Black leaders react

A piece of history unfolded Tuesday night.

President-elect Barack Obama blew past Republican Sen. John McCain on Election Day, dominating electoral votes to secure his place as the nation's first black commander in chief. 

Obama supporters poured into streets, churches and parks last night to celebrate their candidate's win and a landmark in American history. All was relatively quiet on the West Texas front, but some of Odessa's black leaders are ecstatic about Obama's win and what it could mean for the nation.

"I guess personally it just reaffirms that we live in the greatest country," said Gaven Norris, chairman of the Black Leadership Council at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. "There are some racial tensions that have been dominant in this country, and we've made even larger steps and leaps to cross those borders."

The 20-something student said Obama's win puts his grandparents' strides and struggles into perspective. Gaven Norris is the grandson of Rev. Curtis Norris, one of Odessa's early black leaders.

"I figured it would be another 12 years for something like this to be possible," Gaven Norris said. "It only boosts my confidence. I can assuredly say now that there's nothing I can't do. Myself, my children, my grandchildren can do anything."

Black Cultural Council president Jo Ann Davenport-Littleton said she never thought she'd see a black president in her lifetime, so Tuesday was a special surprise. The former Odessa City Council member said the display of unity among Obama supporters was "beautiful," and Americans should continue working together to keep that togetherness alive.

"There's always been racial undertones and anger, and we understand that, but now that he's president of the United States, we've got to work harder," Davenport-Littleton said. "It's really going to be an uphill battle. We've got to work together more than ever, and I believe we can."

Odel Crawford, the chief executive of the Black Chamber of Commerce of the Permian Basin, said the nation's nod to Obama symbolizes a cultural evolution in America.

"It means that there's definitely change not only brewing, but we as a people and as a culture have truly arrived in the United States," Crawford said. "Now we can truly see this history in the making. It helps our young kids to see that they themselves are able to do more than what people normally give them credit for."

Crawford said he's always known a black president would eventually lead the United States, he just didn't know when it would happen.

"Having been a child of the '50s, '60s and '70s, you see a continued upward heave," he said. "You see that we are a people who are involved in our community, a people that can help change the destiny of our community."

Odessa College President Greg Williams said he tries to stay out of politics as much as he can, but he's glad Americans enjoy a democratic system that allows them to elect candidates who have the best ideas for moving the country forward.

"The big winners last night are our country and the system that we have in place where people can believe in the power of ideas, and that's the beauty of it," he said. "Now we have to find ways to get better. The best ideas win. Last night I guess the country felt that Mr. Obama had the best ideas, and we'll move on from there."

LOCAL VOTES:

Here's how Ector County voters weighed in on this year's presidential race:

>> John McCain/Sarah Palin: 75 percent/16,876 votes.

>> Barack Obama/Joe Biden: 24 percent/5,421 votes.

>> Bob Barr/Wayne A. Root: .6 percent/135 votes.