Obama's Election Will Change Race Issues, Locals Say

Several local voters agreed, Wednesday, that the times are changing, with Barack Obama's election positively affecting how Americans view race.

Bill Binkley, of Sebring, is 64 years old and said he changed along with many other Americans.

In the 1968 presidential election, Binkley voted for George Wallace - not necessarily because of the candidate's stand on race - though the Sebring resident did agree on Wednesday that Wallace was a "bigot."

Binkley voted for Obama this time around and said many Americans can't help but think a little differently about race.

"(Obama) couldn't have gotten elected with just the black vote and the young vote," said Binkley. "It took everybody - a coalition."

Billy Shannon is chairperson of more than 25 members in the Rosa Parks Coalition Group. Like several voters and Binkley, when asked Wednesday, Shannon noted a difference of opinions based on age.

"(Obama) is going to bring people together," said Shannon. "Some people in the 60s and 70s thought blacks had the talent to become NFL quarterbacks, but were not smart enough to get the plays.

"For the old-timers, (Obama's presidency) will be tough to accept, but in the end, they'll come around. It's going to take some time."

Younger generations are more used to seeing mixed dating and mixed marriages, according to Shannon. But for some of those who are older are not accustomed to mixed couples, it will take longer for them to consider it normal.

"Younger people grew up seeing this," said Shannon. "And they say: 'It's okay, these are normal, hard-working people who contribute,'" said Shannon.

Frank Branca III is 22 and voted Tuesday for the first time. He was proud that his vote counted. From his viewpoint, Obama's color didn't matter.

"People realize that race really isn't an issue," said Branca.

South Florida Community College student Kristine Benton was a first-time voter and predicted that changes are coming.

"People will look at this as a good thing," said Benton. "I don't think that anyone wouldn't consider it a good change. We're just waiting to see."

As a student in Elmira, NY, Joyce Perez, 69, said she was ostracized by other students for becoming friends with the school's only black student and is glad that America is becoming more color blind.

"Obama is a human being," said Perez. "Do they look at Bush and say he's a white man? And no way should they do that for Obama."

Queen E. Heyward, 65, has lived in the county since 1978. As a member of Greater Mount Zion AME Church, she prayed, along with other parishioners, prior to the election.

"It didn't matter what color we prayed for, we prayed of all of them," said Heyward. "We prayed for a change."

Dottie Perrin hopes an Obama presidency will stop racism, but doubted that everyone would agree.

"Some people will never change, no matter what," said Perrin.