The Rev. Curtis Harvey watched as tears came to the eyes of his father and grandfather.
Never in their lifetime, they told the young Houston County commissioner, never, did they expect to see a black man elected president of these United States.
“My dad — he’s 62 — he said he never imagined this would happen,” Harvey said. “My grandfather who is almost 90, and many of the elderly people, felt the same way. Tears streamed down their faces (over the Obama victory).”
Barack Obama garnered 52 percent of the popular vote in the Tuesday election. A black man in the White House has been just a dream for generations of black and other minorities who have always heard they could do anything, be anything, go anywhere, but didn’t believe it.
Despite years and years of rhetoric about America being equal, many minorities have felt discrimination. Today, Harvey said, not only black, but blue-collar America, feels represented.
“I feel thankful and grateful, not only because he is our first African-American president, but because what he represents transcends all races, all cultures, all people,” Harvey said. “We truly have a president of the United States that everybody can claim a piece of.”
Local attorney Joel Ramsey said he is optimistic Obama will be a good president for all of America.
“I am excited about the prospect of having a very intelligent, transformational figure, someone who is very inspiring. I hope everybody else appreciated his comments in his acknowledgment Tuesday night,” Ramsey said.
Ramsey said Americans should rally behind the winner, regardless of party affiliation or how they voted.
“It is our job to support the winner. Hopefully we can do that. It is natural for people to get worked up after an election. We all believe in our candidates,” he said.
But many never believed Americans would actually turn out in such record numbers to elect the black senator from Illinois.
“It’s something I imagined might happen in my lifetime, but I am surprised that it happened this soon,” said Dr. Larry Kirkland Jr., executive director of Herring Houses of Dothan.
“Nine months ago, I told friends the Democrats would hand themselves another defeat by nominating Obama because I did not think America was ready to elect a black president. He ran a flawless campaign.”
And for the masses, Obama’s victory represents hope.
“I have no idea the challenges my father and grandfather faced,” Harvey said.
The commissioner said he received a text message on his cell phone Wednesday morning that acknowledged the ground-breaking accomplishments of both
Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr., who helped usher in this unique time in America’s history.
The text read, “Rosa sat so Martin could walk. Martin walked so Obama could run. Obama ran so our children could fly.”
“I am just excited,” Harvey said.
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