| 67, America was filled with the same hope of change | | | | compared to the White support for Stokes forty |
| that it is now feeling in 2008. Forty-one years ago, | | | | years ago. Who would have dreamed then that a |
| Cleveland was on the verge of electing the first | | | | Black man running for the President of the United |
| African American mayor of a major U.S. city. | | | | States could garner such White support, attract such |
| | | | crowds, and be so close to winning,” said |
| Stokes was a living testament of what African | | | | McGee. “When I see campaign crowds, I see a |
| Americans in politics could achieve after the victories | | | | sea of White faces cheering him and I see a much |
| of the Civil Rights Movement, and his imminent victory | | | | different time than that of 1965 and 1967.” |
| was proof that America could come together despite | | | | Forty years ago, African Americans in politics could |
| racial and political differences. | | | | only hope to achieve local political success. Forty |
| Two years earlier, Stokes had almost won in a city | | | | years later, America has changed. |
| that was 70 percent White and 30 percent Black. | | | | McGee recalled, a young African American boy |
| “In 1965 he had come so close to winning that | | | | running behind Stokes’ motorcade, mesmerized |
| there was a recount,” McGee said. “His | | | | at the thought of a Black mayor. “He’s |
| victory in ’67 was hailed as one of the greatest | | | | colored, he’s colored,” the young boy |
| moments in the civil rights struggle and also a triumph | | | | cried out, realizing that America was on the verge of |
| of the brotherhood of man.” | | | | history. |
| However, just like Barack Obama, Stokes had to | | | | Fast forward to 2008, and America is on the verge of |
| overcome the same doubt from other African | | | | making bigger history. Previous African Americans in |
| Americans in politics and from within the Black | | | | politics laid the groundwork for Obama’s historic |
| community that he was not ready, it was not the right | | | | presidential run, and McGee believes it will be African |
| time and he may face assassination because some | | | | Americans that get him over the hump. |
| were not ready to accept progress. Like today, many | | | | “Will the Black community support Obama |
| African Americans in politics had ties to the White | | | | as…Irish Catholics did for John Kennedy in |
| political establishment and campaigned against Stokes | | | | 1960…as every ethnic group has done for their |
| as many like congressional leaders John Lewis (D-GA) | | | | history making candidates since the country |
| and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) actively campaigned | | | | began,” McGee asks. “It is the Black |
| against Obama. | | | | vote that can insure victory for Barack Obama. This is |
| But unlike Stokes, Obama has enjoyed large support | | | | the year. This is the time. This is history in the making. |
| among White voters, something that eluded his | | | | The face of the United States of America is about to |
| predecessor. | | | | change. |
| “The White support for Obama is huge | | | | |