Rise up this morning/Smiles in the risin’ sun/Three little birds/Pitch by my doorstep/Singin’ sweet songs/Of melodies pure and true/Saying…this is my message--Bob Marley

Barack Obama is now President-elect of the United States of America.

Personal photo

Vasco L. Bridges

“What if the black folks think he’s not black enough?”… and then someone started selling Obama/MLK “Dream Fullfilled” t-shirts on the street.

“What if the Republicans throw that Karl Rove slander at him?”…and then there were the debates.

“But what if he can’t win the general election?

This weekend I was heavy on the “What Ifs.” I gave cautious warnings to my friends, avoided wearing my Obama t-shirts, and even started contemplating different foreign countries to move when McCain won.   And then on Sunday, I put in my CD player Exodus by Bob Marley, arguably one of the greatest albums ever made.
Fast forward to track #9:

"Don't worry about a thing/Cause every little thing gonna be all right/Singin': "Don't worry about a thing/Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"

If there was one song that epitomized Barack Obama’s message of hope that has transfixed the nation for the past 21 months, Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” is it. 

While black folks across the country are blasting their anthems of revelry (from “Black and Proud” by James Brown to “Black President” by Nas) Bob Marley’s simple yet powerful message of positivity is the only way I can articulate my feelings right now…even as a whole new set of “What Ifs” begin to rear their ugly heads. 

What if he reneges on those promises he has made?

What if due to very unfortunate circumstances, he is not able to fulfill the promise that America has just given him?

What if he fails?

"Don’t worry about a thing."

It’s easy to understand these doubts from even Obama’s core support, mostly brought on by the despair resulting from the idiotic and shameful policies of the last eight years.

While now is the time to celebrate, we can soon find ourselves regressing into doubting Obama’s success as president.

But while you all may celebrate and worry, there are three things that maintain my strength in Barack Obama’s presidential success -- "three little birds" that console my fears as Obama begins the transition from exciting politician to great world leader.

1)Intelligence -- Barack Obama is not just the first Black president of the United States of America, but is probably among the most intelligent. Columbia undergrad, Harvard Law and a common sense of purpose envied by everyone.

2)Support – Not only did Barack win, but he won convincingly with a mandate for success.  A record voter turnout gave him over a 5 percent win nationally and secured over 340 electoral votes.  His success of campaigning has also translated into strengthening the Democratic control of Congress and local legislatures.

3)Temperament – Throughout the entire election cycle, the unflappable Barack Obama has maintained an unmatched level of cool. He has the uncanny ability to show the stability and patience of John Kerry while still keeping the sorely missed compassion and likeability of Bill Clinton.

Maybe Obama is, as he joked a few weeks ago, “too awesome.”  But Jesus Christ he isn’t, and as the economy worsens and wars around the world rage on, these hopes for a successful Obama presidency are all we really have.

We have “hoped” Barack Obama all the way to the finish line, and now that he has arrived, it’s time celebrate. But celebrate briefly, because tomorrow we must immediately get to work, and follow his lead to change the world.

Because without our help “Yes, we can” could become “Sorry, we tried,” or we can finally sing loud and strong those words Bob Marley etched in stone: “Every little thing, is gonna be all right.”

Vasco L. Bridges is an MBA student in the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

Posted Nov. 05, 2008