African-Americans revel in embrace of history

David L. Flynn, the longest-serving member of the Legislature, paused in a State House hallway after Governor Deval Patrick's swearing-in yesterday, marveling at the throngs who had gathered to witness the occasion.

"He has people I've never seen before," said the 73-year-old Bridgewater Democrat, who has watched governors come and go since he was first elected in 1964. "But I think that creates a healthy situation."

As Patrick took the oath of office, many in the Beacon Hill establishment looked out at a crowd of thousands, including hundreds of African-Americans who filled Beacon Street and spilled onto Boston Common to watch the ascension of the state's first black governor. When Patrick put his hand on a Bible that had once belonged to slaves, many thrust up their hands to capture the moment on cameras and cellphone cameras . A loud cheer thundered.

"We, the people of color, are very proud of him for being elected governor of Massachusetts," said Josh Saint-Fleur, 32, who is studying medicine at Harvard University. "We understand it is a great accomplishment, and the road was not easy."

Martin Joseph of Dorchester brought his 13-year-old son, Jordan, to meet the new governor, queuing up in a long receiving line after the swearing-in.

"It's history in the making," he said, hugging his son to him. "I think he's going to make good changes for all."

Fletcher "Flash" Wiley, a prominent lawyer and businessman who, like Patrick, started out on the South Side of Chicago, clambered onto a firetruck flying a huge American flag from its ladder to take in the pageantry.

"I was up there to get a glimpse of history," said Wiley. "It was just such a wonderful, thrilling experience to stand on the site where, almost 150 years ago, the historic Massachusetts [black] regiment marched off to the Civil War, to this day, when Massachusetts inaugurated its first African-American governor."

Maisha Brown, 27, a nursing student at Roxbury Community College, waited an hour and a half in the receiving line to shake hands with Patrick.

"It is exciting, it is very exciting," said Brown, of Dorchester. Considering the state's history of racial tensions, Brown said, "To have the first African-American governor is a big step up for Massachusetts as a state."

Prominent black political leaders, largely sidelined under recent administrations, suddenly found themselves at the center: at a VIP reception after the inauguration ceremony, state Senator Dianne Wilkerson was gaily strolling in and out of the governor's suite. "I feel like a freshman, but I've been in the state Senate for 15 years," said the Roxbury Democrat. "I'm looking in the faces of people in my district and I see the pride. I see the elation that they lived to see this."

Mel King, who was a state representative from Boston from 1973 until 1983, when he sought to become the city's first black mayor, walked through the crowd of Patrick supporters, holding a tape recorder.

"I interviewed a lot of people who expressed feelings of joy, expressed their feelings of hope, like I hadn't heard in a long time," said King, 78. "That's an amazing thing, and it was nice for me to be able to hear and to record it."

L. Douglas Wilder of Virginia, the first African-American elected governor, arrived at the inauguration early, an hour before most other dignitaries. Walking along Beacon Street, he stopped to hug friends and strangers who called out his name, and posed for photographs with them. Then he watched Patrick take the oath of office.

"This is his high moment," said Wilder, 75, beaming.

It was not just African-Americans who were ebullient on the historic day, which gathered together a dizzying array of political luminaries, along with schoolchildren, construction workers, and secretaries. Democrats from long-ago administrations wandered through the State House, slapping backs, shaking hands, and eating brownies. Former aides to Governor Michael S. Dukakis seemed especially giddy.

"You were a lot younger the last time we did this," exclaimed Cameron Kerry, brother of John F. Kerry, a US senator a nd one time Dukakis lieutenant governor, when he caught sight of Tom Herman, a former revenue commissioner for Dukakis.

The last time they did this was 1983.

Much about yesterday was a throwback to those heady days. The national anthem was sung by Ernest Triplett , who was among the first black opera company directors in the country. Triplett, 70, who founded the Associate Artist Opera, a predecessor to the Boston Lyric Opera Company, sang at Dukakis's second inauguration in 1987.

It seemed no one was immune to the excit e ment.

Margaret H. Marshall, chief justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, was seated among the dignitaries on the giant dais behind Patrick. When Patrick put his hand on the Bible and swore his oath, she stood and leaned over a railing, straining to capture the scene on her pocket camera.

After the ceremony, Dukakis held court in the ornate Nurses Hall at the State House as Patrick shook the hands of patient fans nearby.

"I'm a great fan of your part of the state," the former governor said to a tall man from New Bedford, launching into a discussion of rail service to the region.

"With all due respect, it just hasn't been the same since you left," the man said.

"It's a great day!" another admirer said.

"At last," Dukakis said, beaming. "At last!"

Lisa Wangsness of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Michael Levenson can be reached at mlevenson@globe.com. Yvonne Abraham can be reached at abraham@globe.com.