The 'Obama before Obama'

There was a long period of time when African American politicians were discouraged from seeking the highest offices, and some were afraid to even try. Shirley Chisholm ran for president in 1972 under the slogan "Unbought and Unbossed," and arrived at the Democratic National Convention with 151 delegates pledged to her. That she was given a prominent speaking slot was seen as progress. Twelve years later, Jesse Jackson made his first run for president, after many private meetings among black leaders about who should run and if it was the right time. Jackson defied conventional wisdom by winning five Democratic primaries and caucuses, leading to a second campaign in 1988. That year he won 13 primaries and caucuses, doubled his total votes to 7 million and finished runner-up to nominee Michael Dukakis.

Doug Wilder, the grandson of slaves, understands the significance of simply trying: "When I talked about running for lieutenant governor, they said, 'No way, man, you can make it.' And when I said I'd run for governor, they said, 'This man is certifiably insane!' "

Few African American politicians have been more pioneering than Wilder, now the mayor of Richmond: He was the first black state senator elected since Reconstruction, the first black elected lieutenant governor, and the first black elected governor, all in a 20-year period from 1969 to 1989.

Of Obama's prospects to be president, he said: "The country is ready. The people are always ahead of the leaders."

* * *

Albert G. "Sambo" Johnson dropped by Hottinger Greenhouses the other day, and Eddie Hottinger and his young salesman stopped selling tomatoes and seeds and mulch and fixed their gaze on the 77-year-old man in the gray Dickies work jumper.

Sambo, as everyone in town calls him, is someone people like to listen to. A former county supervisor, for 20 years Johnson was chairman of the Louisa County Democratic Party. A white man called Sambo? Johnson explained that when he was a kid, a black family worked for and lived with his family. They had a little boy named Sambo, and Johnson's brother just started calling him Sambo, too. And it stuck.

Johnson settled into a chair to tell his stories. One of his ancestors owned slaves. "I believe he had a total of seven." His great-great-uncle, William Mahone, was a Confederate major general during the Civil War. Civil War history, along with politics, is one of Johnson's special interests.

"I don't think we ever should have had that war," offered Johnson. "That's why I have never admired Abraham Lincoln, because I think he could have avoided that war. That's a personal opinion."

He also had personal opinions about the presidential contest. Hillary Clinton? Barack Obama? He shook his head. "It's not a question of not liking them, it's a question of not thinking they're qualified." John McCain? "Hell no!"

What is this Democrat going to do? He didn't exactly say. "You'd be surprised at the number of people who are going to sit it out. What I'm telling you is my personal opinion."

And one last "personal opinion."

When the Board of Supervisors endorsed erecting a marker for Langston in the 1990s, that was a good thing, he said, the right thing. "At the time he rose, he had to have a lot of intestinal fortitude. So you can admire that."

But: "I guess you could ask 20 people in Louisa County who he was, and they wouldn't know." Sad, he said.

Johnson reached in his pocket and pulled out a few bills to pay for his grass seed and some Sevin dust to keep the bugs off the eggplant. "I want to make sure I have enough money leftover to buy me a hotdog going home."

And then Sambo was gone.

More from msnbc.com First Read: Palin on creationism, Clinton, Fey Ice addict heads for poles, Everest | Trek posts Daily Nightly: Tim McGraw helps neighbors in need Were you paying attention? Take our weekly quiz World Blog: China puts foot down on 'Oba Mao' T-shirts Stimulus tracker: See where millions of dollars went On Twitter: Breaking news updates | Weird and wild

MORE FROM POLITICS

Politics Section Front

Report: Health bill would reduce senior care NYT: Obama eyes cost of Afghan decision In visit to China, Obama walks a tightrope Obama, Medvedev see progress on nuke pact Clinton says Karzai ‘must do better’ Parties split on N.Y. trials of alleged terrorists Palin offers readers insight into '08 ups, downs Secretive front group battles health bill Chinese racist? Obama trip spurs talk Clinton ready to have coffee with Palin Politics Section Front   Add Politics headlines to your news reader: