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2008 is nearing her end. What a wild year it has been. Sitting at the computer, looking out the window at the unusually warm St. Louis morning, thoughts of the year behind and the hope before fill my mind this Sunday morning.

In a few days, we will have something many thought would never happen - an African-American man as the nation's 44th President of the United States. This historic event comes after an exhausting year of political campaigns, volunteering, networking, community organizing, fielding calls, and the endless news cycle. In the midst of it all, the ray of hope and promise of change keep bright. Americans were exhausted from the divisive politics, the widening wealth gap, the malfeasance of Wall Street and K Street, the endless war, the record high gas prices along with record high unemployment, Americans are ready to breathe again.

2009 is the year I declared two things. "Clear the mind in 2009." I told my husband this is the year for us to take advantage of Freecycle and clear our garage of the things accumulated over the last twelve years and two houses. It is also the time to think of other people as a nation. President-elect Barack Obama made volunteering and giving something for everyone, even those with little. There are sites promoting micro-giving and promising that even something as small as $5 makes a difference.

I also declared it the year of Black Female Literature. My thoughts turned to First-lady Elect Michelle Obama and the many, many black women like her who have quietly contributed to the betterment of America. Her presence, elegance, her realness as a mother and educated black woman promise to redefine the conversation. For far too long the media has used the image of the black woman as either over-sexed, a welfare queen, a mammy, or a loud-talking sassy teen. Women like those in Mocha Moms, Inc. and those who daily walk beside their husbands and hold the hands of their children have largely been forgotten in television movies, sitcoms, and news reports. I thought of all this as I thought about Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Ann Petry, Tananarive Due, Edwidge Danticat, Donna Hemans, Breena Clarke, and Asha Bandele.

There is much in store for the new year, even as there is much trepidation facing the nation. As the celebrations kick off the New year and the inauguration, the reality of troops still at war, holiday unrest in Israel, economic recession, and urban crisis still loom over head. We still have much to clean up after eight years. I imagine the news reports will be filled with President-elect Barack Obama's every move for his first 100 days. The pondits will review and redefine his every move to exhaustion. I hope to see a redefining of the endless, 24/7 news cycle that has become a pitiful reality show. The new year brings the possibility of new view of journalism and citizen reporting. I think people want to think again...for themselves.

The sun is still shining. I am ready to breathe again and just appreciate my fellow man. The hope of the new year will deliver the promise that we truly are in this together and only through unity can bring about a better nation. 2009, the future awaits.

Learn more about this author, Taye Foster Bradshaw.
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