African American Soldiers on an African American Commander-in-Chief

Tacoma, Washington -- In high school I was the only white guy on an otherwise all African American basketball team. In those four years, as well as while growing up with the same guys on the team, I learned a great deal about the awesome African American culture.

On Feb. 11, 1991, while sitting in the locker room before a Monday night home game, a young man by the name of Cordell Wilson sat quietly on the bench and read the daily newspaper. On the front of the paper in bold print the headline read, "President Bush Squares off with Saddam Hussein." Cordell threw the paper down, got up and slammed the locker door. He looked at me and said, "Rookie, let me tell you something. If we had a black president we would have iced him (Saddam) by now."

I wasn't sure how to respond or, better yet, if I should respond at all, but I did. I took a breath and spouted out, "Well, maybe you can run for president when you get out of college and change things." Cordell was walking away when he heard my comment. He stopped in his tracks and quickly turned around and got in my face. His eyes almost seemed bloodshot. A vain was throbbing out of his forehead. He got really close to me and then yelled, "Do you really think that white America wants a black man in the White House? White boy, have you lost your damn mind? That will never happen, ever."

For the first time in years I felt different, separated and sure as hell not equal. For the six years before that incident I had spent every day with these guys, and I truly thought that I knew them or, better yet, understood them, but what I didn't truly understand was the racism and difficulties that they and their families had faced over the years.

On Nov. 4, 2008, the new dawn of leadership for the United States of America took the stage. President-elect Barack Obama, a 47-year-old African American, who once described himself as a "skinny kid with a funny name," stood confidently before an enthusiastic quarter of a million people and hundreds of TV cameras that would beam this event across the world.

Making the event even more historical and meaningful was its location. Grant Park happens to be the scene of a sour chapter in recent political history. In 1968 the Chicago riots unfolded nearby, bringing on years of issues. Obama spoke eloquently as usual. Many times throughout his two-year campaign Obama said the country needed change, and on this night President-elect Obama said the words that will be remembered for a lifetime: "Change has come to America."

Just like any other journalist on such a historic date, I made my way around the city looking to get a pulse of what people were thinking and feeling. I started out at the Republican headquarters in Tacoma, speaking with McCain-Palin vice chair of Pierce County Don Houghton. Houghton spoke eloquently, but at the same time he seemed very concerned about some issues that had been reported to him throughout the day from the poll observers.

"The significant issues that we are seeing now have to do with provisional ballots. In Washington you're either a poll voter or absentee voter, if you don't fall into any one of those categories or you happen to be out of the area, well, then you are able to go in to any polling place and ask for a provisional ballet. The thing we have been finding is excessive amounts of provisional ballots; we are just concerned that there may be some imparities," he said.

Houghton made it clear and defined about how he sees both candidates' policies. "What helps a community more: a government check or paycheck?" In that hour-long interview, amazingly, the possibility of Obama being the first African American president wasn't even mentioned. That goes to show that Houghton was confident and believed that who he was working for would come out on top.

I walked up the way to the Democratic office, and there the vibe was slightly different. About 13 people were on the phones calling on behalf of Obama. In the middle of the office stood the volunteer leader of the phone bank, Ken Miller. Miller wasn't as talkative as the Republican Party leader, but he did believe that Obama had shown over the duration of the campaign the ability to deal with immense pressure and scrutiny.

I asked the sensitive question about what he thought about the comments from some of the Republicans, that Obama was a socialist or had the tenets. Having formal education in politics, Miller shared with me why Obama is not a socialist. He was confident that the country would get it right and see through the McCain-Palin "Joe the plumber" political rhetoric.

Finally, I had to make a choice on which election party I would attend. I sat down on a curb and called my higher headquarters - my wife, Alicia - and asked for an update on the race. She said it looked liked Obama might come out on top. I picked my family up and went over to the Democratic Party house over in Tacoma.

As soon as I walked in the building it seemed like the party was gaining momentum. I found out quickly that news travels fast. Someone had called the party headquarters and said I was coming. I think my camera lens gave me away. As the night went on, more and more people crowded the hall and fixed their attention on the big-screen television. You would think that there would have been a party-like atmosphere, but that wasn't the case until much later in the night.

It was like everyone was holding their breath. In the sea of people, I came across some Fort Lewis soldiers who wanted to come out and get involved in this historic night. Staff Sgt. Knoll, 36, and Corp. Rennin, 23, both African American, held back nothing when asked about this night.

"I wish my mom was here to see this day. She always told me that this could happen, and I never believed her. This could be the greatest day for black folks," Staff Sgt. Knoll said.

Corp. Rennin interjected with a smile.

"I just might reenlist if Obama comes out on top. When you look at the Army you don't see a lot of blacks leading. I am not sure why, but I have some assumptions. I will say if Obama is the next commander-in-chief you just might see a hike in enlistments from the brothers," Rennin said.

One soldier I interviewed really made me think, and that was 26-year-old African American Sgt. Rothe. Reading his comments will either agitate you or make you think. I asked Sgt. Rothe: "So what will it mean to you to have the first African American president?" Sgt. Roth replied: "My friend, if you know your history, this won't be the first African American president. Do you know John Hanson? He was the first president of the United States in 1781-1782; however, this day will exhibit the change that has come to this country."

For once I was stumped and speechless. As a journalist you try not to give the funny look, but this time I think I gave the old television act "OK, back to you, Bob." I did some fact checking, and there are some articles out there on the subject - http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1771850/posts;

http://www.famousamericans.net/johnhanson/johnhanson.net/hansonmoor/; and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hanson_(myths).

After hours of waiting for the polls to close and the numbers to come in, the announcement was made at 8 p.m. that Obama had taken the night and history had been made. The crowd exploded. Women cried, and men stood in shock. One of the soldiers placed his hands on his head and became emotional. I spoke to all three soldiers afterward.

Sgt. Rothe said, "President-elect Obama, an African-American leading our country - that is my Christmas gift." Corp. Rennin said, "I feel like I can do anything now. He has set the road for all African Americans." Staff Sgt. Knoll laughed as a tear fell from his eye. "Having an African American leading our country is a call to the other countries that we have our stuff together. I am even more proud to put on my uniform now. Obama can't change everyone's opinion about black men, but this sure will help."

I spent a lot of time talking to people on this night, and every single one of them said that this is the change this country needs and deserves. I am not one to get into the hype of the situation, which makes reporting easier, but on this night I became a little emotional.

Today, I think back to that night in the locker room when I was yelled at for my comment and remember Cordell's final words: "Never, ever." Seventeen years later the phrase that comes to mind is "never say never."