The day started early.

Most of us had never canvassed before, but if Saturday had taught us anything, we knew this day in Indianapolis would leave us drained.

I’d already met self-proclaimed Obamacans (Republican Obama supporters), twenty-somethings celebrating the Kentucky Derby with mint juleps in hand, and Baha’i waiting out the primaries because their faith didn’t allow them to join political parties.

But now, after canvassing for the Obama campaign in conservative, mostly white neighborhoods of single-story homes and picket fences, I was headed into Indianapolis’ affluent Crown Hill.

Here, sprawling plots of land surrounded oversized homes, many fronted with Greek columns. Door after door was opened by African-American Baby Boomers.

Growing up in the Bay Area, I’m used to affluent neighborhoods being predominately white, with a mix of wealthy African-Americans or other minorities.

But here, it was the reverse. These residents of Crown Hill, who had the economic means to live anywhere, were choosing to live here, and the self-determined segregation was striking.

Some in the mainstream media like to say Millenials, those of us born from 1976 to 1995, don’t see race. This just isn’t true.

We see race, but it is just part of an individual’s identity, not a determinant.

A cause, greater than myself, had pushed me to canvass for Barack Obama, even as blisters grew on my feet. I saw in him the opportunity to reclaim the hopes and promises of the American dream.

But somewhere along the way, I had gotten lost in the day-to-day minutia of the presidential campaign.

And it wasn’t until Crown Hill that I realized just how much Obama and his trek toward the White House meant to the black community.

As I knocked on doors in Crown Hill, the warmth with which I was greeted made it impossible to avoid getting pulled into conversations:

Just how many doors had I knocked on?

How many volunteers were there?

Had I heard Obama was coming to town in two days?

Had I met any of the Obamas?

Had I really come from out-of-state to canvass?

I answered as best as I could, each response bringing them closer to the campaign and thus closer to Obama.

I had been within 15 feet of him at a rally before our caucus in February. But it took Crown Hill for me to recognizing the significance of this moment in history.

Months later, on the corner of 12th and Broadway streets in downtown Oakland, the moment was complete.

Every car that drove by honked as the streets filled with throngs of people cheering and dancing. The stars and stripes were waved a plenty.

We knew we weren’t alone this night. Citizens across America and in countries across the world were cheering for the promise of America.

Once out of our grasp, the American Dream had been recaptured on the streets of downtown Oakland.

As tears came to my eyes, I thought of Crown Hill and the celebration they must be having at that moment.