San Mateo County blacks amazed, proud that Obama nominated for

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Aug 28, 2008 | by Michael Manekin

"We're making history, it's exciting," said Brianna Brown, 17, who attends Eastside College preparatory school with Francis. "I mean, black people, we couldn't vote and now we have a black man running for president. That's like crazy. You'd never think that nothing like that could ever happen."

Dr. James Hutchinson, 85, was the first black doctor to open a practice in San Mateo County, and he can barely believe that a black man was nominated by the Democratic party.

"Being raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, the Democratic party was a party of Jim Crow and segregation, it was a party of strictly white and anti-civil rights," he said. "In my time, black people were Republican because it was the party of Lincoln that freed us."

In his opinion, Obama has "as much of a chance as any other person that's ever run for president," but his nomination alone should be considered a major achievement for people around the world.

"Whatever community there is in America, the pride of all races has been elevated," Hutchinson said. "The aspirations and dreams of all groups have been lifted -- not only in San Mateo, but wherever people congregate."