Reflections On The First Inauguration of Barack Obama

On the morning of the 57^th Presidential Inauguration, I am filled with some of the best memories ever of the first inauguration of Barack Obama.  A friend of mine had connections high up in the White House, so we got tickets right on the West Lawn, close enough to actually see the president being sworn in.  It was the absolute coldest day of the year, but no one cared because history was being made.  What struck me most that day was that major celebrities were treated the same as everyone else.  They had to go through checkpoints just like we did, they didn’t get special seating, nothing.  In fact, I was sitting right next to “Sting”, the musician, and Billy Baldwin, Forest Whitaker, Common, Tracee Ellis Ross, Beyonce' and Jay-Z were literally only feet away.  In fact Forest Whitaker bumped into me trying to film on his video camera.

It was a day of pride for African-Americans, and it showed on every last one of our faces.  I remember in the blocks-long walk to the Capitol making eye contact with people of other races and ethnicities, and having them smile, and nod at me, like they knew how big this was for black people and how far the country had come.  I also remember walking down the street passing people on the way to the inauguration, and shouting “Barack Obama”, and having them shout, “Barack Obama” back at me.  There was a sense of pride in the air that’s hard to explain…(never felt it before, and will probably never feel it again), and it showed on EVERYONES’ faces…now imagine that look on almost two million people.  It was just electric!

So as the president begins his second term, and final four years in office, I wish him much success in achieving his agenda (I am committed to helping him do that), and that he and his family are kept safe from harm.

The 2009 Inauguration was the experience of a lifetime, but I appreciate the fact that this time around, I will be watching it from the comfort of my home on my family room couch.