The Oklahoma Eagle

Obama becomes the 44th President of the United States

Now a new chapter in the history books yet to come, an impossible dream for some has now become reality for all. An African-American is now the President of the United States.
A historical event that could have, if it was up to the state of Oklahoma, placed Sarah Palin as the first female in the position of vice president.
However the rest of the United States felt differently. America chose Barack Obama, who happens to be black.
“Obama will hold the highest office in the land, on January 20, 2009!” shouted Brenan Presley. At the tender age of five, Presley is among 200 students at Deborah Brown Community School. On a daily routine, children recite all the names of the United States Presidents. Now he and his schoolmates will have to make some adjustments to add the 44th president to their already long list.
For three days of early voting, lines extended outside the doors of the county election board headquarters. Long lines continued through its parking lot and along the avenues of Denver and Edison.
Tulsans from various walks of life, stood patiently to cast their ballot and to mark history. With the diverse trail of Tulsans, one could not help but to feel the energy left by thousands.  Tulsa County Election Board had estimated that over 400 voters an hour cast their ballots during the three days before Election Day.
On Election Day around the city, watch parties were held.  Between the Kennedy Mansion Bed and Breakfast, The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame and the Greenwood Cultural Center, everyone appeared to be one of the same accord as the results from the polls streamed in from media outlets projected onto large screens at the events.
Conversations ceased as cheers erupted when Obama was the projected winner state by state. A shock of disbelief to some as the results from Oklahoma appeared worldwide. The polls just closed in Tulsa when McClain was declared the winner of the Sooner State. “What did you expect,” cried Jackie Renfro, a participant at the watch party on Greenwood.
“Oklahoma’s first law was a Jim Crow law that legally separated the state by race. Nothing has changed,” she said.  On the popular vote 492,138 Oklahomans voted for Obama. However, nearly a million Sooners decided that Senator John McCain was their man.
The frowns of disappointment were soon silenced as the results from other states followed. Barack was declared the winner by a landslide. Finally surpassing the required 270 electoral votes, Obama was clearly the 44th President of the United States.
Celebratory chants of “OBAMA” were matched with those in other cities being broadcast simultaneously across America. Hugs, tears and cheers filled the room as everyone congratulated each other on the historic win and for sharing this moment in history together.
When the night was over Obama’s 338 electoral votes surpassed the requirement. Winning the predictable red states, McCain only acquired 127.
Across the country, there were187 million registered voters. Nearly 40 million Americans took advantage of voting early and avoiding lengthly lines and possible problems on Election Day.
The first African-American president secured Colorado, Nevada, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Florida, Virginia, New Mexico, Iowa, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey and the District of Columbia.
McCain carried Nebraska, Idaho, Mississippi, Texas, West Virginia, Utah, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Alabama, South Carolina, Louisiana, South Dakota and North Dakota.
By the end of the night the other states were too close to call.
The following day in classrooms across the country probably mirrored many schools in Tulsa. Educators took full advantage of the day and turned the event into a history lesson.
By waving signs and pom-poms at drivers along North Peoria Avenue, students at Hawthorne Elementary encouraged residents in their community to get out and vote.
The school held their own rally and election for its student council. Principal Lynette Dixon, strongly expressed to her student body, the true importance of having the right to vote and taking full advantage of their civic duties.