Senator Barack Obama's historic run for the White House has inspired a new generation of African Americans many of whom; like Obama himself, were born after the Civil Rights movement or were too young to participate in it.

Obama has built an impressive grass roots, internet driven campaign that has raised money at historic rates. The younger generation of African Americans were drawn early to his candidacy and many are actively involved in campaign activities. This is true for many American leaders of Obama's generation who are passionate Obama supporters.

African Americans in the forefront of Obama's campaign include San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris, who is among the leadership in the California Obama campaign.

An early Obama supporter, Harris said his election is crucial at the time for a number of reasons.

"With our nation at war, various sectors of the global economy in peril and many of us wondering if this will be the first generation of Americans to achieve less and owe more than their parents, the stakes in this election are at an all-time high," Harris said.

"Thankfully, we have a truly inspiring candidate in Barack Obama, who not only has a vision, but a concrete plan that will bring about the change America needs. He will steer us out of this war responsibly, demand fiscal accountability and put the needs of working families first. Barack Obama will truly make history by leading America back to peace and prosperity," she said.

Like Harris, Dwayne Jones, Director of the San Francisco Mayor's Office Communities of Opportunities program, is committed to electing Obama.

With California firmly in the Obama win column volunteers are being sent to neighboring states and swing states to work for Obama. Jones said he will travel to Nevada the last two weeks of October to support Obama's candidacy.

"I have to complete my 'Camp Obama' and then I will learn where in Nevada I will go to work on voter registration and get out the vote activities," Jones said.

Jones said his volunteer work exemplifies the fact that Obama's campaign has generated a movement for change among people of all walks of life. "The movement is one that is without egos and positions," Jones said. "Everyone is working for his election; no one is above any assignment to achieve our collective goal."

Fred Blackwell	London Breed	Kamala Harris SF DA	Dwayne Jones

Jones said Obama's election is crucial because "there has never been a greater demonstration of the need and requirement to change in the nation, particularly policies that affect African Americans."

"It's one thing to have a leader of the free world who is sympathetic and mindful of the issues that impact racism and discrimination. It's completely another thing to have someone who has experienced these thing firsthand and has the intellect and creativity to propose strategies that potentially turn the tide on all those issues."

Jones said Obama symbolizes the requirement that "we as African Americans come to the table and aggressively work to facilitate change we believe can impact and improve our quality of life."

London Breed, Executive Director of the African American Art and Culture Complex in San Francisco, was an Obama delegate to the Democratic National Convention.

As president of the United States, she said Barack Obama will change the way America is viewed around the world. "Other countries will start to view us in a positive way," she said. "We will be viewed in a better light."

On the domestic front Breed said she believes Obama will push through issues like universal health care and will be more of a "peoples' president."

"We need his leadership and his inspiration," Breed said. "He inspires Americans to be better people and to work for change."

Fred Blackwell, Executive Director of the San Francisco Re-development Agency, said he has contributed to Obama's campaign financially, has registered voters and plans to work with get out the vote efforts for the Nov. 4 election.

"The nation is heading in the wrong directions," Blackwell said. He said Obama represents from a political and pragmatic perspective that I think will make him successful."

Blackwell said Obama's candidacy has inspired three generations of his family. He said his mother, public policy leader Angela Glover Blackwell, traveled to Pennsylvania during the primary season to walk precincts for Obama.

For younger members of his family Blackwell said Obama's candidacy is proof of what was told to him as a child - that you can be anything, including president of the U.S. "My children will not be looking at the same society even I experienced," Blackwell said.