November 5, 2008 Worcester residents react to Obama's victory Play video

(Katie Daly, NECN: Worcester, MA) - Barack Obama’s election as the first black president of the United States overwhelmed many.

“The election changed the paradigm or you could say change the page in history which is incredibly profound”

Ron Scott works at the Martin Luther King business empowerment center in Worcester. His grandfather was Worcester’s first black city councilor. He says he wasn't sure he'd live to see a black man hold the nations highest office.

“My feeling is that it still hasn't hit me I think, I woke up this morning thinking did that really just happen last night?”

Jerry Dickinson is a student at the college of the Holy Cross. “Its something not only good for America and everybody in America but its great for black Americans and it gives us something to look forward to. You know we can be in that same position at some point. My kids some day can look at Obama and say look at where he is at, I can do that same thing”

Obama had strong support on college campuses nationwide...including holy cross.

Community activist Bill Coleman says it was an election that will motivate more young people to get involved in politics.

“I think we will see more and more young people get involved in public service not leaving it up to the older people with more money and the same old same old he's inspiring”