President's Blog: Sydney Cross: Eyewitness to History

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Sophomore Sydney Cross is in Denver for the Democratic National Convention, and she has sent the following dispatches from the scene:

A snapshot of Day One:

"Day one of the Democratic National Convention has been a very dynamic and interesting day.  From attending a delegate luncheon with the Tennessee Federation of College Democrats and meeting Congressman Lincoln Davis (D-TN), to learning about how youth voters can change nevironmental policies, and running into familiar faces in the Democratic Party such as donna Brazille and former DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe it has been nothing short of amazing.  The press from every major and minor news outlet has invaded the city of Cenver and it seems like there is a camera about every 20 feet!  Everyday that I have been here I seem to keep coming back to my dorm room with bags full of Obama political chum that is simpy given out free in front of the Colorado Convention Center.  The protesters are in full force outside the convention center exercising their fundamental right of freedom of speech all the while giving security major headaches."

But Sydney is not just watching other people get elected, she just got elected National Secretary for the Black Caucus of the College Democrats of America National Convention!  Wow!  Congratulations, Sydney! In her own words….

"For the past four days that I have been in Denver I have been attending the College Democrats of America National Convention — where I ran for National Secretary for the BlackCaucus and won!  I have also been getting new ideas to get our chapter back in motion and ready for the general election.  Another great event that I attended was the DNC interfaith gathering whihc highlighted speakers such as Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking, and Bishop Charles E. Black from the Church of God in Christ.  This event brought together people from all religions, ethnicities and backgrounds and was quite the highlight Sunday afternoon.  I am looking forward to the rest of the week and Thursday night when I will be at Investco Field when Barack Obama gives his nomination speech."

Back to the convention…  On her sixth day in Denver, Sydney writes,"I started out this morning by visiting the D.C. delegation by having breakfast with them before I went over to the convention center…. Midway through the day I finally was able to acquire credentials to go to the Pepsi Center to hear Sen. Hilary Clinton, former Governor Mark Warner (D-VA) and many others give speeches to the delegates.  The room was purely electifying and I have never experienced anything like it before.  Senator Clinton's speech in Senator Barack Obama's words 'brought the house down' and further solidified party unity.  Other speakers such as Dennis Kucinich and Mark Warner rallied the crowd of die hard democrats behind our candidate Barack Obama.  Later that night I was invited to attend the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's party where we literally got the party started by getting delegates — congressmen and congresswomen — to do the electric slide!  It was quite the sight to see."

On her seventh day in Denver, Sydney didn't rest one bit…."On day seven I attended the Congressional Black Caucus's meeting where I was able to finagle a front row seat and, boy, did it start out with a bang.  The first speaker to go was CNN political analyst Donna Brazille where she spoke about how campaigns begin at the grassroots levela nd how we should continue to organize our communities to elect Sen. Barack Obama as our next president.  Al Sharpton was next, and he chanted the campaign rally cry, "Fired up, Ready to go!"  The next speaker was a surprise guest and it turned out to be Michelle Obama and the crowd went crazy."

"During the rest of my day I decided to get an autographed copy of Nancy Pelosi's book and went to the closing ceremony of the College Democrats of America Convention…. I am looking forward to tomorrow at Investco Field where I get to hear Barack Obama accept the nomination on the 45th anniversary of the 'I Have a Dream' speech."

Sydney is referring to the famous speech that Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. gave on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the great March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963.

Stay tuned for more dispatches from our Trinity Woman On The Scene Sydney Cross!  Congratulations, Sydney, on your election as National Secretary of the Black Caucus of the College Democrats of America!!

Sphere: Related Content