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Chicago black voters feel change Chicago black voters feel change
(5 days later)
Barack Obama began his political career in South Side, a largely black neighbourhood of the US city of Chicago. Paul Moss visited a local church there, to ask people how important their racial identity was in the forthcoming election. Barack Obama began his political career on the South Side of Chicago, a largely black section of the US city. Paul Moss visited a local church there, to ask people how important their racial identity was in the forthcoming election.
The plight of young American blacks was alluded to during the serviceThe choir was pouring forth songs of personal transformation. "Hallelujah," its members sang, "I can feel that change is on the way."The plight of young American blacks was alluded to during the serviceThe choir was pouring forth songs of personal transformation. "Hallelujah," its members sang, "I can feel that change is on the way."
The message may have been a religious one, but they could equally have been articulating the congregation's political hopes.The message may have been a religious one, but they could equally have been articulating the congregation's political hopes.
Faith Apostolic Church sits in the South Side neighbourhood of Chicago, a poor, predominantly black area. Faith Apostolic Church sits in the South Side of Chicago, a poor, predominantly black area.
And, for worshippers like Kathleen Watkins, the current US election campaign marks one change she never expected in her lifetime.And, for worshippers like Kathleen Watkins, the current US election campaign marks one change she never expected in her lifetime.
'You can be anyone''You can be anyone'
"When I saw that Barack Obama was going to be the Democratic nominee, it brought tears to my eyes. This was a black man I would want my children to emulate," she said. And she seemed to be on the point of tears once again."When I saw that Barack Obama was going to be the Democratic nominee, it brought tears to my eyes. This was a black man I would want my children to emulate," she said. And she seemed to be on the point of tears once again.
"Now, I can tell my child, you can be anyone... even president of the United States. We have to get our young blacks to aspire to be more.""Now, I can tell my child, you can be anyone... even president of the United States. We have to get our young blacks to aspire to be more."
Now, I can tell my child, you can be anyone… even President of the United States Kathleen Watkins Worshipper, Faith Apostolic Church Now, I can tell my child, you can be anyone¿ even President of the United States Kathleen Watkins Worshipper, Faith Apostolic Church
The plight of young American blacks was alluded to during the service. One man took to the stage and cried out his story.The plight of young American blacks was alluded to during the service. One man took to the stage and cried out his story.
"I was a drug addict," he said. "I had a filthy mouth. But the Lord reached down into that degradation, and saved me.""I was a drug addict," he said. "I had a filthy mouth. But the Lord reached down into that degradation, and saved me."
For many here, the possibility of a black US president represents the possibility of a man who will understand the problems which afflict their community, like drug addiction and poverty.For many here, the possibility of a black US president represents the possibility of a man who will understand the problems which afflict their community, like drug addiction and poverty.
And that, said Anthony, a local businessman, is why he would be much more likely to vote for any black candidate, no matter what their party.And that, said Anthony, a local businessman, is why he would be much more likely to vote for any black candidate, no matter what their party.
"I am using my vote strategically," he insisted. "If the candidate is African-American, he's sensitive to the issues of African-Americans.""I am using my vote strategically," he insisted. "If the candidate is African-American, he's sensitive to the issues of African-Americans."
I suggested to him that Barack Obama wanted to appeal to a world beyond such distinctions, that he was a candidate for a post-racial United States, where people would vote on issues, and not according to what colour somebody was.I suggested to him that Barack Obama wanted to appeal to a world beyond such distinctions, that he was a candidate for a post-racial United States, where people would vote on issues, and not according to what colour somebody was.
But Anthony dismissed that idea right away. "There's no such thing as a post-racist society," he said. "That would take three to four generations."But Anthony dismissed that idea right away. "There's no such thing as a post-racist society," he said. "That would take three to four generations."
'Party trumps race''Party trumps race'
Not everyone takes Anthony's approach. Young worshippers in particular tended to insist that their vote was colour-blind.Not everyone takes Anthony's approach. Young worshippers in particular tended to insist that their vote was colour-blind.
Many African Americans see Barack Obama in a positive lightMany African Americans see Barack Obama in a positive light
"I would vote for whoever is the best candidate for the job," one told me. "Party trumps race. Party trumps everything.""I would vote for whoever is the best candidate for the job," one told me. "Party trumps race. Party trumps everything."
But this did not mean she was optimistic about other voters' attitudes, particularly those of whites.But this did not mean she was optimistic about other voters' attitudes, particularly those of whites.
She was one of many people I met who feared that, come election day, Barack Obama's race would be more important than is often believed.She was one of many people I met who feared that, come election day, Barack Obama's race would be more important than is often believed.
"People are deceiving themselves," she said. "Most would not say 'I'm not voting for Barack Obama because he is black'. They will say 'I don't like his policies on this or that'. But a lot of it is pure racism. They won't vote for an African-American.""People are deceiving themselves," she said. "Most would not say 'I'm not voting for Barack Obama because he is black'. They will say 'I don't like his policies on this or that'. But a lot of it is pure racism. They won't vote for an African-American."
Faith in politicsFaith in politics
One way to counter that is for African-Americans to make sure more of their own community turn out to vote. Faith Apostolic Church, like many in the US, has been deeply involved in helping local people to get their names on the electoral roll.One way to counter that is for African-Americans to make sure more of their own community turn out to vote. Faith Apostolic Church, like many in the US, has been deeply involved in helping local people to get their names on the electoral roll.
"A lot of people are really excited about voting, this time round," says Brian Elrod, one of the volunteers who has helped out in the voter registration drive."A lot of people are really excited about voting, this time round," says Brian Elrod, one of the volunteers who has helped out in the voter registration drive.
"I think it's the start of a higher political awareness.""I think it's the start of a higher political awareness."
That would certainly mark a change among African-Americans, who traditionally have had a low level of participation in elections. But if there is a new excitement at large, that raises the question of what happens in the event of Barack Obama losing. Some at the Church fear a backlash, a new disillusionment about the whole political process.That would certainly mark a change among African-Americans, who traditionally have had a low level of participation in elections. But if there is a new excitement at large, that raises the question of what happens in the event of Barack Obama losing. Some at the Church fear a backlash, a new disillusionment about the whole political process.
But others insist that just getting involved and voting will make people realise the importance of political participation. And certainly their Church teaches that when you do not succeed, you try again.But others insist that just getting involved and voting will make people realise the importance of political participation. And certainly their Church teaches that when you do not succeed, you try again.
"If Barack Obama loses," one says, "it would be like a balloon being popped. And if you want to get another balloon, you have to blow it up again, breath by breath. That's what's going to happen.""If Barack Obama loses," one says, "it would be like a balloon being popped. And if you want to get another balloon, you have to blow it up again, breath by breath. That's what's going to happen."
The radio version of Paul Moss's report ran on BBC Radio 4's World Tonight programme, on Tuesday 23 September.The radio version of Paul Moss's report ran on BBC Radio 4's World Tonight programme, on Tuesday 23 September.