Obama's Victory Could Signal End of Racial-Identity Politics

Married couple Linda Brothers and L'Roy Perryman were exhausted by 2 a.m. Wednesday after celebrating late into the night with friends.

For Mr. Perryman, the Obama win was historic. "I'm [originally] from Mississippi. I remember when blacks couldn't vote," he said.

Ms. Brothers said she hopes the victory will somehow rectify daily life in Englewood, historically one of the most troubled neighborhoods on Chicago's South Side. "It might make young people here be what they want to be," she said. Obama "made it."

In Oakland, many blacks said they admire Obama for varying reasons, including his discipline, family life, orientation toward consensus, and his intelligence.

"What was really impressive for me was that he was elected president of the Harvard Law Review, which led me to believe that he can form a coalition between liberals and conservatives to achieve an effective, positive agenda," said Torrence Williams, a civil servant living in Oakland.

Local high school student Cedric Wilson also mentioned Obama's leadership at the law review – which is not the usual stat for a 15-year-old to know about a personal hero.

"He sets a good example," Cedric said of Obama. "When parents ask you what you want to be when you grow up, nobody really says president, because nobody has been president who is African-American or Latino. I don't want to be president, not me. But it gives other people hope, it inspires people."