How the Obama Election Transformed Historic Locations

Having talked to many friends since the election, I am conscious of how lots of us are still trying to let what happened sink in. Places form indelible parts of our memories, and I was especially struck how "places" changed last week.

In April, 1968, the streets where I now live and work in inner-city Washington D.C. erupted in horrible violence after the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 40 years later, when the election result was announced at 11:00 PM Eastern time, people went into those same streets to dance and hug. My wife Joy, the party animal, was one of the first ones out in front of the house with our 10 year-old-son Luke. Friends and strangers of all ages and races were embracing each other, pouring champagne, and literally dancing for joy.

Also in April 1968, Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, was a place of deep sorrow for the funeral service of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a son of the church. The whole nation watched in mourning as the young moral leader of the nation was laid to rest by his grieving father and a shocked citizenry. 40 years later, the church's new sanctuary became a place of jubilation during an "election watch night service" led by a pastor from a new generation, Rev. Raphael G. Warnock.

And finally, Grant Park. I remember watching television on an August night in 1968 when that very park became a scene of bitter and angry violence outside the Democratic Convention. King and Robert Kennedy had been killed, and the hopes of the anti-war and civil rights movements were beaten down by the police of Mayor Richard Daley. I was a young college student but felt the intense anger as I watched at home in Detroit. And I must confess the memory of wanting to go to Chicago, to fight in the streets against the system that so many felt had betrayed us. The Grant Park bloodbath also marked the implosion of the Democratic Party and the end of all the hopes sparked by the social movements of the 1960s. But last Tuesday night, another leader stood up to give his acceptance speech as the new President-elect of the United States and said, "If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer." The extraordinarily hopeful event went off without any incidents, protected by the police of another mayor of Chicago named Richard Daley.

Places. I have been struck all during this campaign by how much the younger generation who filled the Wallis household on election night were always confident about the outcome and how nervous people of my generation were right up until Pennsylvania went for Obama and we realized McCain had no path to victory. For those of us who have lived through the wilderness of the last 40 years, it has become wise never to underestimate the fear and yes, the racism, in America. The feelings of relief and almost disbelief were overwhelming.

The "place" that we have called our country has changed. And perhaps the most important thing of all is what the black children in my longtime neighborhood were feeling the next day. Children of color, indeed of all colors, across America woke up on Wednesday morning not just to a new day, but a new world. They now believe that anything is possible for them in this country. And no matter what any of us may feel about the policies of a new Obama administration, that is something that all of us can be dancing in the street about. The place has changed.

Jim Wallis is the author of The Great Awakening, Editor-in-Chief of Sojourners and blogs at www.godspolitics.com.

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Comments

[drweh2]

I believe a lot of credit for Obama's election goes to desegregating the schools. For the younger generations of kids who went to school after desegregation, African-Americans were no longer "the other", but one of us and just like us. I remember back in high school bringing home a school picture of a friend to show my mother. She said, "She's black!" And I said, "So?" I had talked about my friend a lot before showing the picture to my mother that day, and it simply hadn't occured to me to mention the color of her skin.

[Nilan]

I don't think anyone is saying that Palin lost because she's a woman, but rather just pointing out the prevalance of sexism and misogyny throughout this presidential campaign. I was appalled that McCain would chose Palin as his running mate. She was completely unqaulified. But that doesn't by any means justify the type of misogyny directed toward her and that it was McCain's people who led the charge is even more appalling.

[MSGH]

I'm a member of Walis' generation. It's good to see a new generation (plus a few of us old folks who never gave up the faith) bring to fruition what we should have done 2 generations ago,.

[kozy]

Racial feelings are still out there, but they were not a large enough factor to make a difference in the outcome of this election. The racial factor will now probably disappear with this election except for rural areas of the South and some backwoods areas thoughout the 50 states. This election was a huge leap forward for progress. Science should be respectable again. Genuine religious values should triumph over political religious fakery. Political deception will be diminished (but not eliminated). Some (but not all) government economic statistics MAY be believable again. Wealth may begin flowing (if it flows at all) at an increased rate to the general population, and at a slower rate to the wealthy. The leap toward an aristocratic society should slowly decrease. The Constitution should be respected again. Etc., etc. Efforts by Jim Wallis and others like him are greatly appreciated.

[Martha601]

I am 31 and I was nervous until Pennsylvania was called too. I will never forget that night. I DO believe we can do anything in America if we do it together. We proved that on November 4th 2008.

[poomplet]

Your comments about '68 are a bit confused. You condemn the Daley bloodshed while expressing your desire to "fight in the streets against the system".

I'm a lifelong Chicagoan, albeit 5 y.o. in 1968. I know the Daley Machine was (and in many...less public...ways, still it) a corruption-filled next of goons & cronies. But you confirm what many of us know, yet few mention when discussing '68; that the 'victims' were actually violent thugs themselves who EAGERLY sought a violent confrontation.

They were looking for a fight, and they got it, and I'm fine with how it went down.

[MPeter]

Yep, America shocked itself and turned doubters into believers. Kudos to President-elect Obama, his team and the army of young believers who never relented until they brought this thing to a successful conclusion. Thank You Rev. Wallis for your many years of activism and fight for social justice. Yes, indeed, it is a new day in America. The world once again believes in the promise of America and its ideals.

[eshalom]

Mr. Wallis, you write:

"Children of color, indeed of all colors, across America woke up on Wednesday morning not just to a new day, but a new world. They now believe that anything is possible for them in this country. "

Unfortunately, after the tidal wave of sexism and miosgyny endured by first Hillary Clinton and then by Sarah Palin, only male children can now believe that anything is possible for them in this country. Female children will have to wait.

As Gloria Steinem has pointed out: before a woman is elected president, we will have to elect the first African-American male; then the first Hispanic male, then the first Jewish male, and so on and so on. Women are in for a long wait.

[Texas4Obama]

Female children now know that if they wish to be President then they need to stay in school and get a better education than Palin did! Palin did not lose because she is a woman - she lost because she was not qualified and Senator Obama was a better candidate than McCain.

When a woman of integrity, INTELLIGENCE, grace, honor, and wisdom runs for the presidency that will be the day I vote for a woman.

God bless the Obama family and God bless America!

[Beca]

Yes, there was a certain level of sexism during the campaigns, as there was a higher level of racism during the campaings (including institutionalized racism which is less noticed). However, I do not believe Hillary Clinton lost because she was a woman. I believe she lost for the same reason John McCain lost. Neither had a stong enough message, neither showed the leadership skills necessary to even run an even keeled and organized campagin, neither had the ability to be fiscally responsible with their campaign, neither were able to stay on message--because they didn't have one! Both changed their messages, methods and styles, so much that they made most of our heads spin, both were over confident and under estimated their opponent, and both resorted to extremely negative campagining, employing the now defunct Rovian deceptive smear, slash and burn tactics that America clearly rejected. Obama did not win because he was biracial, he won because he was the far better candidate. He won because he listened to what America wanted and delivered with a stong and steady message and platform for real change.