I just voted in Harlem... and you can feel something very special

[Essene]

Absolutely calm.

It's really hard to convey this. You can literally feel it all over the streets as well. Everybody making eye contact in NYC today, a total sense of calm and unity. It simply doesn't have to be said. The polling station was just as calm. I walked in... no line outside. Fairly crowded inside, though.

Elderly women were being escorted. Kids hanging onto moms. Subtle smiles everywhere.

The crowd was diverse and all ages. A completely serene vibe. This is the Hamilton Heights and Sugar Hill area. Lots of dominicans, lots of blacks and a lot of 20&30-somethings of all races. I caught some huge grins on a couple younger voters, but for the most part there wasn't really a celebratory feeling at all. It was something far more special.

Everybody just seemed so... peaceful.

The only "controversy" i picked up on for the day was that apparently somebody had been wearing an Obama sign or something, and the elderly poll workers got a real kick out of having to tell him to stand 100 feet from the polling station. This was the big drama of their day... as a LOT of people were lined up to vote. I've seen my share of Harlem elections and this was the most calm I've witnessed.

My sub-district had little wait. The poll workers were all wonderful, fast and helpful. I was asked by one lady about 5 times if i needed help (and if you are familiar with NYS polling machines you know why). Pulling that lever sure felt good, but it by itself wasn't very overwhelming or significant to me.

I had promised to video tape my vote and to interview a couple elderly locals.

But you know what? I stood there having flipped all my vote switches and debated if i should video record it. I suddenly just didn't care for some reason. It was so peaceful and so calm that I felt like it was unnatural to make any of it into a spectacle. I kept my video camera in my bag. The lady thanked me... twice... as I left the booth. I thanked her... twice.

The line to get in was really starting to pick up as I left.

As I headed for home and got to the corner of the block, I suddenly felt the urge to pull out my camera.

I saw a pretty 30ish Caucasian, very professional blonde standing on the corner just utterly struck by whatever she was seeing. A pretty blonde in my neighborhood is not noteworthy whatsoever. What was so striking was her expression and the awe on her face. I could feel her interest in running down the street to help somebody or something like that. NYC isn't a place where you tend to see people with the kind of dumbfounded awe that was on her face. :)

I came to see what she was looking at... it was a grand-daughter helping her ancient african-american grandmother up the street, very slowly. It was pretty obvious that this woman doesn't travel a lot. I'm african-american and fully I respect the significance of the vote today on that level, but that obvious aspect of the scene alone didn't blow me away, as touching as it was.

I felt obligated to record it... to share this tiny sliver of anonymous history with the world.

What blew me away was the same thing that suddenly made me stop reaching for my own video camera.

The grand-daughter had a video camera of her own... and was recording their walk to the polling station.

THAT blew me away...

I smiled... and felt that peace again...

[HughMoran]

1. Yes, the eye contact!

I was doing that too with everybody I saw - and with a quiet smile on my face.

Things are gonna change, I can feel it.

[Essene]

3. i dont know if this is all around new york city but it's not unlike the calm after 9/11

I mean like a week after 9/11 and for the month or two afterwards, where there was a very heightened sense of "humanity" for lack of a better word. People were more aware of each other, more peaceful, more human.

That's the best analogy i can think of, except it was much more deeply joyful underneath today. A qualitatively different peacefulness but that same sense of shared "Here & Now" humanity everywhere.

[OneGrassRoot]

11. K&R and again, a heartfelt thank you, Essene....

"...a very heightened sense of humanity..."

Yes, YES!!!! THAT is what we are witnessing.

And it's stunningly beautiful. Thank you all.

:grouphug:

[roguevalley]

44. tears. this is wonderful

[patrice]

2. It does feel Good to think of this event being recorded for their Family.

Thanks for sharing this!

:grouphug:

[Mme. Defarge]

4. BEAUTIFUL!!!

[boobooday]

5. I just saw a beautiful young lady walking across campus

Down here at Florida State. African-American, Obama t-shirt and button, and a smile from ear to ear. She was walking with a spring in her step, like she was walking on air. I had just passed a group of young, very excited white guys yelling and waving Obama signs -- the excitement is thick!

I feel a change of attitude coming, and I LIKE IT. I'm feeling emotional too, but warm, and full of good will. I wept as I cast my ballot, not just because of the historic nature of Obama's candidacy, but because I NEVER in my life have voted for a presidential candidate that I felt REALLY GOOD about voting for. Never voted on a ballot that didn't have a Clinton or a Bush.


This is the best election ever.

[Imagevision]

6. Everything is beautiful darlin...

[YOY]

7. Post the fact that you voted for the right man in this thread!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7742692&mesg_id=7742692

Give it some K&R love too!

[stillcool]

8. Oh damn...another one..

:cry: what a beautiful image your words have painted.

[eleny]

9. Thanks for my first good joyful cry of the day

:pals:

[Essene]

12. I'm glad the story is inspiring

Because i really do think that underlying peace and unity I was trying to convey is far more significant than any photos... any videos... any sappy stories about old black women voting... and any profound reflections we might muster.

[remember2000forever]

10. Can You Imagine?

Perhaps this was the first time that the elderly woman ever voted. It gives me chills. And hope.

[Essene]

15. well...

I doubt that.

She maybe hasn't voted in a while in person, but I don't get the feeling that a lot of elderly blacks in Harlem avoid voting. At least, I'd like to think she has been able to vote regularly. My experience is that the polling stations here tend to be heavily filled by people over 50.

That wasn't the case today... and i purposefully went mid-day.

[ikojo]

13. I live in a racially mixed area of St Louis

and have heard people outside my apartment walking down the street yelling OBAMA, OBAMA...

[BlueEyedSon]

14. 'scuse me, I have something in my eye....

:cry:

[Mme. Defarge]

16. Another kick!

:kick:

[CADEMOCRAT7]

17. My eyes are filled with tears. There is a feeling of magic in the air out here in the Bay Area.

This is so special, so beautiful, such a precious moment in our Nation's history.
God Bless. Thank you for your post. Peace.

[Raksha]

18. K & R - beautiful post! n/t

[Lugnut]

19. Wow!

I have goosebumps. There truly is excitement in the air today.

[ailsagirl]

20. That is so wonderful-- it's a magical feeling, isn't it?

:hi:

[Essene]

21. Yep.

I'd love to see a blowout but I am not worried right now.

I'm at a point where... even if Obama managed to lose (wont happen), there is something really historic that's happening in the country. Even if Obama loses, the nation is not going to become controlled by fear and hate anymore.

Of course... I absolutely am faithful we won't have to worry about Obama losing. :D

[ailsagirl]

29. The song Peace Train is going through my mind... great video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n16T35yx3nY

[Patiod]

22. Not so much peace here

Some very sad Republicans. Not angry, just depressed.

But there is that happiness radiating from the young voters, and black voters, and this tiny little old white lady came over to me (weaing Obama shirt) and she pinched me shoulder and whispered "say a prayer".

What makes me happiest is to enter Obama HQ and see big old white guys, black women, tiny frail eldery white women, mixed-race teens, all at the same long tables, lined up making calls. East Indians sign you in. The middle-aged black woman wearing 20 Obama pins goes over the script with you. The young Jewish girl shows up with her new 08BAMA necklace, and the little white ladies and young black girls cluster around to admire it. The young Irish-looking kid goes around to collect the call sheets. The cranky middle-aged white engineer sits behind the food table, complaining about the saurkraut with the heavy-set old German lady. All shades of white people, all shades of black people, a sari or two, what's not to like?

[leftist.]

23. I want to double-down on the eye contact.

This is no joke, no exaggeration. It's the type of feeling where two strangers look at each other because one knows what the other is thinking. It's also interesting around the polling places - people hanging out, talking, reminiscing on bush, 9/11, Dr King, all sorts of things.

[Chovexani]

24. East Flatbush is the same way

I just voted (and got to meet my Assemblyman, Nick Perry! :D ), and first off I have never seen that many people at the polls this time of day. But there was a tangible excitement in the air. Everyone was smiling. There was an older West Indian lady behind me in line only just became a citizen, and she said she did it because Barack inspired her to do so.

And, rather hilariously, the Dominicans in the bodega on the corner were all "did you vote, Mami?!?! Are you sure?! We all gotta vote today!" :rofl:

I've never been this excited about anything, I don't think. Not even the Lord of the Rings movies. :D

[Essene]

31. the NYC bodegas will be raw comedy all day & night long =D

[Chovexani]

32. Salsa playing all night long

:D

[Essene]

36. bodegas around me are mostly arab but they may be playing merengue =D

:party:

[Chorophyll]

25. Here's a big teary-eyed hug from White Plains.

Damn, I miss being in the city sometimes. Thank you for this lovely post. :hug:

[speedoo]

26. Very similar experience for me in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.

This is a neighborhood that was once predominantly Italian American, now a mix of asians and eastern europeans. Lots of older voters. By no means primo Obama territory, but I'm betting this district will go heavily for him.

Lots of eye contact, smiles. Line was about average.

Nice plus for this district: we will be replacing the crook rethug Vito Fosella with a Democrat, which means that the entire NYC congressional delegation will be Democrats!

[Essene]

35. Vito Fosella... hah

I thought he was staten island. I get all the districts confused.

Ya...

If you were around for 9/11, you maybe know what i mean when i say this mood reminds me of how it was a month after 9/11 except it's a lot more joyful. I think even moderate republicans are probably OK with what's going on... which is one of the reasons i think we'll see a "reverse bradley" effect from some conservatives who vote for Obama in the end.

[speedoo]

42. The District is Staten Island plus the section of Brooklyn on the other side of the VN Bridge.

Some of Bay Ridge, Ft. Hamilton, Dyker Heights and part of Bensonhurst.

Yes, the vibe today does remind me of the days immediately following 9/11 since you mention it. I just wish the direction the country went after 9/11 were not such a disaster, so honestly my memories of those post 9/11 days are not good ones.

[Rabrrrrrr]

27. I used to live in Hamilton Heights! I was one of the first white people there.

It was a great place, it was an awful place.

I miss parts of it.

I can only imagine that there is a nice calm there; that finally, there will be someone in the White House who actually cares about not just the poor, but also about NYC. Who doesn't pose and grandstand on one of America's largest attack areas while simultaneously deriding the city for being east coast elitist sodom.

[Chovexani]

33. Ramen

Like someone said on the Daily Show the other week, we were American enough for Al-Qaeda but not the Repuke party.

[Essene]

34. it's changing a lot... fast

There's not so much of the "awful" anymore. Sounds like you must have lived here in the 90s.

It's very diverse. Low crime. Increasing amounts of younger professionals and families moving in.

It's very much got the late 90s Brooklyn vibe, if you know what i mean.

[Rabrrrrrr]

40. I left in 2004, after 7 years there; just as it was becoming a really nice place.

When I first moved there (137th st. off Broadway, later two streets up), I was the only white guy. In the last two years there, all the apartments in my building getting rented out were being rented out to professionals and students, white black Asian and everything else. The keywords being professional and educated.

I was sad to leave, because it was finally turning into a nice place to be and I had a beautiful rent-stabilized 3BR apartment with a wonderful landlord. Trees were being planted, buildings were being taken care of, and so forth.

I hope it doesn't gentrify and become ugly like the other place I lived - DUMBO (Vinegar Hill) - ended up doing.

I didn't have the sense that it was artless yuppie fucks (the scum who ruined SOHO, then DUMBO and that other place north of DUMBO the name of which is eluding me right now) moving in Hamilton Heights, though, but actual cool and good people.

Unfortunately, a job change required a change in geography.

Some days, when I think about it, it really hurts that I lost that magnificent and cheap apartment - in ten or twenty years, it would have been one of those rare NYC steals of a really cheap and big apartment in a really nice and expensive area.

[Essene]

41. ya, broadway in the 130s is still shady...

over on convent, amsterdam, st nick and down the hill... it's very mellow.

all the little side streets in the 140s are filled with young families, and very diverse. not just whites but a very diverse group.

it's nice.

[knixphan]

28. K&R

From a Harlem transplant in L.A.

!!!

:hi:

[lunatica]

30. I woke up at 2:20 in the am and felt totally calm

I live in California. All day I've felt at peace. I thought I would be a jumbled mass of raw nerves today, but I'm not. I just keep thinking that we won today and that the win wasn't about who gets the votes.

And as the day goes on the many stories I read on DU just make it better.

[Essene]

39. that's called sleep deprivation

O8)

[StreetKnowledge]

37. There are Moments in Time, In History, That all of us fondly remember.

This is one of those.

Great story. It's a good thing to see everything so calm, peaceful and happy. After 28 years of Reaganomics and Conservative hypocrisy, it's finally, FINALLY over. Our man, perhaps the most imperturbable and charismatic man in American politics in decades, is well on his way to being the 44th President.

GOBAMA! :patriot:

[David Zephyr]

38. What an inspiring post. Thank you Essene.

Thanks for sharing this first hand experience there. You made me feel like I was there with you. :hi:

[Essene]

46. good, cuz i wanted to get at that feeling of peace... rather than the sensationalist "stories"

i was most moved by the general mood.

and it's great hearing others say that it's similar around the city and in other parts of the nation.

[Pluvious]

43. very moving story - thanks for sharing (nt)

nt

[Obamanaut]

45. You paint such beautiful pictures with words. I so wish I could do that. nt