Issue date: 1/20/09 Section: News

Media Credit: AP [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: File [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: J. Patrick Clayton [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: File [Click to enlarge]

Since his democratic nomination, president-elect Barack Obama has introduced a sense of revolution within the political world.

His rhetoric evoked nostalgia; the country was swooned with words reminiscent of iconic and influential individuals of the United States' history - President John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. and President Abraham Lincoln. Obama has overcome personal and political strife in his journey to the White House, yet has persevered. After centuries of slavery, 60 years since the civil rights movement, eight years into the war on terror and a landslide election, America seems poised for change.

For some, this moment seems a natural progression in the country's history. Josephine Sorgwe, chairwoman of the Memorial Student Center Complex Carter G. Woodson Black Awareness Committee, felt like she was making history when she voted for Obama.

"I voted for Obama because I agreed with the majority of his platform, and felt that he and Sen. Biden could do a better job than the Republican ticket," she said. "I've always been a strong advocate for voting, and I knew that voting in this particular election would allow me to be a part of history. Now, I can tell my children that I was able to cast a vote for the very first black president and that is an incredible feeling."

The change Obama has preached throughout his campaign has affected the psyche of Americans and many around the world. Albert Broussard, professor of history and author of three books on American history that deal with race equality, is pleased with the world's reaction to Obama.

"It's interesting for me to see how people in other countries have reacted to this election. France is very enthusiastic about Obama, people in Great Britain, people in Germany, people all over the world," he said. "In Africa, particularly in Kenya [they] are extremely excited about this, not just because he is African-American, because there are many African-Americans that I wouldn't vote for, that you wouldn't vote for, but because he is such an incredibly intelligent man."

The black community has communicated pride and excitement since Obama was nominated as the Democratic candidate. Xakema Henderson, a senior finance major and member of the Black Student Alliance, said she felt "extreme excitement."

"I have been following Obama since before he was a household name," she said.

When Obama was elected, another member of the BSA, Autumn Gardner, a junior health and kinesiology major, said she felt relieved and hopeful.

"Hopefully Obama's presidency can indirectly help students at A&M interact in a more positive matter with people of different ethnicities and with opposite political affiliations," she said.

In the past, A&M has dealt with a negative reputation regarding race relations and a lack of diversity.

"One would like to think that a black president would improve race relations in this country, but quite frankly I don't know if that is going to happen," Broussard said. "I would like to think at the very least [it would] start civil dialogue."

However, in fall 2008, civil dialogue was not the case. The Young Conservatives of Texas ruffled feathers during an anti-Obama rally. The rally resulted in protests from other students who questioned YCT's motives. In an effort to argue a conservative point of view, a line was crossed when the rally method seemed to be aimed at Obama rather than his platform. Henderson felt the footage shown on CNN portrayed A&M in a bad light.

"I didn't understand it at all, so I reached out to the president of YCT, who very willingly met me for lunch to help me understand why his organization thought it was appropriate. I still do not think it was necessary or appropriate; there is a more respectable way to disagree with someone's policies. I was horrified when I saw it on CNN because I was forced to spend a great deal of time defending my school, which I love dearly," she said.

Broussard saw the act as ignorant and not representative of the majority of the student body.

"[Students] don't want these ignorant vulgar groups who claim that they're conservatives, that they're this or they're that, because quite frankly they don't represent what this campus is about," he said. "They're such an extreme which is why they had that outpouring of students both verbally and in the paper following the incidents."

Though race relations may be an issue, Obama's goal as president is to unite America where race and political parties have caused division.

"Barack Obama has made a lot of promises, but his overall objective is to unite the country where factors such as race, age and party affiliation divide us," said Raven Cunningham, a senior psychology major. "And considering his ability to recruit the youth and cross racial barriers and party lines to become president, I'm confident that he is now in a position to do that even more."

Beyond the social division in the country, students will have to handle an ailing economy. Despite economic problems, optimism emanates among supporters of Obama.

"I'm slightly concerned that the current condition of our economy may overshadow or minimize any efforts of his presidency to improve in other areas such as education and security," Cunningham said.

Sorgwe is convinced that there will be change, but it may be gradual.

"I think the next few years will be a tough time for the United States. I believe change will eventually come, but as a result of the difficult times we are in, the change will be gradual. However, I am confident that the Obama administration will have the ability to facilitate that change in the best way possible," she said.

Leaders in the past have inspired those that follow with words of encouragement or by overcoming what many thought impossible. However, Obama has already succeeded at one thing: creating hope and optimism for those who support him. Sorgwe took his words to heart.

"Yes, we can do anything," she said.

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