Barack Obama tore down the racial barriers that have so long plagued our country when on Tuesday night, he was elected as America’s 44th president, making history as the first African American president of the United States.

After 21 months of campaigning, working to convince the American people that he would be an ideal leader for our country, Obama claimed victory saying “Change has come to America.” The win hits close to home especially with African-American students who can now truly believe that yes; you can be whatever you want to be.

Claiming over 50 percent of the popular vote and as of Wednesday morning, CNN reports that Obama won 349 electoral votes to McCain’s 163.

Barack Obama will be inducted into office on January 20th 2009.

This election was historic for North Carolina as a state as well. Beverly Perdue became the state’s first female governor, beating out Pat McCrory with a little under 50 percent of the vote to McCrory’s 47 percent.

Kay Hagan took the U.S. Senate seat of Elizabeth Dole.

Keep checking the News section back today for updates on this story, student reactions and more!