Posted Wednesday, November 5 at 01:49 pm CT by msnbc
Filed under Field correspondents
People react to news that Sen. Barack Obama has been elected president in the Harlem neighborhood of New York, N.Y. (Justin Lane / EPA)
More than 1,000 people watching the election results on a JumboTron in Harlem cheered wildly and spilled into the streets as the announcement came that Barack Obama had been elected America's 44th president.
Several people in the multiracial crowd broke down in tears, unable to contain their emotions.You can read more about their sentiments, and learn more about some of Harlem's landmarks, by clicking here.
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Posted Wednesday, November 5 at 03:34 am CT by msnbc
Filed under Field correspondents
African immigrants living in Harlem gather at a convenience store to watch election results. (todayshow.com)
It was no small feat in a small New York City space: About two dozen men crammed themselves into a tiny convenience store on Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Harlem. The lucky ones nabbed seats on cardboard boxes, while late-comers spilled into the hallway, craning their necks to see the election results on a small TV in the corner.
They had immigrated from all across Africa and become friends while worshipping at the local mosque. While most are pursuing permanent citizenship, in this historic moment, all of them felt like Americans.
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Posted Wednesday, November 5 at 02:56 am CT by msnbc
Filed under Field correspondents
At some of the nation’s historically black colleges, the emotion was almost overwhelming.
At Spelman College in Atlanta, students were stunned when Sen. Barack Obama was declared the winner shortly after 11 p.m.
For just a moment, a "pinch me is this real" second, students stopped in their tracks.
One senior economics major fell to floor, in disbelief.
It was true. Obama had not won Georgia, but he had WON.
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Posted Tuesday, November 4 at 11:08 pm CT by msnbc
Filed under Field correspondents
Hundreds of people cheered, cried, hugged each other and jumped for joy at Rockefeller Center’s Democracy Plaza Tuesday as NBC and other networks declared Sen. Barack Obama the projected winner of the presidential election.
Many chanted "Obama! Obama!" as the results were announced shortly after 11 p.m.
"We came out this historic night -- I never thought this was a possibility in my lifetime," said Stephanie Grill.
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Posted Tuesday, November 4 at 10:27 pm CT by msnbc
Filed under Field correspondents
CHICAGO - Thousands of people are pouring into Chicago's Grant Park, hoping to witness a historic victory speech from Sen. Barack Obama, who is expected to appear later. An estimated 70,000 people will attend the rally at the park on Lake Michigan.
Posted Tuesday, November 4 at 08:35 pm CT by msnbc
Filed under Field correspondents
Hollywood is Barack Obama country.
Obama raised more than $14 million from the entertainment industry on his way to raising $84 million in California -- two-thirds more than he raised in New York.
Tuesday afternoon at the Media Shop, a television and film production facility, Latinos -- an increasingly crucial Democratic bloc -- were putting the finishing touches on an Election Night party, anticipating an Obama win. As people dribbled in, a gigantic television screen on the wall was blasting the early returns, with most states still "too early to call." But the collective mood was festive. Individually, the party preparers said they were cautiously optimistic, but they were already brimming with pride.
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Posted Tuesday, November 4 at 07:28 pm CT by Marty Wolk
Filed under Field correspondents
Richard Crowder in Harlem (msnbc.com)
Roberto St. Louis isn't old enough to vote, but he’s still doing his part to help put Barack Obama in the White House. The 17-year-old was spending Election Day volunteering at Obama’s Harlem campaign headquarters on at 133rd Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard.
“My mind is thinking [Obama’s] spirit is so wonderful. He’s so direct,” Roberto said. “That’s what this country needs right now.”
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Posted Tuesday, November 4 at 03:50 pm CT by msnbc
Filed under Field correspondents
PHILADELPHIA – The old man all but skipped through the glass front doors, out into the light rain, a smile on his face. When I asked him his story we stepped back under the overhang by the front door of the new G.W. Carver High School for Science and Engineering in North Philadelphia, where Otis Robertson had just voted.
"I'll be 80 Christmas Eve," he said. "Never missed voting for president since I was 18. But this..." his voice trailed off and came up with a gentle laugh. Then he added, "I figured one day it might happen, yes, in my lifetime."
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Posted Tuesday, November 4 at 12:11 pm CT by msnbc
Filed under Field correspondents
LOS ANGELES – It was before dawn as a crowd of African-American voters began lining up outside the auditorium of Audubon Middle School in the Crenshaw District of Los Angeles. There was no doubt about how they'd cast their ballots.
"If you're voting for McCain, you're in the wrong line," joked one man.
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Posted Tuesday, November 4 at 11:47 am CT by msnbc
Filed under Field correspondents
In 2004 I voted for president in my neighborhood of Harlem, N.Y., one of the nation’s oldest and most significant centers of African-American culture. I arrived at the polling location midmorning, strolled right in and voted. The whole thing took about five minutes. There was no line. There were no crowds.
Tuesday morning I arrived at the same polling station a few minutes after it opened at 6 a.m. The place was packed. Every step had to be followed with an "excuse me." Several people had cameras, and were taking pictures. I heard one woman say "this is history". Another woman held her young daughter in her arms and kept smiling and kissing her on the cheek, as if she was happy the little girl was witnessing the day. It was a remarkable contrast from four years ago and evidence of the voter excitement on this historic Election Day.
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