The Roanoke Times, Va., Shanna Flowers Column: Obama's Win in Iowa Lifts Hearts in Roanoke

Jan 06, 08:42 AM

Jan. 6--I have to eat a little crow.

Just more than a year ago, I wrote a column urging Barack Obama to wait until 2012 to run for president. My reasoning was that he didn't have the experience to run in '08.

While I'm not on the Hillary Clinton bandwagon, Obama's limited political seasoning remains an issue for me.

But Thursday night, his charisma was infectious as he stood at a podium in Iowa, the runaway winner of the Democratic political caucus.

The crowd cheered wildly. Supporters waved placards that bore the message, "Change we can believe in." A huge American flag flanked one side of the stage. As Obama stood composed and confident reveling in the raucous cheering of his supporters, I felt inspired.

When the audience in the hall finally quieted and the television audience sat fully captivated, the first serious black presidential candidate intoned: "They said this day would never come."

The audacity of hope is contagious.

Thursday night, a black America that has been slow to come around felt a surge of pride and inspiration from Obama's 38 percent win in Iowa, over John Edwards, who was second with 30 percent, and Clinton who finished with 29 percent.

"It flashed on the screen, and I was like, 'Whoa,' " said Kerry Hall, 35, who was watching the Virginia Tech football game. "It made my heart feel good."

Ian Saunders, 16, and a sophomore at Patrick Henry High School, learned about Obama's win Friday morning as he readied for school.

"That was a great way to start the day."

The politics of race

The moment is certainly worth celebrating. But although Obama has made little mention of his race, likewise Clinton her gender, historical context cannot be ignored as they make runs for a job that has gone exclusively to white men for more than two centuries.

"I look at this with a wait-and-see attitude. Show me that it's possible," said Terry Kershaw, an assistant sociology professor at Virginia Tech. "I'm not at the point of saying this doesn't mean anything. It has the potential of meaning something."

Black conservative Shelby Steele has written a book, "A Bound Man: Why We Are Excited About Obama and Why He Can't Win." In an interview last month promoting the book, Steele contended that Obama hasn't shared his deep convictions and vision and won't win the presidency until he does so, that he can't win by merely giving people "a warm and fuzzy feeling."

Hours after the Iowa caucuses Thursday night, Steele focused on the candidate's racial dynamic on the "Charlie Rose" talk show. The author called Obama a "bargainer," a black person who makes an unspoken pact with white America:

"I won't rub America's shameful history of racism in your face, if you won't hold my race against me."

Whites return the offer with gratitude, explaining Obama's popularity among whites, Steele said.

He has noted that Oprah Winfrey, an ardent Obama supporter, also is a bargainer. The author contrasted Winfrey and Obama with "challengers" Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, who make whites feel uncomfortable.

On Friday, though, blacks in Roanoke were just happy to celebrate Obama's win in Iowa as a proud moment.

Spreading hope

"People were coming in the door, 'Did you hear the news?' Everybody is bubbly," said Carla Lewis, Gainsboro Library branch manager, on Friday afternoon. Lewis said she watched some of the results before going to bed Thursday night. Her husband, Peter, later awakened her with the news.

"I love it," Terry Sullivan, 45, said as he sat at the YMCA Family Center with his boss, Michael Smith.

"He gives people who look like him hope," Smith chimed in. They think if he can rise above expectations, they can, too -- whatever their circumstances.

Sallye Coleman, a retired Roanoke teacher who integrated the faculty at William Fleming High School in 1966, said she kept nodding off as she watched CNN. At one point, she awoke to what she thought was news of an Obama victory.

"I thought, 'Did I hear right?' Then when they came on and said it, I said, 'God bless you.'

"Where he won is the thing that startles me." Coleman said, referring to the overwhelmingly white state of Iowa. "Tell you the truth, it was incredible"

She added that Obama exemplified lessons she taught her students decades ago.

"You must have confidence in yourself, you must not be afraid to fail, but above all, it's not the color of the skin, but it's the color of the heart. He knew how to communicate with the people."

More than 350 volunteers already have signed up to work for Blue Ridge Virginians for Obama, a grass-roots group beating the drum for the candidate in Southwest Virginia. Trish White-Boyd is the Roanoke manager, and Laura Spielman of Christiansburg is the regional coordinator.

"We are convinced that he is the candidate uniquely equipped to bring about real change in Washington," Spielman said in a news release the day after the Iowa win. Virginia's Democratic presidential primary is Feb. 12.

Blacks' wake-up call

I spent time Friday morning with a small group of bright and thoughtful students at Patrick Henry -- Ian, Judi Jackson, Kiah McDaniel, Erika Whitt and Brandon Keith.

Erika, active in the school's Young Democrats group, noted that democracy had suffered a loss with the assassination of Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto. Obama's win revived the 17-year-old senior's mood.

"It's something to celebrate," she said. "People should look at it as a milestone."

Kiah, 16, said the Iowa victory shows how much blacks have "evolved" in the political process.

Brandon, 17, said he believes Obama's win was the catalyst for blacks to start paying attention to the presidential race.

"If he can win in Iowa ..." the senior said shaking his head, his voice trailing off. "If he does not win another thing, he's made history."

The importance of Obama's serious run for the presidency was a topic of a recent discussion at Judi's church.

"It's such a great act of courage," the 14-year-old freshman said, alluding to whispered worries about Obama's personal safety. If he wins, she added, there will be "those who are in disapproval.

"Those who are in approval are going to rejoice."

Shanna Flowers' column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

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