It's about time....

There was a compelling story in the Austin American Statesman Monday about a woman in our area who recently voted for Obama.

Why is this news? Because Amanda Jones, 109 years old, a woman whose father was a slave, just cast her first vote for a black man to be president of the Unites States of America.

Photo: Larry Kolvoord, American-Statesman

According to Statesman staffer Joshunda Sanders, "Jones' father herded sheep as a slave until he was 12, according to the family, and once he was freed, he was a farmer who raised cows, hogs and turkeys on land he owned. Her mother was born right after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, Joyce Jones said. The family owned more than 100 acres of land in Cedar Creek at one point, she said.

Amanda Jones' father urged her to exercise her right to vote, despite discriminatory practices at the polls and poll taxes meant to keep black and poor people from voting. Those practices were outlawed for federal elections with the 24th Amendment in 1964, but not for state and local races in Texas until 1966. "

I am deeply happy to see that this has happened here in often conservative Texas and I am even happier that Amanda Jones has had her chance to vote in this election as she looks forward to her 110th birthday in December.

Can we believe in a country where the daughter of a slave can grow up and vote for a fellow African American as President?

Yes, yes we can.