Couple celebrates 70 years and votes for change

On their 70th wedding anniversary, Cora and Floyd Porter sat in front of a polling site in NE Washington, D.C. They were attracting a lot of attention. Cora would let out a good laugh here and there, making sure to cover her mouth with her hand when she did so, and Floyd just sat there, looking over at Cora with a satisfied grin on his face.They were the picture of happiness. There were many happy and enthusiastic people in and out of J.O. Wilson elementary school that day, but Cora and Floyd Porter were somehow different.

Cora, who is 90, and Floyd who is 91, sat and talked about how things would be changing soon. Nov.4th, 2008, was a major day in history. Barack Obama, the first Black man to be elected to a major party ticket, had a chance of winning.

So even though the couple had a hard time getting around, and needed a caretaker to get them there, and read them their ballots, nothing was going to stop them from helping to make history. To talk to Cora is to talk to a loved one. She is kind, warm-hearted and full of energy. Floyd is quiet. Whatever Cora said was his gospel. At one point, he even looked over to ask Cora how old he was, because he had forgotten. But even with all of the attention they were getting, Floyd hadn't forgotten why they were there, and neither had Cora.

"I am hoping to see a Black President," says Cora when asked if she thought she would ever see a Black President in her lifetime. "I've seen quite a bit of presidents in my lifetime. Roosevelt, Truman, Reagan."

She stops to point out that Reagan's birthday is the same day as her husband's. Cora says she thought it was very important to get up and vote.

"I feel it very necessary. Because there's many things we need in D.C. The neighborhoods, the stores, they need fixing."

She paused a minute to look down, and re-cross her legs at the ankles.

"Anyways, I woke up very excited. I woke up with the great hope that things would get better. I may be gone on when they finally do, but that's alright," she declared.

Cora, who grew up in a time when Black folk were denied the right to vote, in a time when Black folk could not share the same water fountains, or public restrooms, knows what it means to exercise her right to vote.

Mrs. Porter, whose little body seemed to be drowning in her purple courdoroy coat and matching hat looked as delicate and sensitive as a flower. But when asked her opinion on Black folk who don't exercise their right to vote, even after so many people fought for the ability to do so, she rises up, and seems to get a bit agitated.

"I feel it's very stupid. They should get up off their tails and vote. And even if things don't turn out their way, they should try anyway," insists Porter.

Floyd nodded his head in agreement, and mumbled a few words. Cora looked over to acknowledge him, and then saw fit to remind everyone that for 70 years she had been "baking his bread."

Everyone around looked on as Cora spoke. They seemed to know that history was in the making. They knew that Mr. and Mrs. Porter were counting on this. They had hope, and they had a certain kind of determination, a kind of determination that had been rekindled in the hearts and minds of residents all throughout the district.

Looking at Cora and Floyd just reminded them of the often forgotten details of the nation's past. Before Cora got up to leave, she added that if Barack Obama was elected that night, she would "let out a great shout."

She let out a laugh that was almost child-like, and then she turned around, grabbed Floyd's arm, and said, "Come on, it's time to go home.