Inauguration Day!
As expected, the day started off at a frantic pace. The over-capacity crowds riding the Metro rails were sucked into even larger, sea-like crowds once they exited the stations.
I changed routes after seeing the unending lines outside specified, color-coded gates. I decided to go over to the Washington Monument on the west end of the National Mall.
It was a much longer walk from my original Metro stop, but riding the wave of excitement in the monstrous crowd was stimulating.
Tiffany Stevens, a volunteer guide from Las Vegas, was among the more exuberant:
Like jazz, Obama has struck a note that simultaneously relaxes yet stimulates passions. I met so many who sang his praises. Most added their own notes — the election is the work of God or the result of our ancestor’s struggle or the gifts from brave souls who sacrificed lives and liberties for our “freedoms.”
Moving to a different location worked well for me. I had a great view of the jumbo screen and I could see a good portion of the those seated and standing nearer the stage.
Annie Grace Johnson, 77, from Decatur, GA, couldn’t see the big screen behind all the bodies blocking her wheel chair. Still, she told me she was honored to be in the crowd.
I kept my eye on Lorraine Hogue, from Indianapolis, as Obama took the oath of office. Earlier, she told me she brought the memory of her father who was born in Mississippi during it’s most racially divisive era. Watch Lorraine and the crowd’s reaction, the moment Obama officially becomes President.
While in Washington, I heard many renditions of the song inspired by Obama.
A stranger, who happened to be white, offered me a ride to the Metro in Silver Spring. On the way, Mike Blevins, shared his story. He was a lawyer who became a priest.
That was interesting. On Monday, I shared lunch with a former priest from O’Fallon, IL., who became a lawyer.
Both men work in the field of social justice. Both, along with a couple of million more came to celebrate Obama’s song.
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Sylvester Brown, Jr. often refers to himself as the "accidental columnist." He enrolled in college almost 25 years ago to pursue a career as a cartoonist. He ended up starting an award-winning newspaper and falling in love with journalism. Today, as a writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the "accidental columnist's" love affair continues. 
Sylvester, were there any protestors? I doubt it, unless you were protesting. Did you boo President Bush? Probably.
I felt like this was a very racist day. I like Mr. Obama and wish him success and pray for his safety. I hope he is able to move this country beyond race once and for all. As a white person, I am really tired of being considered a racist just because of the color of my skin. I did not vote for Mr. Obama because of differences of opinion, but not because of the color of his skin and I refused to vote for someone just for that reason, just as I would not vote against someone just for that reason.
I am sick of hearing about all the white guilt that got him elected. Well, I don’t have any white guilt and have never done anything to feel that way.
My family has never owned slaves because they came over on boats after the civil war. Perhaps Mr.Obama can remove the chips on the shoulders of those blacks who still wish to wear them. I am really tired of the Democrats putting us in color groups and I hope this is last election we need to endure this stereotyping.
A Centric,
Unfortunately, I think your feelings are a minority in the white population today. Our race has been so demonized by the corrupt mass media and black race hustlers that most can’t even say the word ‘race’. They are so stricken with guilt that they just look towards the ground when the subject is mentioned. Let’s just hope that people like us can help these people come to their senses.
Mr. Obama’s swearing aside, the best moment was Aretha Franklin singing and the worst moment was Rev. Lowery’s racist speech. I found it personally insulting and rather than progressive, sadly regressive.
P.S. Doesn’t that old fool realize that it was the “whites” who don’t do right are the ones who elected Obama? Geez!
Discussions of race will only be positive and helpful when done face to face in an open forum. Then I wonder how many hate slingers would say out loud and in the open what they write in these blogs….
Nice try P.D. At least you’re trying to be part of the solution and not part of the problem.