Barack & Michelle's Fist Bump

Okay, I'll admit it... I cried when Barack and Michelle fist bumped the other night. Mind you that I had no idea it was called a fist bump. Julia's soccer coach, as he is congratulating the girls, offers up his fist and says "hit my rock." Whatever.

For me, the fist bump in St. Paul was a really significant moment. First, there's something athletic about it (this aspect is lost on me for obvious reasons). Second, it's a generational shift. I imagine it's the first potentially-presidential fist bump, and you won't see Mr. & Mrs. McCain fist bumping anytime soon. Third, there's something about culture and race here. Let me be clear: the fist bump isn't "a black thing" or anything close. But a black man and his spouse, fist bumping to mark an historic accomplishment in front of 20,000 screaming people, has some signficance I can't wrap my head around. It took me back to the night after the Iowa caucuses when the sight of Barack & Michelle, along with their two little girls, celebrating an amazing political victory. How many times have we seen "the campaign family" brought out as a political prop? That night was the same but different, as in good different.

Well, I am still thinking about this and what it all means. Others are making a big deal of it too, so here are some interesting links:

http://www.zachishere.com/2008/05/20/the-10-rules-of-fist-bumping/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGBikSDv4nM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFkwOg2_KsE
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/06/04/moos.political.fist.bump.cnn