Reflections

This was a week of significant change in the United States of America. The country watched as the nation's first African-American president took the oath of office and assumed the role of Presidency for The United States. It was a moment of awe, inspiration, and appreciation. In that moment of hope, one could possibly dream that our collective ideas and ideals are slowly catching up to the premise of America's promise.

I watched tears stream down the faces of many onlookers. Some eyes told the story of just how long and how hard they had waited to witness a historical moment such as this. Parents who had once told their children "Just try hard, apply yourself. If you work hard enough, you can be anything you want to be. You can grow up to be president," finally felt a sense exoneration. Their words finally had some weight and validity. They were no longer liars or purveyors of false hope and dreams.

Other eyes revealed the pain of being mistreated as second class citizens - being called the "n" word, being passed over for housing or jobs, being stereotyped and typecasted. Somehow, those wounded eyes now grasped hold onto the individual accomplishment of one Barack Obama to say, "I told you so - all you had to do was give me a chance."

Others wore wide smiles of intense satisfaction and swelling pride. No thing, no one, could steal the joy of that day from their minds, their hearts, or their souls. The temperature may have been at freezing or below, but there were burning hot with zeal and determination and resolve to be a part of history. For many black Americans, "his"tory became "our" story on Inauguration Day 2009.

My greatest joy on Inauguration Day came from sharing the moment with my 86 and 85 year old uncle and aunt, respectively. I've heard their stories of growing up in rural Mississippi. I've heard of the poverty and disrespect they endured due to blatant racism. Because of their history and what this moment would mean to them, I took off work just to share that hour of the swearing in ceremony with them. I wanted to watch history through their eyes.

And what a moment it was. They watched silently, as if in stunned amazement during parts of the ceremony. Every once in a while, I would catch a smile of pride and satisfaction. They sat holding hands, sharing the moment neither ever thought possible. I videotaped their reactions on my cell phone.

What amused me the most as I was filming the loving couple of over 60 years, was the striking contrast they exemplified in that special moment in history. On the one hand, they were delighted at witnessing the installation of America's first black president. On the other hand, life continued on as normal as he explained to her how he'd charged her wheel chair all night so it wouldn't go dead during that day. At first, in my mind I'm thinking, how could he be talking through the ceremony? Why is he not taking in every single second of this historic event? Then it hit me, that's how they've gotten through these many years of life. Not getting too highs on the highs and not getting too low on the lows. Each and every day, we have to do our part to appreciate what is, but not get stuck and forget what is yet to be done. There's a life lesson in that for all.

Do I think President Obama can solve all our issues? No, I don't. I've come to understand two things. First, Barack Obama is a man, not God. Secondly, change must begin with me. I can't expect America's plight to be reversed until I, you, we are willing to do our part. We must return to God, in prayer, in planning, in purpose, and in power.

I hope we all enjoyed the moment. I hope it will live on in our collective memories forever. However, now is the time to roll up the sleeves and get to work. The inauguration was the easy part. We installed someone new in office. Now comes the installation of hard work, respect, integrity, ethics, and cooperation. We began, now we must behave in a manner that says we will work for the change we said we wanted on election day.

I am proud of President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and the grace and dignity with which their family presents to the world. I am going to couple my pride with prayer and call upon the power of God for the change we need.