A vote for Obama, and for something larger

[babylonsister]

A vote for Obama, and for something larger

By James Rainey, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
January 27, 2008


ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- People around this small Southern town say they know too well that it's dangerous to guess at history before it's happened -- to hope that times have changed.

But after voting for Barack Obama on a chilly winter Saturday, in a town with a history of racial unrest, many African Americans couldn't help but let themselves feel that they were taking part in something larger.

They saw their votes as helping to push a black man to victory in the South Carolina presidential primary -- one that felt much bigger than Jesse Jackson's win in the Democratic primary here 20 years ago.

On Saturday, African American schoolteachers talked about how an Obama in the White House would motivate students who complain that the deck is stacked against them. Parents hoped it would help them keep distracted sons on the straight and narrow. One woman felt it might even push those Confederate flags into the shadows.

Earthalee Brown, 85, cast her ballot around noon in the gymnasium at South Carolina State University, then allowed herself to imagine what it would be like to see Obama taking the oath of office next January in front of the Capitol dome.

"It's going to feel like God is still on the throne," said Brown, who grew up in segregated Orangeburg County. As she said it, Brown turned her palms skyward and laughed from deep inside.

Travis Chandler, a senior at the historically black university, was the 15th consecutive person to leave the polls around midday reporting a vote for Obama. "I never thought an African American would have a chance to win an election on this level," Chandler said. "I think history could be made. And I want to do my part."

The ward where Chandler and the rest voted for Obama would end up going nearly 6-to-1 for the Illinois senator over his prime challenger, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York. Citywide, late results showed Obama capturing 68% of the 8,735 votes cast.

The chance at progress resonated deeply here, in part because of Orangeburg's past. On Feb. 8, it will be 40 years since three black college students were killed by state troopers (27 more were wounded) as they protested segregation at a whites-only bowling alley.

more...

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-blackvote27jan27,1,4813242.story?track=crosspromo&ctrack=2&cset=true

[billbuckhead]

1. or vote for a mere woman

Of course that isn't history.

[Vinca]

2. If you look at the faces at an Obama rally, you can tell something

special is happening.

[DeepModem Mom]

3. K&R