I am ending one journey to begin another. After serving the people of Illinois in the United States Senate–one of the highest honors and privileges of my life–I am stepping down as senator to prepare for the responsibilities I will assume as our nation’s next president.

Have you ever gotten mad about something, then realized later you didn’t get mad enough? I had such an experience last week after receiving an email from the Chicago Urban League’s otherwise even-tempered Director of Housing and Foreclosure Prevention, Margaret Wooten.

Illinois needs a new U.S. Senator. President-elect Barack Obama has resigned from his seat, getting ready to move to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., and that means someone will have to join the 99 other members of the U.S. Senate. There has been feverish lobbying and politicking over Obama’s replacement, which will be chosen by Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

At least five million people have died as a result of wars in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 1997. The wars, which are sometimes described as civil conflicts, are more accurately described as Africa’s first world war. Why? Because the struggle in the DRC involves forces from several other African nations including, Angola, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Rwanda, plus forces from within the DRC itself.

Now that America has elected its first Black president, what happens next? What will Sen. Barack Obama’s historic ascent to the White House mean for African Americans and the state of race relations? In the week since Presidentelect Obama’s history-making event, pundits and editorial commentators have pondered these questions.

There is joy in Black community today. We are walking just a bit taller, and it is one Black nation, under a groove, gettin’ down just for the Barack of it. As improbable as it seems, Barack Hussein Obama is the President-elect of the United States.

The instant that Barack Obama tossed his hat in the presidential rink nearly two years ago, the twin mantra was that he could be the first Black to be president and if that happened America had finally kicked its race syndrome. The twin mantra has been repeated ad infinitum, and it’s dead wrong about Obama and the presidency.

Now that Barack Obama has defeated John McCain, Joe the Plumber and a barrage of negative television commercials, he will now strive to balance the high expectations of African Americans and other progressives with the reality of an anemic economy and supersized budget deficits.

Well, folks, this morning, I think–at least I fervently hope–that we can breathe a collective sigh of relief: The presidential race, one of the longest, hardest-fought and certainly the most historic presidential elections ever, is over.

Once in a lifetime. Once in history. I was reflecting on just what the election of Barack Hussein Obama as 44th President of the United States means. I don't want to oversell it, because today–and the day after–taxes are still too high and sons and daughters and husbands and wives will still be dying in Iraq and Afghanistan.