Daughter of a Slave Casts Historic Vote at Age 109

A sweet story, regardless of your political affiliation: About a month short of her 110th birthday, Amanda Jones–whose father spent some of his childhood as a slave–mailed in a ballot for the man who could be the first black president of the U.S. A life-long Democrat, Jones, who lives outside of Austin, first voted for president more than 60 years ago (for F.D.R.). Her father encouraged her to exercise her right, despite barriers preventing black people from voting–such as poll taxes and other means of voter suppression. Even though Barack Obama will likely not win her historically Republican district, Jones told the Austin American-Statesman, “I feel good about voting for him.”

(Photo by:Larry Kolvoord/AMERICAN-STATESMAN)