EP Black Community Reacts To Obama’s Victory

by ABC-7 Reporter/Anchor Stephanie Valle

EL PASO — Members of El Paso’s black community were awestruck watching President-elect Barack Obama’s victory last night.

A pastor of the Destiny Family Christian Center, a large church in Northeast El Paso, spoke with ABC-7 shortly after Obama was declared the winner of the presidential election.

Richard C. Johnson said this is definitely, and obviously, an historic night in American history. But rather than focusing on Obama’s skin color, which both Obama and Republican John McCain tried to do throughout the campaign, Johnson said Americans picked Obama because he is a great leader who brings hope to the people.

“I believe this election was more about electing the right man for the job. even more than policy because policy just seems to be so fleeting and hard to understand. But when you interview for a job you know the best candidate and the best qualifications when you see them,” he said.

Johnson thinks this is a sign that America is trying to stand up to the hopes and promises that it was created on more than 200 years ago.