ThreeSixty -

By Paris Porter

Five months ago, during the beginning of the summer, I dragged onto the scene at the University of St.Thomas campus for a two-week journalism camp.

I wanted to learn how to edit video. I would like to become a sports reporter, so I was looking forward to learning new skills. The story topics for the camp focused on the Republican National Convention, and the U.S. Senate and Presidential races.

The first days of camp, I remember having this continuous thought: “What am I doing here?” I would have preferred to work on a sports story, and I didn’t bite my tongue. Many of the teens in the camp were like me. They hated politics so every chance we had, we complained.

My assignment was to work on a video piece on first-time voters and how many were expected to go to the polls. While working on that story, I interviewed Don Samuels, the Fifth Ward council member in Minneapolis and I asked him about the impact Barack Obama could have on young African-American men.

“Our young brothers know they can play ball. I don’t care if they’re not good enough to make the NBA — they continue to work at it because they identify themselves with Kevin Gannett, and LeBron James. Those guys look like them.

“The reason there are not a lot of young blacks interested in politics is the same reason why they don’t watch hockey: There aren’t a lot of blacks playing. So having Barack Obama run for president gives them hope. Young black males could identify with him, and see that they can be more than ball players,” Samuels said.

As the camp went on I quickly got turned on to politics, and by the end of the summer I couldn’t stop reading up on political news or watching CNN. The last day of the Democratic National Convention when Barack Obama spoke about the 40th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech is when I became emotionally engaged.

I was no longer happy to vote just because it was my first time voting. I was proud to vote because of the historic meaning this election represented. I became inspired while watching Obama deliver his great speech to cap off a great convention.

Change was the message Barack Obama used to motivate his voters. I hope change can help put an end to the race issue in America. The country
has come a long way — no doubt — but there still is more to be done. Sometimes my friends and I talk about times when we felt we were being stereotyped as thugs. I also hope Obama can help more young blacks get serious about politics.

On Tuesday, after all the presidential debates and barbershop talk about who was going to win, the election was finally here. I took a chair and sat in front of the TV and watched the results with my older sister. We watched ABC because it seem like they were announcing the winner of the states faster than the other networks.

As Barack Obama jumped out to a early lead, I text messaged friends and family about a victory party. Just the thought of a African-American president was beyond real to a lot of my great uncles and, aunts. They all stayed cautious, refusing to say Obama would win until he made it to 270 electoral votes.

I looked blankly at the TV when Barack Obama was announced as the next president of the United States. My sister and mom upstairs screamed. “Oh my good I can’t believe it we did…“ is all I heard as we all hugged. Then I prayed for him moments before he made his l first speech as president-elect.

At the end of the speech when Obama’s family and Biden’s family joined together on the stage, the world witnessed the dream of Martin Luther King Jr. come to life.

I felt my own dream that night, too. I guess for years I thought that my opinion didn’t matter, and I had no voice. Over the last five months Barack Obama has inspired me to learn about politics and the people who are helping decided how the country is run. Most importantly, Barack Obama has become a role model to me with his cool-headed manner. Now I know that if you’re prepared and work hard, you can be whatever you want be.