From segregation to swearing in, 99-year-old a witness to history

By John Paul (jpaul@wsbt.com)

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South Bend resident Hartie Blake, 99, who grew up in segregated Mississippi, says the swearing in of Barack Obama is the country's first African American president is the moment he has been waiting for. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Jan 20, 2009 at 1:50 PM EST

Story Updated: Jan 23, 2009 at 4:58 PM EST

SOUTH BEND — Crowds were estimated at 2 million people in Washington, D.C. Tuesday. Just after noon, Barack Obama took his oath of office, becoming the 44th President of the United States, and the first African American to ever hold the office.

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But all of those people on the National Mall aren't the only people watching Tuesday's events; even more are glued to their TV sets across the country.

That includes many around our area some who never thought they would see this day.

South Bend resident Hartie Blake, who turns 100 next month, was very proud of this historic moment in our nation's history. He told WSBT News the story of growing up in Mississippi as a young boy, where segregation ruled the south, where it was difficult to not only live, but vote.

But time changed those moments, and it only took 99 years for him to see the nation's first black president sworn into office.

It was a family affair inside the Blake house Tuesday. Generation after generation watched President Obama's swearing in, cheering when he appeared on TV.

Watching closely while sitting in his recliner, Blake had a front row seat for his historic event.

"I believed I was going to live to see it," said Blake.

Blake recalled going to cast his vote for Barack Obama, but says Tuesday was the moment he has been waiting for.

“Yeah, I’m happy to see it,” he told WSBT News. "There was no voting when we came up."

“I bet it must be amazing to realize that not only did he live in a time when you couldn’t vote, but he is now in a time where he can see a black man be elected president,” said Delonda Blake, Hartie’s granddaughter.

And Hartie was side by side with his wife, Louise, his children, and his great granddaughter, who screamed “Obama!” … and she's only 2 years old.

"It's the spirit," said Louise Blake. "It just makes you feel good all over."

"No more do we have the excuse of plight," said Delonda Blake. "He [President Obama] has proven we can prosper by our own means."

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