The Diaries of Young Voters

By admin
Sep 04, 2009
10:37 pm

The 2008 Presidential election was monumental—and not
only because of the electing of America’s first black president; the
campaign itself was monumental in regards to the tremendous response
from the young voter. According to an NBC News study, registered voters
ages 18-29 significantly increased in all 50 states, and young people
overwhelmingly cast their ballots for Barack Obama. This same
generation was also 57% percent of the voters who elected Obama the
Democratic presidential nominee. Rolling Out
visited the campus of Howard University during Neyo and the Compound
Foundation’s Bowl- 4- Change charity event and asked students there to
share their memories of Election 2008. kim smith

Name: Nia Groce

Year: Freshman

Hometown: Maryland

Describe your journey with the presidential election?
“I was taking a current issues class around the campaign time and
initially I was a Hillary Clinton supporter. During that class we were
always watching debates and as it went on I noticed he was very
eloquent and very intelligent and stood firm in all his decisions and
that’s what made me switch to him. Then when the day came to vote I was
just glad I could take part in history.”

Name: Courtney Cole

Year: Freshman

Hometown: Louisiana

What vision does Obama’s presidency give to younger generations?
“Obama has inspired me in so many ways. He’s the first black to do what
so many of us have always wanted to see happen in America. Obama is the
epitome of change right now. He’s inspiration for our whole
generation–not just me.”

Name: Kevin Prince

Year: Freshman

Hometown: Maryland

How does Obama inspire you?
“Obama inspires me because he shows that a black male like me can
possibly become president and take a leadership role that few [people]
are able to take. He just inspires me to do better. It makes me want to
take things more seriously. It makes me want to learn and do my work
while I’m here at Howard. It makes me actually want to be a part of the
change and community service.”