As I write, the full and final results of the American presidential election have yet to be declared. And still, one thing is certain: the victory that, tonight, made Barack Obama President Elect of the United States of America was decisive. Nor could anyone doubt the significance – for African Americans, for the United States of America, for the world – of America’s election of her first African American president.

The road to this election victory has been long and uncertain. It’s not just that the contest between Obama and Hillary Clinton was hard won. It’s not just that Obama’s victory over John McCain could not be taken for granted. Speaking for the first time as President Elect, Obama tonight highlighted the life experience of one of America’s oldest voters, Anne Nixon Cooper. At 106 years of age, Nixon Cooper was born in an era in which, as a woman, and as a woman of colour, she did not have the right to vote. Reflecting on the extraordinary arc of change in her lifetime, it’s interesting to note that she had reached her mid 60s before, in 1968, America’s African American citizens were granted the right to vote. Many black people – perhaps many who turned out in record numbers to vote at this election – did not dare to believe they would get to see an African American president in their lifetime.

A word must go at this time to John McCain. Combative in his election campaign, there was nothing to draw me to him as future president of the US of A. Still, in his concession speech, his congratulations to Obama “on becoming the president of the country we both love” were clearly heartfelt. His wish to find ways to come together was sincere. Seeing for the first time the love McCain has for his country, hearing him recognise the historical significance for African American citizens of this result (“Let there be no reason now for any American to fail to cherish their citizenship of this country”), witnessing his determination to find ways to come together with his political colleagues of both parties, I felt a respect for McCain which his election campaign had failed to engender. I salute him.

Some acknowledgement must also go to the task ahead. As Obama said tonight, “Victory is not the change itself, it’s the chance to make that change”. It was clear from his words that he is fully aware of the scale of the task that lies ahead. Perhaps, too, he was asking the American people to recognise the scale of the task ahead. Even with the significant mandate granted Obama by the American people, there will be work to do.

For now though, I celebrate the election of America’s 44th – and first African American – president. I also celebrate the love shown tonight by both John McCain and Barack Obama, believing this to be a great force for good in the world. As certain as tonight’s election result had become by the time of this election, the deep wave of emotion I felt as Barack Obama walked onto the platform to speak reflects the great historical significance of this moment – for all the world. Because of this result, the world will be different in the morning.