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Highlands Today

Obama Run Energizes Local Black Community

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By BILL RETTEW JR.

Highlands Today

Published: November 5, 2008

Updated: 11/05/2008 09:55 am

AVON PARK - Typically, only those who attend rock or country music concerts wear T-shirts like those worn by dozens of Barack Obama county voters on Election Day Tuesday.

The face of the Democratic presidential candidate filled the fronts of many shirts, just like performers Bruce Springsteen and Willie Nelson have done for years.

Several black voters talked Tuesday about sweeping changes - including proper voting apparel - since Obama's run for presidency.

Along with about a dozen supporters from both parties and several individual candidates, Crystal Bryant held an Obama sign high above her head outside the Precinct 2 polling station on East Main Street in Avon Park.

"I've never seen so many people - and not just black people - so excited to vote," Bryant said.

The South Florida Community College student and a member of student government said she learned much during a political science class.

"It's election time," she said. "Let me learn something I didn't know. The instructor has us excited and we asked so many questions."

Bryant even convinced her mother to vote for the first time and chatted with fellow church members about the importance of voting.

Gwen Gordon, director of the Christian faith-based Small World Learning Center, escorted a group of about two dozen preschoolers to the polls at East Main Street.

Some adults in the crowd grumbled about using the youngsters to promote politics, while Gordon said that every student's parents had given permission for the "field trip."

"I thought if I got them involved just a little, it will make a difference in the world," said Gordon.

During a preschool election, the students voted 17 times for Obama and four times for John McCain.

The kids learned about the election and about both candidates. Gordon said that not only the opinions held by parents affected the tally.

"We didn't need to explain much to them," said Gordon. "For some reason they knew who they wanted to vote for. Many voted because of what they saw in TV."

Jerry Perry of Avon Park held an Obama sign and wore an Obama campaign shirt at the East Main Street polls Tuesday.

He compared watching the election returns to watching the Super Bowl. He said that even if Obama were to lose, history was changed.

"Blacks now see how their votes count and that they really can make a change," said Perry.

Sebring activist Robert Saffold hasn't seen as much energy and enthusiasm since John F. Kennedy became president.

Saffold noted that Obama has created a major stir both in America and around the world.

"Obama has energized the whole world - not just black voters - but the young and the old, Hispanics and minorities," said Saffold. "Whether he wins or not, I feel America will be better for it, because of the opportunity he's had to run for president."

Bill Rettew Jr. may be contacted at 863-386-5857 or wrettew@highlandstoday.com

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