"Obama Effect" Touching A New Generation

CBS Evening News: Black Youth Finding Inspiration To Succeed

(CBS)  It has often been said that, in America, the land of opportunity, any child could grow up to be president. Now, maybe for the first time, black American children have reason to believe that's true. CBS News national correspondent Byron Pitts reports.

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Like countless 11-year-old boys, Elijah Morgan of Harlem loves baseball. He collects player autographs - baseball cards.

But now he has a new autograph, and a new hero: Barack Obama.

"I shook his hand," Elijah said. "Took a picture. He told me he signed an autograph that said 'dream big dreams.' And then he signed 'Barack Obama' and he basically told me I could be anything that I want to be."

"What does this do to your heart? 'Dream big dreams to Elijah from Barack Obama?'" Pitts asked Elijah's father, Joe Morgan.

"Well, I think it's more important what it does to his, because what it says to him is that everything is possible," he said.

Across the country, beyond the packed arenas, the "Obama Effect" has touched a new generation. Young black boys and girls, who, for the first time in the nation's history, see the presumptive nominee of a major political party - and his wife, Michelle, and see a reflection of themselves.

Pitts asked 11-year-old Christen Martin: "You're paying attention to presidential politics now?

"Yes sir," Christen said. "Because if he can do it, I can do it."

On the south side of Chicago, Christen has cut back on video games to cut out articles on Obama. His poster of all the U.S. President has a new face.

"If he is on TV, they say, 'momma, momma, Barack Obama is on TV.' And the whole house shuts down and we all gather," said his mother, Rosiland Martin.

It's happening in schools and on college campuses nationwide. Educators report a new and rare interest in presidential politics. Pitts sat down with five students from Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy.

"Our parents had Martin Luther King, someone they can get excited about, and this is our iconic hero," said SWCA student Amber Copeland. "He's our generation - someone to get excited about; someone who inspires change."

"So as you see it on some levels Barack Obama's story is your story?" Pitts asked another student, Darius Dixon.

"On some levels, yes," he said.

"It help to see that it's okay to be the best," said Joseph Williams, a student. "As black males, we can look at that and say, 'you know what? We can strive for excellence."

"Now we see a brighter future through somebody else who, you know, didn't come from a lot of affluence," Darius said. "So there's lot of people who can look up to that and say that, 'I don't have to sit at home and play Xbox all day. I am going to put my head in some books and maybe I, too, can become the next president or the next senator.'"

"So is it fair to say Obama helped make it cool to be smart?" Pitts asked.

"Yes!" Darius answered.

It's a renewed optimism and energy. Even in their parents.

"I have never seen my parents this excited about anything politically," Amber Copeland said.

"My grandfather, he is over 80 years old and from his times I know that he's just astonished at the fact that there is an African American running for president," said Amber Head.

"What really sticks out in my mind is the 'yes we can,' thing. It's just so powerful to me," Joseph Williams said. "Because it says that you can do it no matter what the odds are against you, you can do it."

For these young people, it's not just the politician. It's the audacity of possibility he represents.

[libsluv2spit]

obama''s message in its ''true pure form'' would put jessie jackson, al sharpton and the hip hop industry out of business..GET READY FOR SOME SERIOUS OPPOSITION...

[libsluv2spit]

obama''s message in its ''true pure form'' would put jessie jackson, al sharpton and the hip hop industry out of business..GET READY FOR SOME SERIOUS OPPOSITION...

[jvsp]

So many children will be disappointed to find that in fact he or she has innate limits simply based upon being who they are. Then again, isn''t that the Obama message? It isn''t about change, but whether or not one BELIEVES in change. It would be funny if it weren''t so insipid.

[babooph]

If the young get him in,their down will begin,when they see no real "change"-miltary will get the lions share of the budget&Israel will be groveled to.

[tootall10142]

The United States of America in all its wide variety of races and religions stand supported by thier variuosity .The common and sometimes harsh boundaries of this diversified cultre behmoth often prevents the expeditous play out the individuals goals and hinders growth through out the nation.barak Obama has created a new light among the minorities and the poor struggling to carve a simple but solid future from what is available to them.This new spark if bright enough may inspire that one or a hundred perhaps thousands to reach over and take a brother or sister or nieghbor or a friend by the hand . Together to take that first new step twoard a brighter horizon.When this day arrives if it be a barack a mccain or any person that can create enough friction to cause this type of spark then I belive then we will see a great and overwhelming time of national unity and perhaps a greater world peace can be sparked. God please bless America one more day.

[hwy71so]

I''m thinking the reason we''ve got two unqualified people as top choices (McCain and Obama) is because this country has gotten fat and lazy and derelict. Thanks to Bill Clinton we see that our moral standards have fallen below that of a gutter drunk or a Vegas prostitute. The liberals and moderates in Congress have prevented recovery through the Bush years and now we''re looking at an overwhelming "more of the same". Except, now even the executive seat will be filled with a liberal and it will only get worse. The further we fall, the more the liberals will displace responsibility. Claiming immoral liberal chaos to be acceptable and just and not destructive.

It pains me deeply the pit of moral decay we''ve fallen into as a country.

[sweetnsour5]

I have a serious issue with everyone referring to Obama as being black! He has a white mother and his white family raised him...he is biracial...I wonder who is supporting the race card now? I have three biracial grandchildren and would never refer them as being black or white...can someone help me understand this whole Black thing?

[libsluv2spit]

I have a serious issue with everyone referring to Obama as being black! He has a white mother and his white family raised him...he is biracial...I wonder who is supporting the race card now? I have three biracial grandchildren and would never refer them as being black or white...can someone help me understand this whole Black thing?


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Posted by sweetnsour5 at 12:44 PM : Aug 27, 2008
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if barack obama lose the election..he, himself, will tell you about the ''black thing''..and so is all sharpton, jessie jackson, those rappers..they thrive on that.

[libsluv2spit]

It pains me deeply the pit of moral decay we''''ve fallen into as a country.


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Posted by Hwy71So at 11:31 AM : Aug 27, 2008
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that moral decay started when parents STOPPED being parents and was demoted to a single parent..and LIBERAL HOLLYWOOD filled in the void and teaches our children what is acceptable..

the way obama is taking this..his major supporters ARE FROM HOLLYWOOD..brace yourself for some major conflict between barack and his supporters. (in its true form, i believe that obama has good intentions but will get overwhelmed by his very own supporters to abandon the ''change'' campaign and go forward with the ususal "biden" politics)

[forevertru-2009]

Hillary is losing!!!

Horray for President John McCain!!!

[forevertru-2009]

Obama CAN''T Beat McCain!!

Now, Both Russia and the US has ships in Georgian Ports,

Obama Can''t Beat McCain NOW!!!!!

PRESIDENT JOHN McCAIN!!!!!!

[mirrors21]

i personally have a problem with the woman tonight on tv who said her fathers wasnt allowed to drink from white people fountain .so she is happy to see now they can change things ,,, ok what is that if aint racist black /against white ... well guess what aint gone be no more white in america if slam obama takes charge,,, NAACP aint seen nuttin yet they really gone rule

[mirrors21]

i personally have a problem with the woman tonight on tv who said her fathers wasnt allowed to drink from white people fountain .so she is happy to see now they can change things ,,, ok what is that if aint racist black /against white ... well guess what aint gone be no more white in america if slam obama takes charge,,, NAACP aint seen nuttin yet they really gone rule

[libsluv2spit]

ts not about being black it,s about Bush the peice of shi! has done more to hurt this country than any presedent in modern times if we elect John Mc Cain for presedent he will destory every thing that the people in this country have worked for the last 100 yrs. He is all about the rich!!!!!!!!!!! SEND HIM TO HELL NOW ALONG WITH HIS DRUGGY WIFE NOW NOT TOMORROW NOW NOW PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by aheadace at 04:59 PM : Aug 27, 2008
+ report abuse

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apparently according to nancy pelosi..you cant send anybody to ''hell'' based on ranting delusional bullsh*t..
where are we on that impeachment process...feeling betrayed?..THAT SIR..THE DNC PRETTY MUCH PULLED THE BIGGEST CON JOB ON YOUR UBER LIBAERL ARSES.....

funny... how come nancy''s and john murtha''s finger smell like your ********?

[lmartink]

Yet another reason to support Barack Obama !!!

[runningralph]

These poor black children. God bless them. It must be heartbreaking to look around and see so many of your friends and relatives with absent parents, parents on drugs or in jail or killed in some stupid shooting. The first responsibility of a mother is to choose a suitable father for her children. Without that her poor children will suffer.