated, patience exercized, and vision followed.

We have been our greatest enemies, as far as I can see. Very early, in our lives, we destroy them by marring them with ugly records, hopeless and despairing lifestyles and disregard those elements that we ought to embrace. Our envy toward each other is unmeasureable, hate unlimited and arrogance incomprehensible. In otherwords, we are constantly at war with each other, instead of helping each other to excel. President Obama did not become president playing games. He read his books, stayed way from criminal activities and other sacrifices.

This young generation can do better. Success is the one and only key that holds the lasting or enduring remedy to the crisis facing us as a race. That success could only come from hardwork and formal education. So, we must see this new era as a challenge to pull ourselves up, dust ourselves off and reach for higher ideals. Paul Ernest. http://www.paulernestshow.com