A moment for history

South Sound residents see cause for hope

By Adam Wilson | The Olympian • Published August 28, 2008

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They want him to say he's thankful. They want him to say he's hopeful. But most of all, they want the change he has promised: that the war can end, that the economy can be turned around, that anything is possible if you work hard enough.

When he speaks during the Democratic National Convention tonight, Sen. Barack Obama will represent a lot more than the Democratic Party to ethnic minorities and supporters.

Among those watching tonight will be Virgil Clarkson, 76, who grew up in Texas' racially segregated school system and went on to become Lacey's first black mayor, and Jessica Boad, a 29-year-old white woman from Tenino who previously workled as a massage-clinic administrator.

They will watch Obama make history at the convention in Denver, becoming the first nonwhite person to accept a major party's nomination for president.

Obama's speech tonight coincides with the 45th anniversary of King's famed "I Have a Dream" speech. Diann Sanders, who was coordinating Bible school classes Wednesday night at New Life Baptist Church in Lacey, said the timing is perfect.

"It just ties right in with the history of the nation," she said. "If they go through with this, that will make Martin Luther King's life worth living."

Obama's local supporters, such as Sanders, said they have one thing on their minds: change.

"He's not just speaking of change. He is change," Sanders said of Obama. "That's different."

Eric Oleson, an administrator at South Puget Sound Community College, is wary of Obama's charisma and lack of experience.

"I don't want to vote for a rock star. I want somebody who is going to take care of the issues," he said. Oleson added that he thought Obama's campaign has been light on details, while McCain's campaign hasn't shown that he's better at managing budgets.

Obama's easygoing style, however, connects with Thomas Sayan, 24, of Lacey.

"I'm a rapper, and Obama, he respects the hip-hop generation. He can relate to people on our level. And I don't think John McCain can relate to us," he said.