Victory is met for Obama’s race Huge strides for blacks and America

By Jon Moffett

Obama’s nomination shows anyone can aspire to be what they want to be, community leaders said.

YOUNGSTOWN — Area black elected officials say U.S. Sen. Barack Obama’s bid to become president speaks volumes about this country’s changing views on race.

When U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York announced the end of her presidential campaign, Obama, the junior senator from Illinois, officially became the Democratic Party’s presumptive candidate for the country’s top elected position.

Black officials weighed in with their thoughts on what it means for a person of color to be so close to the presidency.

“I think it’s great,” said Youngstown Municipal Judge Robert Douglas Jr. “I think it’s a great statement, in particular for the Democratic Party, in that [it] had both a female and an African-American contending for the nomination of the party. It says a lot about where the country is in terms of looking at a well-qualified person and being able to get by the color of their skin.”

Judge Douglas went on to explain how people, especially younger generations, are having an easier time seeing candidates judged by their qualifications and not by their skin color.

“We have some people now who came through a period in our country who did not experience some of the struggles,” the judge said. “You have some young people now who are relating just as individuals, and they are not clouded by the issues of race.”

Youngstown Councilwoman Annie Gillam, D-1st, noted that Obama’s nomination marked a huge step forward in terms of the advancement of minorities in public office. “It says that our society is changing, finally. We all should be given the chance to show our abilities.”

Her colleague Councilman DeMaine J. Kitchen, D-2nd, noted that racial lines may be starting to blur with Obama’s nomination.

“It speaks to how far we’ve come as a nation to where an African-American is one spot away from the most powerful position on the planet,” Kitchen said. “There are some people who aren’t happy with it, but I’ve experienced this campaign firsthand, and he had supporters who were white, black, Hispanic and even Asian.

“I think that’s what the whole change [movement] is about, crossing over party, racial and economic lines.”

He added that the history made is important for all minorities.

“We haven’t arrived yet, but we have made progress,” Kitchen said. “Hillary opened doors for females, too; you can’t write that off.” Youngstown Councilman Jamael Tito Brown, D-3rd, who has been supporting Obama throughout his campaign, shed light on the importance that this event had not only on history, but on future generations.

“It says, ‘Anything is possible — if you want it you can have it.’ I think it gives the younger generation something to shoot for,” Brown said. “The message would be when you have something you really believe in, you have to go against the status quo. If there’s something I want to be, I can do that. I think it sends an international message, too. People are not looking at whether or not you’re male or female; they are looking for people who are qualified to do the job.”

Doug Franklin, the safety-service director in Warren, said, “I’m excited about the nomination. ... I believe he is the right candidate, and it is a good measuring stick as to how far this nation has come in terms of race. I think we still have a ways to go, but the progress has been steady. I think Barack’s nomination sort of capsulated that thought.”

Sarah Brown-Clark, Youngstown clerk of courts, focused more on what Obama’s nomination means to the United States as a nation.

“It affirms liberty and justice for all,” said the city’s first black clerk. “I’m one of those people who, when Obama came, watched him very closely. I found him to be an admirable example of the American dream. As the son of an African and American, Obama is the epitome of the African-American and the American experience. American generations from now on will applaud themselves for the historic decision. He’s the new wave. Change is always good.”

Mayor Olive McKeithan of Farrell, Pa., says she supports Obama, but she’s keeping his presumptive nomination in perspective.

“I haven’t been into all of this hullabaloo” tied to the primaries, McKeithan said. “I just hope he wins.”

“I think it speaks volumes for where we are going as a country,” Jay Williams, Youngstown’s first black mayor, said.

“Where this country is, I’m excited about the prospect of seeing [Obama] as the next president of the United States.

“I think it speaks that we have to work together as a country. It sends a message to African-Americans that we have to not only represent ourselves well, but we have to represent others well. It speaks to others that are not African-Americans that we are capable of serving this country and serving a greater purpose.”

XCONTRIBUTORS: Richard L. Boccia and Shelby Schroeder, staff writers.