Primarily, the dap struck a chord with America because of its casual authenticity. Obama is attractive. He’s charming. And he knows how to spit a cool game even when the heat is on. But staid American formality is nowhere more entrenched than in our politics.

Which was why the dap was so surprising. I assumed that if Obama were really serious about becoming the first black president, surely he’d have to play by the old rules. He’d show up, but in a mask, keeping some part of who he is trapped in the closet. And if that were the case, his victory—our victory—might feel pyrrhic. Like we won the political Grammy with some fake lip-syncing Milli Vanilli tactics.

But no: Barack brushed his shoulders off when Hillary tried to ether him. Then he showed up in Philadelphia and challenged the establishment to not ignore the still divisive issues of race. And finally, upon his nomination, gave dap to his lady in a moment of spontaneous celebration. Because that’s how he felt.

Now, all kinds of people are “fist bumping” with verve and alacrity, from runners to astronauts in outer-space to Twitterers in virtual space. And this week, holiday organizers Weiner and Greenwalt have partnered with the creators of the "Bump" application for iPhone, which lets users share phone and other information by simply "bumping" them together.

Obama’s campaign triumph united America and resonated so deeply—not only because he assumed the position of the first real, living, breathing H.N.I.C.—but because he went out of his way to bring blacks with him. To make sure we all knew that black culture was real, not just a thought exercise for journalists. Even better, he demonstrated he didn’t need to go all Flavor Flav to let people know he was enjoying himself. 

If any of us were still on the fence at that point, this may have been the moment we got off. This guy was doing it his way.

For those inclined to chuckle and be dismissive of a holiday honoring a relatively innocuous greeting, it’s important to remember that Fist Bump Day has a simple objective: to honor a signature moment in the history of this country. Think George Washington crossing the Delaware. Think Martin Luther King Jr. on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

And think of our first black president and his lady giving each other some knuckle love one year ago. Now, go ahead, give someone you love a pound; celebrate National Fist Bump Day!

Patrice Evans is creator of the blog The Assimilated Negro. His first book, an encyclopedic send-up of the modern black experience in post-racial America, will be published by Crown/Three Rivers later this year.