Obama's Win A "Nonviolent Revolution"

The Early Show: African-American Icons Rep. John Lewis, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Maya Angelou Reflect On His Victory

(CBS)  Rep. John Lewis says the nation "witnessed a nonviolent revolution" when Barack Obama was elected president.

The longtime Democratic congressman from Georgia and civil rights leader -- who was brutally beaten at the hands of segregationists in the Deep South in the early 1960s -- described it to Early Show co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez Wednesday as "a revolution of values, a revolution of ideas. I've been saying over and over again -- that the vote is the most nonviolent instrument that we have in a democratic society. And the American people used that vote ... to make Barack Obama the next president of the United States of America."

Asked if Obama is up to taking on the enormous problems facing the U.S. as he gets set to enter the Oval Office, Lewis responded, "This man, young, smart, gifted, leader, is prepared to lead the American people and be a leader among the men and women of the community of nations. He has a vision -- he is the right man. He is so gifted. He is so decent. And he's so calm and deliberate. I think he will be a great president. He personifies the best of a John F. Kennedy, a Robert Kennedy, a Martin Luther King Jr., a Lyndon Johnson."

Lewis marched with Dr. King, as did the Rev. Jesse Jackson, another veteran leader of the civil rights movement. Jackson observed to Rodriguez that Obama "stood (giving his victory speech in Chicago's Grant Park before a throng of more than 100,000) overcoming so much. ... I thought about those who suffered to make it possible -- the marchers, the murdered, the martyrs (seeking civil rights and the right to vote), many of whom are nameless and faceless. But in some sense, their suffering was redeemed last night with that victory.

" ... America is a work in progress. And last night, we saw that work in a more magnificent way expressed. ... (We're in) a crisis in trust. We don't trust a president. We don't trust a Congress we see as complicitous. We don't trust Wall Street. Barack emerges as this larger-than-life figure who can be trusted, who brings about hope and who now helps redeem America from our sordid past about race. Here's the guy who has the capacity ... to take America to the next level."

A sentiment echoed by Maya Angelou, the famous, best-selling poet and author.

She was bursting with pride when she told co-anchor Harry Smith Wednesday she was thinking of "all of us" as she watch Obama's speech late Tuesday night, "all of those who went before, who paid dearly. And all of us today. All of us.

"I'm so proud. I'm filled-- I can hardly talk without weeping. I'm so filled with pride for my country. What do you say? We are growing up! My God, I'm so grateful.

I believe in the heart of every American there's the desire to belong to a great country. And look at it -- not just powerful, not just might, not just things, not consumer goods. I mean, look at our souls, look at our hearts. We have elected a black man to talk for us, to speak for us. We, blacks, whites, Asians, Spanish-speaking, Native Americans, we have done it. Fat, thin, pretty, plain, gay, straight. We have done it! My Lord -- I am an American, baby!"

Why this man?

"Because he's intelligent, Harry. I don't mean intellectually clever, I mean intelligent. I mean what used to be called 'mother wit.' He has common sense that is, I'm sorry to say, most uncommon. Because he knows that, together, we can be somebody. And he is inclusive, as opposed to exclusive. I know that he knows he is the president of every black person, every white person -- he's the president of the bigots, and he must remember that."

Smith commented that Obama "said in his acceptance speech, 'For those of you who voted against me, I hear you, too.' "

"Exactly!" Angelou said. "That's what I mean."

Does she really believe it happened?

"Yes! Yes! Sitting in the waiting room to come on and talk to you -- Yes! This morning, I have not slept, really. I can't pull my nose out of the television. And I go from one channel to the next to the next. And I want to embrace everybody. I'm just so proud. And grateful."

Smith said Obama's victory reminds him most of Angelou's poem, "Still I Rise," and she agreed to recite some of it:

"It begins," Angeou said:

"You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise

Up from a past rooted in pain
I rise

A black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling, bearing in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise

Into a daybreak miraculously clear
I rise

Bringing the hopes that my ancestors gave,
I am the hope and the dream of the slave.

And so, Harry Smith, we all rise."

"And I rise," Smith recited the third-to-last line of the poem, in a poignant moment.

"Yes, we do," an emotional Angelou said.

"I rise," Smith recited the second-to-last line.

"Yes, we do," Angelou repeated.

"And I rise," Smith concluded.

---

Angelou's latest book is "Letter to My Daugher."

To read an excerpt, click here.

[averygard]

''where is the revolution''?Are you kidding, or do you truly lack any empathy at all? Were you awake at all over the past hundred years? A whole race of people have gone from slavery and not being allowed to drink out of the same water fountain as white people drink out of, to the highest job in the land! Women were not allowed to vote at one time and now can run for that office! Hello?!

In the future people are going to look back and be amazed that Americans would think someone''s race was a factor in whether they might be elected.

That''s a revolution.

[boymelta]

The Republicans are so quick to talk about how fast Obama is gonna bring down the "great America" but really, can he get any worse than Bush?!?!?! I THINK NOT!!!

[farouk7]

Obama is first generation immigrant, not wonder he could rise above the usual black attitude.

Posted by kevinkkloste at 09:03 PM : Nov 05, 2008
____________________-

I see you have KKK in your name; I take it that is not an accident, particularly are reading your racist post.

[farouk7]

McCain and Palin. We owe a profound debt of gratitude to McCain for being stupid enough to select another stupid person for his running mate. McCain demonstrated his complete lack of judgment by selecting Palin, a vapid, ignorant meth-snorting snowbilly. Palin demonstrated her own brand of stupidity every time she opened her mouth. I see now where she and her husband are accused by McCain staffers of acting like bumpkins, buying everything in sight once they got to the big city, over $20,000 for hubby alone. Thanks a lot, Sarah - you betcha!

[rhs648]

This was an election, not a revolution. We go through this every four years and power often changes from one party to another. Yes, history has been made with a black president. However, Obama''s winning does not constitute a revolution. An overthrow of our government would constitute a revolution. The election was orderly and really no different from any previous election. One side won and the other side lost. Again, where is the revolution?

[louiseriley]

Republicans are such sore losers! Congrats Barack--- this is indeed a "New American Revolution".

[cpelzar--2008]

glad that Jessie Jackson can now retire
Posted by CPelzar at 10:01 PM : Nov 05, 2008

Did you see him in tears during Obama''''s victory speech?

And just months ago he was talking about "cutting his nu7s off."

Posted by txgrouch2007 at 10:03 PM : Nov 05, 2008

I know, he is so full of ***,he disgusts me and single handedly in my opinion lived off of the race card and grievances.

[txgrouch2007]

glad that Jessie Jackson can now retire
Posted by CPelzar at 10:01 PM : Nov 05, 2008

Did you see him in tears during Obama''s victory speech?

And just months ago he was talking about "cutting his nu7s off."

[txgrouch2007]

What "revolution?" MOST of the incumbents in Congress got REELECTED. Including Barney "Meltdown" Frank, with 69% of the Massachusetts morons voting for him.

Anybody who thinks this is a revolution doesn''t know how our government works.

Historic, yes. Revolution, no.

[labtechjamie]

For all of those that oppose Obama as our new President. I hear you. I just want you to know that no matter our differences on the most important election in American history, I hear you and Obama hears you too. We are brothers and sisters in arms. Let''s use that power to better our future together. I love you, my fellow Americans. Let''s not just hope for a better America, let''s make it happen.

[kevnkar]

Let''''s face it, a military where the underlings have the temerity to ask why is one that won''''t work

Limey is clearly an idiot. Militaries like this have been working for all of history. The "underlings" are told what to do by people who know what to do from lessons written in blood. A soldier who stops to question an order is a dead soldier. Order and discipline are required for a military to work. Especially an all volunteer one like ours. Notice how limey resorts to childish disrespectfull name calling when his flawed point of view is challenged.
Natia, you speak of service to country. How do you plan to serve?

[lordknowus]

WillofLa, your contempt for people who are more educated than you speaks volumes about the value of your comments. You made no actual point in your comment, you simply tried to belittle the entire education system in America. Have you ever considered trying to be constructive? Have you thought about some of the practical reasons why our education system is failing in your opinion? If you really want to communicate on blogs, which is what you are doing, then assumedly you would like to convince others of the value of your logic

[natia45]

Thanks usclimey. The work has only just begun. Keeping the outer torch burning means keeping the inner torch burning with service to country, love of the principles our nation stands for. One step at a time, but the steps have to be forward. Now is the time to perservere.

[usclimey]

I am so proud of young people here in America. The torch is being passed to them, and they lifted it high. The torch inside of them as well burns bright. Not only did they vote, They raised funds on the internet. They knocked on doors. They organized. They kept faith with their country and its promise of equality. In a large part this is their victory.

Posted by natia45

Well said natia. Remember with that torch comes the responsibility to keep it aflame so the real work started by this election can be completed. The world will be a much better place if you and your peers can make it so.

[usclimey]

Good bye and good riddens.

Posted by WillofLa

That would be riddance oh wise one.

[usclimey]

Posted by WillofLa at 04:22 PM

OK education. My 12-year-old can already quote from the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, along with being able to tell me what number president Millard Fillmore was. He''s at a public school.

There''s nothing better than a liberal-based education as an undergraduate. Graduate school is where you go to learn your trade. You learn so much more in a wide range of subjects than like learning accountiong or something. I''d love to be at a school that would have a Bill Ayers as a teacher. Talk about a first hand glimpse into a very important part of American History. While I was in Grad school at USC I went to see a talk by G. Gordon Liddy. The guy''s a nutcase and a crook, but it was still a very interesting talk. Being broad minded is an absolute must in the world today. If you''re in business you have to deal with so many different nationalities, races, languages and religions you can''t be a total monotheist. You have to be able to put yourself in some very different shoes. The world of today stands in stark contrast to that of yesterday; literally. I haven''t been this excited about the future ever. I really feel this guy could be the goods; the one to make a true impact for good on the world stage we need.

[natia45]

I am so proud of young people here in America. The torch is being passed to them, and they lifted it high. The torch inside of them as well burns bright. Not only did they vote, They raised funds on the internet. They knocked on doors. They organized. They kept faith with their country and its promise of equality. In a large part this is their victory.

[cmp271]

Obama is first generation immigrant, not wonder he could rise above the usual black attitude. He is still a bigot and surrounds himself with people who are criminals from the 60''s.

Let''s see what Farrukan does about him? Anyone remember who''s black Muslim group assassinated Malcom X? If Obama doesn''t dance to their tune what is going to happen to him?

[credibility2]

War can always be argued by others as being neither logical, rational, reasonable, or justified. This is war and what further defines it are the politicians who favor it or are against, despite either side''s reasoning or explaining. I hate war, but I''ve never hated the troops that went to fight in one, even if I didn''t agree with the president that decided upon our war efforts. This was especially true of the Viet Nam war. I''m an Independent. In the 1960s I fancied myself an activist Dem that was terrified of the Weathermen, SDS and other radical anarchist groups. Funny how many of those foolish kids, now even bigger foolish old foggies are still around peddling their hate-speech against our great nation.

[willofla]

usclimey, you are truely a koolaid drinker spouting the Democrat mantra like a true liberal. And those "educated enlightened personalities" is the biggest laugh I''ve had all week!! You lefties, just wait. And that''s all I''ve got to say to a bunch of liberal dead heads who haven''t a clue as to what has just happened to them. Good bye and good riddens.