Realizing My Ancestors' Dreams: The story of a first-time voter
Commentary, Jacquinn Scales
YO! Youth Outlook Multimedia, Dec 04, 2008
Editor's Note: Young people across the nation are still rejoicing in last Tuesday's election results and remembering their historic moment. Jacquinn Scales is a regular participant in the California Council for Youth Relations, which seeks to engage young people in discussions and action surrounding policy matters that affect them. Jacquinn shared his account of voting for the first time at CCYR's weekly forum following the 2008 presidential election.
This fall was very eventful for me. Not only did I turn 26, but more importantly, I realized our ancestors’ dream. That dream was to win the right to vote. For months I anticipated registering to vote “today,” but for some reason, that “today” always turned into “I’ll do it tomorrow.”
One day I was at a meeting for foster youth. A representative from a political office showed up to present information pertaining to voting and had registration forms handy – this finally broke my cycle of procrastination. After completing the forms in their entirety, they were now ready for submission. Weeks later, I was welcomed by a large quantity of mail when I went to check my P.O. box. The forms that I received were information about California’s many 2008 propositions, coupled with the location where I was expected to show up and vote. In preparation for this historic event, I found myself watching a series of interviews and campaign rallies about both presidential candidates.
Finally, before my Sociology class on November 4, I made my way to the voting site. As I left my house and came in contact with the chilly Bay Area weather, I strolled to my polling place just about three blocks away. I passed by many people with dull, gloomy facial expressions. Witnessing this, I was almost forced to raise the question, “Are you aware of what’s going to happen today?” I made it to my voting place and whipped out my camera to take a picture of a sign pointing an arrow as an indicator that voters were to go in that direction.
Shortly after entering the community center I was politely greeted by an elderly Chinese gentleman who attempted to give me instructions on where to sign in and get settled.
“You here,” the man said. I thought to myself, “Huh?”
He said it three more times, until I asked, “What are you saying?”
As I looked around, other voter helpers looked helpless and I tried desperately to make out what this man was saying. We engaged in verbal ping-pong, which quickly ended when another man emerged from the back and I told him I was here to vote.
At last I was confirmed as a registered voter and was given my ballot. “Oh my goodness,” I thought, “look at all these political choices.” Of the many names on the ballot, I was only able to make out a few: chiefly the names mentioned frequently on TV.
“Okay,” I thought again, “I am aware of Nancy Pelosi, David Chu, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin--but who the hell are these other folks?”
I inevitably wanted the Obama-Biden campaign to reign victory over the McCain-Palin campaign. Not only did I feel inclined to vote for Obama due to our ethnic similarity, but more importantly, my profound belief in his ability to (in some regards) improve and rejuvenate things within our nation earned my vote.
Whenever I saw Obama on TV he appeared confident and well-spoken, a direct reflection of his education as a Harvard University student. I would also like to give props to his running mate Biden - also known as the other Joe the Plumber - a name John McCain and Sarah Palin often made comical statements towards. Joe Biden the Plumber performed a great job in tightening up Obama’s campaign and ensuring a clear flush of the shit from McCain and Palin. I primarily enjoyed listening to Joe’s proposals to provide tax relief for small businesses and start-ups. This was especially sweet-sounding to me because I recently started my own newsletter business.
When I began to mark my ballot in favor of my favorite candidate I paused and silently said, “God is good.” For those that lack historical knowledge – we didn’t always have the right to vote. In 1965, all blacks were able to vote thanks to the tireless efforts of civil rights leaders like Jesse Jackson and Martin Luther King, who placed pressure upon President Lyndon B. Johnson to sign the Voting Rights Act.
When I completed my ballot, I ignored the traditional rules of being forbidden from taking photos inside the poll locations. Since it was a small building and not too many people were around, once I noticed that I was all alone I seized the opportunity. I submitted all my documents and asked the Chinese poll worker to take a picture of me at my voting poll. After kindly thanking him for his consideration of this historical day, I departed with overwhelming feelings about not only the decision for tonight but the decision of 2008 and the ensuing years.
To ease my thoughts and emotions, I told myself that I had done my part and now the rest is up to God and other registered voters. Well, our prayers, voices and votes were heard, because at roughly 8:03 p.m. it was declared that Barack Obama was our new President.
So, all I can do is put this as tactfully as possible: Mr. Bush you don’t have to necessarily go back to Texas, fight over oil again, or go read to little children but you do have to get the hell out of the White House.
Why? Well, simply because, “It’s time for change!”
Related Media:
You Don't Have To Be a Doorman -- We got a Black President!
No Time to Celebrate -- Get to Work Obama
We're Ready for Change 1 of 1
This fall was very eventful for me. Not only did I turn 26, but more importantly, I realized our ancestors’ dream. That dream was to win the right to vote. For months I anticipated registering to vote “today,” but for some reason, that “today” always turned into “I’ll do it tomorrow.”
One day I was at a meeting for foster youth. A representative from a political office showed up to present information pertaining to voting and had registration forms handy – this finally broke my cycle of procrastination. After completing the forms in their entirety, they were now ready for submission. Weeks later, I was welcomed by a large quantity of mail when I went to check my P.O. box. The forms that I received were information about California’s many 2008 propositions, coupled with the location where I was expected to show up and vote. In preparation for this historic event, I found myself watching a series of interviews and campaign rallies about both presidential candidates.
Finally, before my Sociology class on November 4, I made my way to the voting site. As I left my house and came in contact with the chilly Bay Area weather, I strolled to my polling place just about three blocks away. I passed by many people with dull, gloomy facial expressions. Witnessing this, I was almost forced to raise the question, “Are you aware of what’s going to happen today?” I made it to my voting place and whipped out my camera to take a picture of a sign pointing an arrow as an indicator that voters were to go in that direction.
Shortly after entering the community center I was politely greeted by an elderly Chinese gentleman who attempted to give me instructions on where to sign in and get settled.
“You here,” the man said. I thought to myself, “Huh?”
He said it three more times, until I asked, “What are you saying?”
As I looked around, other voter helpers looked helpless and I tried desperately to make out what this man was saying. We engaged in verbal ping-pong, which quickly ended when another man emerged from the back and I told him I was here to vote.
At last I was confirmed as a registered voter and was given my ballot. “Oh my goodness,” I thought, “look at all these political choices.” Of the many names on the ballot, I was only able to make out a few: chiefly the names mentioned frequently on TV.
“Okay,” I thought again, “I am aware of Nancy Pelosi, David Chu, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin--but who the hell are these other folks?”
I inevitably wanted the Obama-Biden campaign to reign victory over the McCain-Palin campaign. Not only did I feel inclined to vote for Obama due to our ethnic similarity, but more importantly, my profound belief in his ability to (in some regards) improve and rejuvenate things within our nation earned my vote.
Whenever I saw Obama on TV he appeared confident and well-spoken, a direct reflection of his education as a Harvard University student. I would also like to give props to his running mate Biden - also known as the other Joe the Plumber - a name John McCain and Sarah Palin often made comical statements towards. Joe Biden the Plumber performed a great job in tightening up Obama’s campaign and ensuring a clear flush of the shit from McCain and Palin. I primarily enjoyed listening to Joe’s proposals to provide tax relief for small businesses and start-ups. This was especially sweet-sounding to me because I recently started my own newsletter business.
When I began to mark my ballot in favor of my favorite candidate I paused and silently said, “God is good.” For those that lack historical knowledge – we didn’t always have the right to vote. In 1965, all blacks were able to vote thanks to the tireless efforts of civil rights leaders like Jesse Jackson and Martin Luther King, who placed pressure upon President Lyndon B. Johnson to sign the Voting Rights Act.
When I completed my ballot, I ignored the traditional rules of being forbidden from taking photos inside the poll locations. Since it was a small building and not too many people were around, once I noticed that I was all alone I seized the opportunity. I submitted all my documents and asked the Chinese poll worker to take a picture of me at my voting poll. After kindly thanking him for his consideration of this historical day, I departed with overwhelming feelings about not only the decision for tonight but the decision of 2008 and the ensuing years.
To ease my thoughts and emotions, I told myself that I had done my part and now the rest is up to God and other registered voters. Well, our prayers, voices and votes were heard, because at roughly 8:03 p.m. it was declared that Barack Obama was our new President.
So, all I can do is put this as tactfully as possible: Mr. Bush you don’t have to necessarily go back to Texas, fight over oil again, or go read to little children but you do have to get the hell out of the White House.
Why? Well, simply because, “It’s time for change!”
Related Media:
You Don't Have To Be a Doorman -- We got a Black President!
No Time to Celebrate -- Get to Work Obama
We're Ready for Change 1 of 1
