South siders react to Obama's winJanuary 4, 2008
BY NORMAN PARISH Staff Reporter/nparish@suntimes.com
At age 21, James Clasberry Jr. shamefully admitted that he has never voted.
In fact, he has never even registered to vote.
But after Sen. Barack Obama's historic win in Iowa's Democratic caucus Thursday night, the West Side security guard said he would make sure he registers before Tuesday's deadline for the Illinois Feb. 5 primary.
"This is something new," said Clasberry, an African-American, as he left an eatery in Obama's Hyde Park neighborhood. "
is the same heritage. He is from the same city. I just feel hope."
From beauty salons to restaurants, many African-American Chicagoans, like Clasberry, said they were stunned and proud about Obama's win in the presidential caucus.
"We were all just thinking that he would be third when they were showing the early returns on TV," said Betty Wilson, a 50-ish owner of Hairicons, a beauty salon and barber shop on the 6400 block of South Cottage Grove in Woodlawn. "But then they said he was in first. Who would have thought he would get so many votes?
"Oh man, he pulled it off. A lot of people were surprised," Wilson said. "Tonight, this ought to make people take a stab at something."
Tameka Lenoir, a 22-year-old, agreed.
"This may present opportunities for other blacks seeking national office," said Lenior, a South Side resident, as she waited for a friend to get her hair styled. "This also just shows there may be other opportunities. He is opening up the doorway."
Gary Johnson, a 28-year-old Hyde Park bank employee, said he believes more people will vote for Obama in upcoming primaries as they become more familiar with him.
"I think this will create a domino effect," Johnson said while he was at a private party in Hyde Park.
Back at Hairicons, Maurice Shurney, a 55-year-old maintenance worker, said Obama's win proves that people want change.
"Everybody should be glad," said Shurney after finishing a chess match. "I always thought we could have an African-American president. But this isn't about being African-American. We can have a new start for all people."
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