Obama Election Night: Reflections on History in the Making

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama held an election rally in Chicago’s Grant Park Tuesday on what promised to be an historical night with the eyes of the nation and beyond focused on the potential election of America’s first black president.

Armed with cameras and their pens and with the aim of recording a slice of history, Roosevelt literary journalism students filtered out onto Michigan Avenue with tens of thousands who swarmed the downtown park on a night when the skyline glistened and the electricity was as palpable as untold vendors hawking their wares and the sense that the making of history was in the making. As night fell and the streets flowed with a sea of humanity—Obama T-shirts, buttons and hats and all things Obama—Chicago’s adopted son was candidate. Before midnight, he would be President-elect. Thus, a snapshot of our journaling of the sights, sounds and reflections of that historic moment:

REFLECTIONS...

By Keri Bugenhagen

Tonight the crowd is full of optimistic eyes and excited faces, people who know they are in a city and in a time where history is about to be made. The Great American sentiment—lately lost in the sinking economy and furrows of war—seems to be alive again among these faces in the Windy City. Looks of desperation, of enthusiasm, and hope all point toward the question: Who will be the next president?

The roaring swarm of men, of women, and of children march along both sides of Michigan Avenue. Most head toward the south end of Grant Park where, win or lose, Obama will address the masses. Some stop to buy Obama memorabilia from street-vendors selling T-shirts, buttons, hats, and inspirational pencil sketches of his face. One vendor even sells ping-pong paddles bearing Obama’s face. Others in the crowd wear clothing articles with messages of “HOPE” and “CHANGE” and “YES WE CAN.” One man holds a hefty “OBAMA” sign high above his head, while another waves a lengthy silver pole with a large American flag.

In this city, John McCain, tonight, seems lost. A lonely McCain flyer lay in the street, next to an empty cup and a blue police barricade.

The evening wears on, the crowd becomes thicker, and there is no break in the swarm heading toward Grant Park, hoping to catch a glimpse of Obama. Television crews, who normally stick out like sore thumbs, seem commonplace tonight, though lost in the sea of people.

Suddenly, the energized emotion flowing up and down Michigan Avenue ignites as Obama is unofficially announced winner.

“Obama! Obama! Obama!” screams the crowd like the beat of a drum. The chant spreads like a wave of wildfire from south to north Michigan Avenue. Strangers hug and high-five other passing strangers.

"We’re gonna make our money tonight!” says a T-shirt vendor on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Madison Street. “He did it!”

“He won! He won!” says a woman speaking into her cell phone. People race wildly down the sidewalks, hurling their arms and bodies into the air, celebrating Obama’s win. Beyond the clamor of the delighted crowd, the abrupt echo of police sirens drown out their cheer, but only for the moment.