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Thursday, Nov 06, 2008
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Historic day for Ann Cooper

She wasn’t allowed to vote in the past

Washington: November 4, 2008 will be etched forever in the memory of a 106-year-old Afro-American, who in her early life was barred from voting on racial grounds, as she cast her ballot in favour of fellow black Barack Obama.

In his victory speech, the President-elect narrated the story of Ann Nixon Cooper, who cast her ballot in Altanta, Georgia.

Ms. Cooper was born just a generation past slavery, a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky, when someone like her couldn’t vote for two reasons — because she was a woman and because of the colour of her skin, Mr. Obama told his supporters in Chicago.

“And tonight, I think about all that she’s seen throughout her century in America — the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can’t, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can,” he said.

“This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace.

“To reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people.” — PTI

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