A Long Time Comin'

"It's been a long time coming," he told the crowd, "but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America."

On a picture perfect autumn day in 1965 my parents drove me to college. The car was piled high with everything I could possibly need to lead a comfortable life in the dorm - TV, record player, bicycle, the works. My life had been one of privilege in a Detroit suburb, and it was all going with me as I started my college experience. I was excited; my parents were excited.

We reached the university, found my dormitory and began the unloading process. As I was carrying in a box of books, my roommate and her family showed up. She was carrying a box, too. Her parents followed closely behind. She was black.

There were some awkward introductions, I recall, but she and I continued our unpacking. Our fathers disappeared.

A few minutes later the fathers returned with a university official. Apologies were uttered; it seemed I had been assigned the wrong room. It was just a clerical mistake, the official said. She and I looked at each other across the room, not believing the excuse but resigned. We were both embarrassed and silently communicated - "It's them, not me."

Our parents, hers and mine, were not racist. They were a product of their time.

But, times have changed.

Last night we witnessed an event of historical proportion - for America and the world. The first African-American has been elected President of the United States. Those far more eloquent than I will document the event and I encourage you to take time to reflect on both the past and the future of our great country.

Although Chicago made history last night, as the location of President-Elect Obama's acceptance speech, I will not be posting on my Chicago history blog this week. In my life I have seen the Korean War, the birth of the Civil Rights movement, a man land on the moon, the loss of Jack, Bobby and Martin, the tragedy of 9/11, to name a few. But of all I have seen, last night - as state after state screamed - "It's not me" -I realized that our country had finally and decisively entered a new age. And I lived to see it.

Photo: Doug Mills/The New York Times