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Greensboro’s Henry Frye was once denied the right to vote because of so-called “literacy” tests. He was the first African American in the 20th century to be elected to the state legislature and the first to hold a seat on the state Supreme Court and become chief justice.

Like so many others, I was surprised when Barack Obama, a first-term senator from Illinois, announced that he was a candidate for president of the United States, subject to nomination by the Democratic Party. I had watched on television as he spoke at the Democratic National Convention in 2004, and I liked what he said, and the way that he said it! This man, I thought, could one day be president of the United States! Little did I think that it would come so soon.

During early voting, and on Election Day, I visited different polling places and I saw the lines and observed the people waiting to vote: young and old, black, white, and colors in between; some with foreign accents; some in their work clothes; and others dressed in business suits. In some places, the lines were long, but the people seemed friendly - and determined to vote. And I thought to myself: This is democracy at work, this is the way it is supposed to be.

Barack Obama ran a great campaign! He had a message of hope, a great staff, thousands of volunteers, a strong message, great organization, and eventually, plenty of money - much of it coming in small amounts from people who had never given before. As I observed the campaign (and sent in a few checks of my own), I began to believe that Barack had a realistic chance of winning.

Looking back, I remember the day, many years ago, when a small, dark, African American congresswoman from New York, Shirley Chisholm, came to Greensboro and spoke at N.C. A&T State University. I knew that her chances of winning the presidency were slim and none, but I went to Richard B. Harrison Auditorium anyway - and I had this feeling of euphoria when she walked to the stage, stood as tall as she could, and proudly announced:

"My name is Shirley Chisholm, and I am a candidate for president of the United States of America!"

I left Harrison Auditorium that day looking forward to the day when an African American could be elected president of the United States. As the Obama campaign progressed, I realized that this really could be the year, and every time I heard him speak, I remembered that euphoric feeling in Richard B. Harrison Auditorium.

Obama's election as president means that the glass ceiling has been broken. His election has renewed our faith in America.

I can now tell my breakfast buddy at Sumner Elementary School that if a former community organizer born to an interracial couple, and with a last name that ends in a vowel, can be elected president of the United States, then he, too, can have a great future in this "land of the free and home of the brave."