Today the nation stopped at 12:06 p.m.
At 12:06 p.m. our hearts paused its beat as President Barack Obama uttered the first words of his Presidential Inauguration Speech.
At 12:06 p.m. America received a welcome overdose of Hope and Change; injecting renewed spirit, renewed confidence, true unity, and confirmation that when we stand together as a people, America is truly our country.
November 4, 1841 Frederick Douglass delivered one of his first recorded anti-slavery speeches for the Massachusetts Society. In this speech Mr. Douglass says, “They will not allow that we have a head to think and a heart to feel and a soul to aspire.”
Today, souls of Americans drown in aspiration, acknowledgement, and testimony that we have reached the epitome of what our Ancestors hoped to see. I can only imagine they are looking down upon us with a quiet smile saying “well done America…well done.”
I know we have a long road ahead of us which will likely get worse before it gets better, but I didn’t want to worry about that today. I simply wanted to emerse myself in the moment. This is my reflection as I witnessed History take place, what about yours? I want to know how you felt today at 12:06 p.m.; good, bad or indifferent…I’m listening…Holla at ya Gyrl !
The moment was real and resounding. I believe that with the election of this black man we have closed the door on some of our demons as the black community. We can be more than the savants of entertainment for this country we can aspire to purposes greater than the next fresh club hit or remix. We can return the gravitas of our innovation and intellect that we may have forgotten within ourselves in the effort to keep it real or legit or street. We have a black leader for the Black American, for all Americans. This is a reminder of the dream which probably didn’t include the pursuit of bling or the status of the baller. We are soo much more deep and we are sons and daughters of this country with a right to its legacy more than any other immigrant to this golden land of democracy. Whites wrongfully think this marks the end of the race issue, they should be so lucky to be rid of that blight so easily. No rather it ends the self erected barrier of limitations on our black beautiful minds that they were oh so happy to help perpetuate. Black men take note of how far you can achieve when you combine your strength and vigor with that of a fine black woman when you pour your heart and soul into the family unit, your achievements can be epic. 12:06 today closed a door on excuses. Sure by and by they still make the rules, but they made the rules in football and we dominated it and they made the rules in basketball and we dominated it. They made the rules of this great land of ours and now one of us is the leader of the free world. The door has closed on a broke down old house and now its behind us and we are out in the world scene. We have become.
Toya
My wife and I took the chance to see a “black man” get to say the words that so many tell our young ones they can get to be. At that moment standing in the cold like so many others in DC. I can only think back to when I first said those fretful words, “I don’t that there will be a black man, in my life time to become the President”. I can finally say that I’m glad to be wrong. I have never felt so much joy as the First Family walked onto that stage. B. Obama is the first African- American President. I’m sure that everyone knows that there’s no longer an excuse of “The Man” this or that. It’s time to get it done. Black men who have children and haven’t asked their lady for marriage, get it together and ask that lady you had sex with for marriage.
I’m in the process of compiling my thoughts and events from my trip to DC into a short chronicle for people to read.
For America: It’s time to get ourselves together!!!
For America: It is time to get ourselves together!!!
At that time… I was hopeful. And critical. A lot rides on the inaugural speech of a president. It sets the tone for the next 4 yrs (especially the next 100 days) and it is a chance to lay out some expectations for the people.
But aside from the thoughts about the politics of the incoming administration…. really I was just glad to see someone representing for all the black men who DO believe in having a family and who DON’T want a string of “baby mammas” to be the way they carry on their legacy.
It’s not perfect. The tensions in this country weren’t erased by a few days of speechs and celebrations, and in truth they may get a little worse before things improve. But at least we can all now agree that you DON’T have to be a certain skin color, with a particular background, with connected friends, to do great things. It helps but it’s not a prereq anymore. =)