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'I'm Grateful ... To See This Day'

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 10, 2008

"We have too many people continuing to make too many self-destructive choices. If, as a young lad, Barack Obama had chosen to put himself in a place where he was forced to deal with what they call 'baby mama drama,' I guarantee you he would not be in the White House right now," said the Rev. Kenneth Stewart of Tabernacle of Hope.

"Our young men have got to know there's more to life for them than a career in sports. Our young men have got to know there's more than selling dope on a street corner. ... We're more than football players, basketball players, gang-bangers, rap stars. ... It's time for you to stop letting others define you."

"I believe it's divinely appointed," said the Rev. Abe Brown, 81, retired pastor at First Baptist Church of College Hill. "I'm grateful that the Lord let me live long enough to see this day."

Brown, however, views Obama's victory less as the election of a black president and more as the election of a humble servant of God.

"The Bible tells us that being humble is the way to go, and that's why the people responded the way they did.

"What's happened here is the way the Savior wanted us to be from the beginning. He wanted us to be together. For a long time, we've been one country, but not one people."

Tampa's Alva Sargent stood out among those dressed in their Sunday best at the Bible-Based Fellowship Church in Carrollwood.

Over her dress, the 59-year-old wore a large black T-shirt with Obama's picture on a dollar bill.

"I wanted to show my happiness and elation that we have the first African-American president of the United States," she said. "It's recognition of the fact I never thought this would happen in my lifetime. I grew up in segregated Georgia. I saw the KKK marching through the streets at night. I lived in Jim Crow."

"I think it was God's will, and his will is always done," said Deborah Bryant, who attends First Baptist Church of College Hill. "Look at how he won."

As a school resource officer with the Tampa Police Department, Bryant has seen her share of children needing parental direction. In helping steer needed social changes, the Obama family can set a powerful example.

"Our African-American parents need to step up in taking a role in our kids' education. I think we have the perfect role models for our kids in Barack and Michelle Obama. Education is the key to our success and our future."

The Obamas can also help transform attitudes about black families.

"People will see black families as a whole unit instead of looking at them stereotypically," Bryant said.

Ann Porter spent much of Tuesday helping with the election - volunteering as a poll watcher and doing what was needed. She went to bed at 8 that night and left the rest with God.

Hours later, the headlines scrolling across her TV screen were all about Obama.

"I woke up at 4:30 a.m., running around the house saying, 'We won! We won!'"

Now, as the Rev. James Favorite said at Beulah Baptist Institutional Church on Sunday, the work begins.

"We've got a journey now. We doubt if there's going to be any honeymoon period like we normally do."

What can people do?

"Keep it in prayer," Porter said.

Valerie Kalfrin, Michelle Bearden, Nick Williams, John W. Allman and Pat Mitchell

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