“But I feel if we put Obama in the White House, there will be chaos. Ifeel a lot of black people are going to feel it’s payback time. And Imade the statement, I said, ‘You know, at one time the black man had tostep off the sidewalk when a white person came down the sidewalk.’ AndI feel it’s going to be somewhat reversed.”
And there is another set of fears for Weary: He says that he’s “moreafraid of the Joe Six-Packs looking for payback after Barack Obama winsthe presidential election.”
Weary says that if Obama loses the election, there will also be African-Americans who will not accept that result as legitimate.
“Iguarantee it,” Weary says. “I think even the black people who weren’tthat involved would have that disenfranchised feeling of, ‘We got soclose, and now we didn’t get it, and now I’m angry about it.'”
MargieOrr, who is black, raised one more fear — a grim one that’s beenwhispered since Obama became a serious contender for the White House.
“Youknow what I am most afraid of? I am most afraid of the rhetoric that’sbeen going on at the McCain rallies,” she says. “I’m afraid for Obamaand his family for the things that have been said at those rallies.It’s as though they want to bring out the skinheads, the [Ku KluxKlan], so they can kill this man.
“I’m afraid of the impact ofwhat will happen here in these United States if Obama is murdered by awhite person.,” Orr says. “That’s my fear. That’s my fear. That shouldbe your fear.”
Although the voters are approaching the electionwith trepidation, there is also great anticipation. But no matter whathappens Nov. 4, many of the York voters are concerned about Nov. 5.