Inauguration Weekend 2013...Part 2

As I write this, the nation is celebrating President’s weekend. In years past, I never gave much thought to the significance of this holiday. After all with the exception of a few presidents like Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Lyndon Johnson, John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln; I really did not see how any other president impacted my life or my ancestor’s lives for the better. Of course, during the past four years, my view on this holiday has changed since an African-American man was now my president. So I would be remiss if I did not take the time to talk about my 2013 Inauguration Day experience once and for all. This is for my favorite president—Barack Obama.

(L-R) MzCEO, CNN Anchor Don Lemon and Stephanie on Pennsylvania Avenue for Inauguration Day 2013. 

I woke up on the morning of January 21, 2013 feeling refreshed and excited. Later on that morning President Barack Obama would be publically sworn into office for a second time. To add more excitement, I was in Washington DC; I was as close to history as I could have been. 

What a feeling! Emotions of pride, humility, hope, gratitude and happiness ran through my entire body.

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Then all of this took place on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. A man who was killed in the name of equality and justice for all people. He must have been in heaven smiling.

For it meant that all the marches; all the fear felt by families when their house windows were broken by bricks or when burning crosses were placed on their lawns courtesy of the Ku Klux Klan; all the physical pain felt by little kids after fire hoses stung their skin; all the doubt that must have surfaced in minds of people who spent time in a jail cell; all the beatings; all the killings and all the tears shed in the fight for equality were not experienced in vain.

Nearly forty-five years after King’s death, a semblance of a “beloved community” elected a Black man to lead the United States of America. A sampling of those people surrounded my sister, Stephanie, and I as we waited an hour to get through a check point on the corner of 7^th and E Streets NW.

There were African-Americans, Asians, Caucasians including a couple speaking French, Hispanics, War Veterans, young and elderly, sisters and brothers, aunties and uncles. That beloved community grew larger as we made our way over to Pennsylvania Avenue to view the parade.

Anticipating a real-life glimpse of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, Stephanie decided the best place for us to stand along the parade route was in front of the Newseum. Stephanie said that four years ago, that’s where they first got out of their limousine.

Speakers were placed along the parade route and through the glass windows of the Newseum

I saw Kelly Clarkson sing “My Country Tis of Thee,” Richard Blanco read his poem, “One Today,” and Beyonce sing the national anthem.

As I waited for the parade to begin, I listened and at times danced to a hodgepodge of music genres such as hip-hop, Latin, country, pop and R &B. Alicia Key’s “New Day” played repeatedly which was appropriate considering the occasion. Then I asked several people around me about their feelings on this significant day.

Here’s what some of them had to say:

Front Row Family Members Nadine and Valencia. Back Row Aliesha,  Demetria and Valarie.

Valencia of Daytona Beach, Florida who arrived on the parade route at 8 a.m. that morning with her aunt, niece and cousins said that when she first arrived “I was thinking to myself, ‘am I really gonna stand here for six hours?’ Then I realized it’s worth it.”

Valencia is a teacher for 7^th and 8^th graders and she was anxious to see President Obama in real life and share the experience with her students.

“In four years some of them are gonna turn 18 years old and they’ll  be able to vote. I’m taking notes for them. I know some of them are gonna be like ‘whatever’ but I want them to understand what this is all about and how important it is to vote.”

Rosemary Stokes of Anniston, Alabama believes we are lucky to have President Obama in office for another four years because of his empathy for all of God’s people.

Rosemary and Billy Stokes.

“The president is a great guy and he sees the world as a free world. He sees no difference in people and wants to make sure we are all treated fairly. He works for the poor, middle class and rich. I pray for him every night so that he can make the best decisions for God’s people,” said Stokes who was there with her husband Billy, a retired serviceman.

Dave Rucker of Philadelphia is a photographer who said he took over 400 pictures that weekend at various historic sites like the Arlington National Cemetery, the National Mall and the Capitol building.

“I’ve been out here since 7AM. It’s just a big party and its fun out here. I’m looking forward to hearing the bands. But most of all I’m hoping that President Obama walks out of his motorcade right in front of me.”

Dave Rucker and his friend Melissa.

Unfortunately, President Obama and First Lady Michelle did not walk out in front of us. However, I did see First Lady Michelle wave to me, yes in my mind she was waving only to me, from behind her limousine window. LOL. For now that will be as close as I get to one of this nation’s historical figures. Then several marching bands and folk dance groups from across the country performed on Pennsylvania Avenue.

During this President’s weekend, I’m thankful for all the people including Black and White people that paved the way for President Obama’s time in office to be a reality. It is my hope that the beloved community —and I am not counting me out— who elected President Obama will continue the work to keep America a place where opportunity exists for those who are willing to work hard for it regardless of who you are or where you came from or who you love.