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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2008
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Seven days at the DNC Student is eyewitness to defining moment in US history
This is a firsthand account of the Democratic National Convention by NCCU political science junior Jabari Blackmon. While at the convention, Blackmon was elected as National Vice Chair of the Black Caucus for the College Democrats of America.
BY JABARI BLACKMON ECHO STAFF REPORTER
4:30 a.m., Aug. 22 RDU Airport We file into the Southwest Airlines ticketing station one by one, I and my 17 travel mates from across the state. A few black, few brown, few foreign. The dominant color, however, is not white, but blue. We are all College Democrats, coming together to cheer on our candidate at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in the Mile High City. The convention marks the official end of the primary season. Delegates from every state– individuals who ran to be delegates at each state’s convention in June — come to vote for a Democratic nominee. Symbolically, the convention is also a grand rally for the spirits of faithful Democrats to push for a victory. 6:30 p.m., Aug. 22 University of Denver Some 1,200 miles later, the North Carolina College Democrats descend into Denver. The convention won’t start until Monday, but we are there early for the College Democrats Convention, which runs parallel to the DNC this year. DNC Chairman Howard Dean enters the Four Seasons Hotel ballroom to erupting applause. Dean talks about the importance of this election and applauds Senator Obama for inspiring 200,000 Germans during his European tour in July. He wishes us a good con-
vention and leaves to even louder applause. Monday Aug. 25 Denver Convention Center At 5:35, the Youth Media coordinator calls to inform me that strings have been pulled to get two press passes for the Pepsi Center that night. Ascending the escalators from the main lobby into the perimeter of the arena is like stepping into a H o l l y w o o d / Wa s h i n g t o n heavyweight party. CNN’s Roland Martin munches nachos by the hall entryway; President Jimmy Carter strolls by with Secret Service detail; California Congresswoman Maxine Waters walks briskly to her seat with North Carolina Governor Mike Easley in tow; Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly waits for his pizza. We are whisked to an exclusive press entrance. Cameras flash in the crowd; onstage, LEDs and plasma screens create a masterful display. The Democratic Party’s elite sits to the left of the stage, facing the crowd of 20,000. Unbeknownst to us, our press passes do not allow access to the floor, but we are asked no questions as we walk onto the blue carpet and stride to the stage. The podium is a stone’s throw away. Each skybox has been converted into a studio for the world’s media: CNN, Fox News, ABC, NBC, MSNBC, Al Jazeera, BBC and the like. The lights dim, the stage lights up, and Caroline Kennedy walks out to resounding applause to introduce her uncle and Massachusetts senator, Ted Kennedy. The senator inspires us for a few minutes, leaving his benchmark quote: “Nothing is going to keep me away from this special gathering tonight!” The crowd goes wild. At 8:30 p.m., an introduction video illuminates 20foot-high screens above the
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Civic Engagement Task Force member Marquita McAlpine registers to vote for last May’s Democratic primary Courtesy of Jarvis Hall
Campus readies for historic vote Administrators, faculty, and students mobilize for Nov. 4 BY DANITA WILLIAMS Two shots taken during Michelle Obama’s opening speech Monday, Aug. 25 at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colo. JABARI BLACKMON/Staff Photographer
NCCU political science junior Jabari Blackmon at the DNC while Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) addresses the convention. JASON HOWARD/Student from St. Augustine College, Raleigh, N.C.
stage. We watch the love story of Barack and Michelle, the skinny guy with a funny name about whom Michelle jokingly asks, “Who would name their kid Barack Obama?” to a big laugh and resounding applause. The lights go up and the arena workers tell everyone to raise the Michelle signs which were passed out during the video. She steps out to electric applause. Michelle captivates America’s attention, paying homage to Hillary Clinton for those 18 million cracks in that glass ceiling. She ends with, “I love America!” bringing her daughters Malia and Sasha on stage for a picturesque pose, reminiscent of Princess Di standing with young Harry and William. 6:00 p.m., Aug. 26 Denver Convention Center The arena is electric with excitement about tonight’s speeches. As we enter Section 106, we aren’t as lucky as the other night. Security has finally had enough of the griping delegates and is strictly enforcing the floor passes-only rule. We have arrived a bit late, and by 7 p.m., the arena is full — no seats are left from the floor to nosebleed. We perch on a concrete ledge just under the press boxes, but to no avail, when security announces that Pepsi is filled beyond Fire Marshall regulations, we have to leave.
I watch Hillary’s speech in the hallway with a hundred other rejected attendees camped out in front of a flatscreen. 10:00 p.m., Aug. 26 Downtown Denver Some friends and I venture the mile-long walk from the Pepsi Center to downtown Denver to a few delegation parties. On our way, we are greeted by a Florida delegate named Karen Aronowitz, president of the United Teachers of Dade. She speaks candidly about the scandal in which the Florida democratic leaders scheduled their primary without national consent, and about the decision to seat only half the delegation. “What do you call half of a donkey?” she jokes. 4:00 p.m., Aug. 27 Denver Convention Center After running eight blocks through the streets of Denver in the heat of the day to get my credentials in time for President Clinton, we are there. There’s a rumor that the Secret Service is going to shut down the arena’s entries and exits earlier than usual, so we get to Pepsi four hours early. We quickly discover that everyone has figured this out and the place is packed yet again. We find a concrete terrace in the 350 Section overlooking center stage. At 8:15, Beau Biden intro-
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ECHO STAFF REPORTER
Last Thursday, N.C. Central University adjunct instructor Gloria Drew grew so emotional that her voice quivered and tears welled up in her eyes, as she spoke to her sociology class about the importance of voting in November’s historic election. The class fell silent. Drew, who graduated from NCCU in 1963, spoke about the struggles of the Civil Rights Movement. “I really wish my parents were living to see this,” she said while reminding students of their responsibility to vote. According to Carlton E. Wilson, chair of the history department, the struggle for voting rights has been an enduring one for African Americans — one as old as the nation itself. Voting rights were only granted when the 15th Amendment passed in 1869. But even then, according to Wilson, blacks’ right to vote was denied “by a series of laws, practices, and especially violence.” Today, students, faculty and Chancellor Charlie Nelms are organizing to get students to vote. Student organizations like fraternities, sororities, SGA, and student chapters of Common Cause and the NAACP are all organizing to increase student voter turnout. At the forefront is political science associate professor Jarvis Hall, student adviser and director of the Institute For Civic Engagement and Social Change. Hall founded (ICESC) in 2006. Hall’s organization has formed a 20-member task force to register and educate student voters. The campus is located in Election District 49. The task force asked Chancellor Charlie Nelms to declare September “Eagle Voter Empowerment” (EVE) Month. To prevent overlap of responsibilities, campus voter education and registration efforts are being coordinated by the Student Senate, according to SGA vice-president Courtney Robinson. The Student Senate is also maintaining a log of registered student voters to make sure that everyone can make it to the polls on November 4. In an August 27 campuswide e-mail, Nelms called for a 100 percent student turnout in the elections.
“The November election will determine who will make critical decisions that will impact our lives from president, down to the local level,” wrote Nelms. Nelms urged faculty to discuss the importance of election in their classes and model good civic engagement by facilitating and supporting all EVE what is this? project activities. Students can register to vote every Tuesday and Thursday during 10:40 a.m. break at the following campus locations: FarrisonNewton Communications Building, the Eagle Landing/Ruffin Hall thoroughfare, and outside the Alfonso Elder Student Union. There will be a Voter Registration Rally at the Ruffin Hall amphitheater September 16, starting at 10:40 a.m. “What makes this election so significant is that young people are the future leaders,” said Marquita McAlpine, mass communication senior and member of the Civic Engagement Task Force. “Knowing this, Barack Obama is making sure that we are involved in the campaigning process.” she said. About 53 percent of Durham’s 164,129 registered voters voted in the November 2000 general election, according to Durham County Board of Elections In the November 2004 general election, the number of registered voters increased to 73.13 percent In the May 2008 presidential Democratic primary, a record 51.27 percent voted. This was 50,000 more than has ever voted in a Durham county primary. Durham County Board of Elections Director Mike Ashe expects about 130,000140,000 registered voters to vote in the November election. By law, early voting always starts the third Thursday before the election, and ends the Saturday before the election. There will be seven onestop sites operating from Thursday, Oct. 16 through Saturday, Nov. 1 for early voting. There will be an early voting site for NCCU at Holy Cross Church next to the temporary cafe. Mass communication sophomore Jasmine Overstreet said she plans to vote in November and
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The nurses named him ‘the pretty baby’ Former Campus Echo assistant editor tells of the birth and first days of her son Aiden In December, Campus Echo assistant editor Gabi ClayWhite found out she was pregnant. At that moment, she decided to open her diary to Campus Echo readers. In the first installment, published Feb. 27, Clay-White described her initial reaction to the news. In her second installment, she described her bout with depression and how she overcame it. In her third installment, she beats her depression, has an ultrasound, and graduates from NCCU. And now, Gabi tells us about her delivery and the joy of motherhood.
May 3 Graduation day is finally here! It’s kind of bittersweet. Why? I know I’m only a few months away from seeing my son. But in a couple of days, I’ll be leaving North Carolina behind and all I’ll have is memories. While waiting for College of Liberal Arts grads to be called, I reflected on these past months and am very proud of myself. I’ve overcome so many obstacles and am ready to face whatever else comes my way. I look to my left and see the person who has been down for me the entire time — Brooke! We are so excited this day has finally come. These last few weeks, I have been trying to spend as much time with my friends as possible. I’m really going to miss them.
May 8 Back in California! I am so happy to be home. I hadn’t realized how much I’ve missed my friends, neighborhood, etc. The first thing I want to do is go home and relax. From graduation, to spending time with everyone, to going to all the festivities, I am exhausted! I’m turning off my phone and taking this time to reflect on the future of me and my child. I want to start graduate school in January 2009. My mom told me not to rush anything because the first year of motherhood is a time to really build a relationship with a child. So I think I will work part-
Former Campus Echo assistant editor Gabi Clay-White with Aiden at two and one half weeks. Courtesy of Kiddie Kandides Studio
“The nurse gets me prepared for labor. My epidural is wearing off again, but it’s too late to get more, so I have to tough it out.” GABI CLAY-WHITE
time for the county, just to make sure I have some kind of income.
June 1 I’ve been really clingy with my mom lately. It seems like wherever she goes, I have to go, even if I’m tired or my back is hurting. I keep thinking that something bad will happen to her while she’s gone. So I try to spend as much time with her as I can. It doesn’t help that she’s leaving town at the end of this month for a few days. I just hope I don’t go into labor while she’s gone!
June 26 My mom left today. She doesn’t know this, but after I dropped her off at the airport, I broke down and cried. I hope she makes it safely. I really wanted to go with her but the airlines won’t let me fly because I’m too far into my pregnancy. I’m just going to have to tough it out for the next few days until she comes back.
July 4 My mom is back and I can’t be any happier! I was extremely lonely and didn’t want to bother any of my friends, so I just stayed to myself and wrote a lot of
poems and letters to Aiden. Now that she’s back, we’re going to a friend’s house to celebrate the holiday. Aiden is gaining half a pound a week now and I just hit my ninth month. I’m praying he comes early because I’m starting to feel the pains of pregnancy. I feel like I’m going to topple over every time I walk. It’s horrible. From now until my due date, I will be seeing my doctor every week. He says these problems are not unusual. I’m just ready to see my little angel.
July 31 Ugh! He’s still not here! I have only three more days until my due date, but I’m getting impatient. At my appointment on Monday, I’m going to ask my doctor to induce my labor. I think I’ve been having mild contractions, but I’m not sure. My mom and I have already had three false alarms, but after doing some tests, my hospital has sent me back home. The suspense is killing me!
August 5 My doctor induced my labor yesterday with a procedure called “stripping the membranes.”
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expects Obama to win. Overstreet said her big fear is that Obama could get assassinated because he is black. “It may sound crazy, but in this day and age, every time a black person tries doing something good, there is a bad outcome to it,” said Overstreet. Reggie Jones, sports management sophomore, said he plans to vote and also expects Obama to win. B u t Jones says that change will be slow. Maria Vasquez, business freshman, also plans to vote and also expects Obama to win. “America seems to be looking for a difference,” said Vasquez. “I am American-born. My family is immigrant. Any decisions being made will affect my entire family in a lot of ways.” said Vasquez, whose most important concern is immigration. The stakes are high according to Wilson, who said that people “irritate him” who say that their vote doesn’t matter and that the system will never change. Wilson said that there will never be positive change until every individual accepts the responsibility to be an agent of that change.
duces his father Joe Biden, who speaks about life and hope, his struggles as a father, and the love of his wife, Jill. Jill Biden steps out to address the crowd. “Joe, we have a special guest in the house tonight…” Then, a tall man strides out, to pandemonium; 20,000 screaming, crying, cheering supporters. He thanks supporters and foretells the historic event that awaits the country. 3:30 p.m., Aug. 28 Denver Convention Center After a week without sleep, this is the final night. The North Carolina Dems are seated in Section 522: nosebleed. After three hours of phone calls and arguing with DNC staff, I have two press passes for Section 133: field seats. Press credentials allow us to bypass the two-mile-long lines to get into the stadium, a mass exodus pressing to witness a defining moment in the 21st Century. We only have to wait for 10 minutes before we are in the INVESCO Mile-High Stadium, as opposed to the average three-hour wait for regular patrons. Remembering the melee of the previous convention nights, we move quickly to find good seats. After an
hour of scouting and sneaking, Rabbi, an N.C. College Democrat from Campbell University, and I are seven rows from the field and within 100 yards of the stage. In the skybox directly behind us, Oprah Winfrey and Co. distract us from Chairman Dean’s opening remarks. Over the next five hours, musicians play, people cheer, surrogates speak, and we pass time with hot dogs, cheesy popcorn, and $4 bottles of water. I call many friends to let them know we have great seats at the show of a lifetime. The cool mountain wind whips through the open-air stadium, and people step out for a warm coffee. After a day-long wait, evening falls on Denver, and the stadium lights slowly brighten. The festivities are at the advent of kickoff. Senator Obama is introduced by Senator Biden and Illinois Senator Dick Durbin. The lights dim, and the stadium’s Jumbotron TV screens an inspiring introductory short film chronicling Obama’s rise from obscurity. A string ballad sets the soundtrack for the film, as the screens go dark, the lights go up, and Obama
He said this should cause cramping of my uterus that will bring on contractions. I think it’s working too. My contractions seem to be getting closer together and the pain is becoming more intense. They started at 4:30 p.m. and haven’t stopped coming. I’m going to the hospital just to make sure. I’ll let you know what happens.
August 10 Aiden Nicholas is finally here! Okay, let me tell you all about it. When I got to the hospital, I had only dilated one centimeter (keep in mind that you have to dilate to ten to start delivery), and they were going to send me home but the monitors kept indicating that Aiden was showing signs of stress. This made them decide to induce my labor around midnight. Six hours later, I had dilated to three centimeters. I asked for an epidural (a procedure in which they numb you from the waist down), but it seems to be wearing off – I’m feeling every contraction and it hurts! I finally made it to eight centimeters around 7 p.m., but because Aiden is show-
walks onstage. One hundred thousand supporters, delegates and press raise their hands in fanatic applause, screaming cheers loud enough to shatter eardrums, heralding Obama as if he were Caesar addressing the Roman Coliseum. Senator Obama gives the stadium — and the millions of Americans watching on TV — the marching orders for victory in November. At the end of his speech, we see Oprah proudly waving her American flag, thousands and thousands screaming praise, and a sea of flickering bulbs as every camera in Mile-High Stadium seems to flash to catch Kennedy on stage with his wife, the vice presidential candidate, their families standing behind in support. The blast of the fireworks rival the sound of the cheers as the sky above Mile-High light up in red, white and blue. Tons of graffiti fall on the stadium and the DNC convention ends with a display bigger than New Year’s in Times Square. The Jumbotron contains images of old-guard civil rights leaders crying: Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and a host of black legislators. Dream realized.
ing signs of stress, the doctor told me if I don’t dilate to ten centimeters in the next few hours, I will have to get a caesarean section. I called my Bishop, Aiden’s godfather, and ask ed him to pray for me because I am starting to get nervous. An hour later, my doctor came in to check my cervix. Guess what? I’m fully dilated! The nurse gets me prepared for labor. My epidural is wearing off again, but it’s too late to get more, so I have to tough it out. My delivery went by so fast — it only took an hour! When I saw Aiden, the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck, arms and legs. That’s why the monitor had been picking up the stress signals. I’m glad he’s okay and healthy. Oh, and let’s not forget: BIG! He weighs nine lbs, five oz., is 22 ¾ inches long, and has a head full of hair. He’s so beautiful! All the nurses nicknamed him “the pretty baby!” I just can’t believe I’m a mommy!
August 22 Motherhood is overwhelming! It’s hard waking up in the middle of the night trying to soothe a baby when
you have no idea what’s wrong with him. He is such a good baby. He only cries when he needs something . The rest of the time he just looks around and makes baby noises. I’m finding myself getting a little frustrated since I am doing this alone. Aiden’s father has not even called to see if he’s born or healthy. I just don’t understand how some men refuse to take responsibility for their actions. Most would call a man like that a coward. I have to remind myself that I went through this pregnancy without him, and even though I would love for him to be a part of Aiden’s life, I can’t make him do anything. Yet, God has blessed my son with some of the best men in his life — from North Carolina to California. I’m strong, have all the support I need, and refuse to let Aiden see me stressing over his father’s actions. I love my son and I want the best for him. I even tell him, while he’s sleeping, that I will never do anything to hurt him, and I just want him to be proud to call me his mother. This is the beginning of a new life, and I am more than prepared to face it.
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