By Sonji Young
FOCUS Director of Bridges Across Racial Polarization

Say it with me. O-BA-MA. Oh how the energy flows, without seeming to end.  Some call it Obamafied. Others coin it as Obama-mania.  However we look at it, America's new President churns up the excitement in many, and causes anxiety for those reluctant to subscribe to his message of change.  As the first African-American President ever elected, the world stopped to celebrate a victory that appeared impossible at times.  That very celebration has mistakenly left members of society suffering from a "political hangover".  The remedy: take hold of the message of change, and get to work. 

Just as the faith in our new President starts to grow, our country's resilience to economic and social crisis will depend on us.  I'm awestruck by the number of people that believe our problems are solved because the color of the president is different from that of his predecessors.  Surely, I too am proud of the feat that President Obama has conquered, but the true battles lie ahead and go way beyond the concept of race.  So ask yourself, what is your plan for the next 4-8 years?  How does it supplement the change that we expect from President Obama?