Email Article

Printable Page

FAMU Fanfare Welcomes Obama's "O-Train"

By Mark Taylor II
Black College Wire

Justin Moraczewski/the Famuan Sen. Barack Obama says of the FAMU 100 Marching Band in a Tampa appearance: "It is good when young people are doing positive things."

Florida A&M University's Marching 100 band strutted to the stage to welcome Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and entertain guests at a Tampa, Fla., rally dubbed "the Tampa O-Train."

The crowd cheered when Julian White, FAMU's director of bands, finished "Do What You Wanna" and said, "We're here to entertain everyone, the young and the old."

When it was over, White said that while he was proud that the band was chosen to play at the rally, it was a nonpartisan performance. However, he said, "I am confident in saying that the band supports Obama."

The April 14 rally, part of the presidential candidate's fundraising campaign, attracted residents of all ages and various races. White assured them he would provide a variety of music.

Without song sheets, the band played whatever White requested. One treat was Rimsky-Korsakov's classic "the Flight of the Bumble Bee."

Obama said he appreciated the student performers.

"This is the best introduction I have ever had," the senator said.

"You guys make us all proud. You've made us proud all year long."

The candidate thanked them for sacrificing their time on a weekend near the end of the school year. "It is good when young people are doing positive things," he said.

Gazing out over the nearly 600 attendees, Obama looked back on his career and wondered aloud how he got where he was.

"As a young man, I had been inspired by the civil rights movement. I said to myself, that is what I want to be a part of, the next phase of justice, freedom and equality," he told the crowd.

Obama said he worked for $12,000 a year for a church aiming to reduce unemployment and establish after-school programs. As outlined on his Web site, www.barackobama.com, Obama's vocation has been public service, working as a community organizer, civil rights attorney and state Senate leader in Illinois.

The senator focused on his passion for the average individual.

"Ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they are given the opportunity," Obama said. He encouraged the volunteers to continue doing what they do and audience members to stay involved. "At each and every junction in America, ordinary people have said that we don't care how America is, we care about how it's going to be," he said.

Audience members said they were pleased.

Blanche Ganey, a retired St. Petersburg resident and parent of a FAMU student, said, "I like his politics. Unlike those we have now, he is sponsoring some inclusion" of average people.

Band member Shannon Brown, 19, an elementary education sophomore from Orlando, said, "I was glad that we got to hear what he had to say. I didn't know whether I supported him before speaking, but after hearing him, I do."

Mark Taylor II, a student at Florida A&M University, writes for the Famuan. To comment, e-mail [email protected]

Posted April 16, 2007