Amos Smith was driving to work Thursday morning when his invitation arrived by radio:
“Come out here and make sure you register to vote,” coaxed the stars of WPEG-FM's “Morning Maddhouse,” broadcasting from a parking lot off Wilkinson Boulevard.
In no time, Smith, 20, was gripping a clipboard, inking in his info, explaining in two words – Barack Obama – why he wanted to vote this year.
“He'll bring change,” said Smith, an African American who works in technical support. “And he'd be the first black president. … It's a moment of history.”
Such sentiment has powered a surge in black voter registration. African Americans have been signing up at churches and restaurants, in barbershops and beauty parlors, in grocery stores and at high school football games – and at the occasional urban radio remote.
Celebrities have been in town to pump up interest: Al Sharpton at the Coffee Cup restaurant; the rapper Bow Wow at the N.C. Central-N.C. A&T football game and at WPEG's party Thursday.
Republicans have also been busy. This weekend in Charlotte and Concord, they'll register NASCAR fans at Lowe's Motor Speedway during the Bank of America 500.
But as the presidential campaign enters its pivotal final weeks, black communities are mobilizing like never before.
“Little kids come to the door, and when we say, ‘We're registering voters,' they ask me, ‘Are you going to vote for Barack Obama?'” said Rosemary Lawrence, 62, whose sorority is targeting black political participation. “Even the children know there is something special this year. There's a spirit of hope out there.”
In Mecklenburg, African Americans make up 40 percent of voters who have registered this year. They account for less than 30 percent of the county's population.
Statewide, the numbers are similar: Though blacks make up about 22 percent of the state's population, they comprise more than 30 percent of the new voters.
The Democratic ranks have also been fed by booming registrations on college campuses.
Based on the latest polls, the hike among these groups could tip North Carolina to the Democratic ticket for the first time since 1976.
A form, a slogan, a trim
Around Charlotte, the slogan at black barbershops and beauty parlors is “10 by 10/10.” That means each stylist signs up 10 new voters by today, the registration deadline.
No Grease Barbershop issued the original challenge. The stylists at their Central Avenue shop say they have been signing up four or five a week.
Upon entering, customers see a poster of Obama in a barber chair.
“Don't Wait,” it says. “Vote Early.”
Last Wednesday, the day after the second debate between Obama and Republican John McCain, barber Garren Murray, 29, was watching the first half of the face-off on his iPod.
He keeps his stack of voter-registration forms behind his barber chair.
“We ask everybody who comes through the door, ‘Are you registered?'” Murray said. “I'm 29, and I've never seen so many people register – and so many people getting others registered. There's definitely history being made.”
‘Blood-rushing'
Voter-registration tables have been a given every Sunday at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, one of Charlotte's largest black congregations.
The Rev. Trevor Beauford, 31, the youth minister, said his flock is buzzed about the election.
“There's a feeling that their vote will count,” he said.
One of the worshipers on Sunday was new voter Alaina Humphrey, 18. She's staying with cousins in Charlotte. Soon, she said, she will mail her absentee ballot back to Georgia.
There is likely to be a check by Obama's name.
“It's exciting, even blood-rushing,” she said. “He's a new face, and he's going to bring new things. He's just more 21st-century.”
Ex-cons, new voters
“You've been locked up,” says one flier being passed around black neighborhoods. “Don't be locked out!”
The intended audience: potential voters with a police record.
Those convicted of a felony do lose their voting rights until they've completed their sentence, including probation and restitution.
Barry Webb of Charlotte went to prison.
“I know what I did. Everyone is an ex-something. Everyone has a secret in their closet. The difference is, I got caught with mine.”
Two months ago, the 46-year-old learned he could re-register to vote. He's backing Obama.
“I take full responsibility for what I brought on myself,” he said. “Now I'm trying to do things for myself to make my life better.”
Back at WPEG's sign-up-a-thon, the radio hosts – No Limit Larry, Tone X and Janine Davis – stood under an awning, urging still more of their mostly black listeners to join the voter-registration party. From 8 to 10:20 a.m., 44 showed up to sign up.
William Greene signed up for the first time.
Asked whether he was registering as a Democrat, Republican or unaffiliated, the 23-year-old kept writing and didn't look up.
“Obama,” he said. “What's Obama?”
A Democrat, he was told.
With the help of a friend, Greene then finished his form.
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