4 Nov 2008 - A history-making night

It was indeed a historic moment while watching the US presidential elections last night.

The polls closed over here at 6pm Eastern time. And polls in the west coast and Alaska were not expected to close till at least four hours later due to time difference across the states. Hence I was expecting a long night, and gearing myself to stay up till at least 3 - 4am.

To my surprise, the winner was announced around 11pm, with Senator McCain making his very gracious concession speech. He almost made me feel sorry that he lost.

And then at midnight, Obama made his victory speech in front of thousands at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois. It was such a grand sight. All the cheering, the chanting, the emotions. It must mean a lot for the African-American community to see Obama becoming the first black American President.

Roland Martin, CNN contributer:

"African-American parents, when their children said, " I want to be a doctor, I want to be a lawyer, I want to be a politician, an astronaut," they could always point to an African-American who achieved it. But whenever a kid said, "I want to be president," I literally saw black parents say, "Son, or daughter, you might think of being something else." I have nine neices and four nephews, and... I can actually say (you can be president) and mean it."