Nov 5, 2008 8:20 pm US/Eastern
Obama's Win Breaks Barriers, But Many Still Exist
LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBS) ―
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US President-elect Barack Obama (R) embraces US Vice President elect Joe Biden during his election night victory rally at Grant Park on November 4, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois.
JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images
Barack Obama's presidential win is one of the greatest advances in race relations in American history, but civil rights work is still not over.
Long Island NAACP officials raised glasses of champagne. A banner headline on the New York Times reading "OBAMA" said it all.
In the end, Obama appealed to all races, creeds, and colors.
"He's not on a pedestal. He's one of us, so we're working together for progress," said Latino activist Mel Guadelupe.
Long after the Civil War, there was civil rights and voting rights. Now comes a vote that's the latest step in race relations.
"This campaign, this election of President-elect Obama is the result of all that hard work," said Rev. Roderick Pearson of the Islip Town NAACP.
No one feels more proud than Rachel Robinson, whose husband Jackie Robinson, a civil rights pioneer, broke the color barrier in baseball in the 1940s. Her thoughts on Obama?
"We're not just thrilled because he's an African American, but because he's so capable to take us in the direction we need to go in," she told CBS 2.
So does Obama's victory signal the end of racism?
"No, it won't be over, but we can work toward it," said Geraldine Quinitchett of the Islip NAACP.
At Hunter College, history professor Jonathan Rosenberg says unfortunately, there is still plenty of racial bias across the nation.
"There is still tremendous inequality in education and health care and things like that," he told CBS 2.
At a Lindenhurst barbershop, hairstyles have changed. So have attitudes.
"Color means nothing," said barber Kenneth Linguiti. "I have two granddaughters. Color doesn't mean anything. We all come from the same person."
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday that as an African-American she is "especially proud" that Obama has been elected the first black president. She called him "inspirational," and said Republican John McCain was "gracious" in defeat.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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