Wednesday, January 21, 2009
By Regina Dennis
Tribune-Herald staff writer
With his hand on Abraham Lincoln’s Bible, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday.
As the millions of visitors on the National Mall erupted into applause and cheers, Waco-area residents gathered in groups small and large to celebrate the historic moment.
By the time Obama was sworn in, tears had long been flowing for the more than 40 people attending the Cen-Tex African American Chamber of Commerce inauguration watch party at the Bellmead Holiday Inn and Suites. Linda Weaver, a chamber ambassador, began passing out tissues before Obama and his family had even walked onto the platform.
“The tissues, they were in anticipation of the waterworks, the tears of joy that would come,” said Weaver, who was one of the first in the room to shed tears.
Inauguration 2009
The Rev. Delvin Atchison, pastor of Antioch Baptist Church, said he can breathe a sigh of relief now that Obama has officially been named president, a day he calls a long time coming.
“We still had some in our community who, even after the election, were not sure this would happen, because we’ve already lived through so many horrors,” Atchison said. “So on today, the feeling is, ‘It has happened.’ ”
For many in attendance, the ceremony was a glorious update to a long and often painful history for blacks in America. Chamber President Laveda Brown said she thought of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., whose birthday was celebrated by a federal holiday Monday, and how his work in the civil rights movement paved the way for this moment.
“I remember hearing Dr. King’s dream. And I was a little girl then, but I knew this would not happen overnight,” Brown said. “So 10 years went by, and 20 years and 30 years, and nothing happened. But now we can rejoice in this day in knowing that we have finally seen that dream come together.”
Brown sat with her mother, Frankie Hardy, 74, after the swearing-in ceremony. Hardy vividly recalls the pain and suffering of segregation, the struggle for integration and civil rights, and the ongoing push for acceptance and unity. Even with all the accomplishments by blacks from her generation through now, Hardy said she did not foresee this milestone.
“I did not think this day would come,” Hardy said. “But I tell you one thing, I’m glad that I was around to see this, and I wish that my parents and grandparents could have been here because they would say, ‘I can’t believe we have a black president.’ ”
Odie McCoy Jr., 65, remembers as a child being advised by his parents and other black elders of “how to behave and what not to do” to avoid controversy in a segregated Waco. He said he would occasionally ignore the warnings, daring to drink out of “white only” water fountains in defiance of the Jim Crow culture of the era, until separate-but-equal facilities were outlawed.
Now that Obama has broken the color barrier in the country’s highest office, future generations can live without such constraints, McCoy said.
“Our children can seize this moment,” he said. “You know how we would tell a child that they can be anything? Today, we can say that and mean it. I was singing ‘God Bless America’ this morning, and I’ve sung it many times before. But I never had the emotional connection to the words as I did singing it today. It has a whole different meaning for me.”
Larry Brown, newly elected leader of the Waco National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said Obama’s presidency and the joyous emotions many now are feeling will spark unity on working to improve the country in national and local efforts.
The inauguration and Obama’s message seemed to resonate with older Waco students, such as those who watched from their classrooms at University High School.
“I feel, like, crunk. I’m happy,” University High senior Demarcus Hicks said.
Senior Rosaura Barragan said she liked Obama’s mention of terrorists and how they will be remembered not for what they tear down but what they build.
Students said they are hoping Obama jumps in and tackles issues, such as health care, creating jobs and bringing the troops home from Iraq. But several students said, overall, they are looking forward to the next four years.
“When I heard him get sworn in, I got chills from that. It’s true what they say, it’s time for a change,” sophomore Christopher Galvez said.
At Lake Air Middle School, even some physical education classes came inside to watch the ceremony.
“We weren’t about to miss this,” said Coach Amber Wiley. Her sixth-graders crowded around the TV, waiting to glimpse Obama. When not watching the inauguration, the students tackled a work sheet that called for defining words in the oath of office. Though the students didn’t hang on Obama’s every word, the day’s significance was not lost on them. The answers in their daily assignment proved it.
“I feel good because I was there when he made history in the United States,” said Kristi Ann Rincon.
Nearly 100 people from all walks of life were on hand at Baylor University’s Mayborn Museum complex Tuesday to watch the inauguration.
Though some at the event, hosted by KWBU-TV, Channel 34, and the Waco-area League of Women Voters, said they voted for Republican John McCain, Obama’s introduction brought a raucous, minute-long standing ovation.
Baylor law school professor Mark Osler said he felt privileged to be able to witness the historic day.
“I just finished class and called my dad, and my dad’s there (at the inauguration), and I’ve rarely heard him so moved,” Osler said. “At the point I talked to him, he was about a mile away from the mall, just watching the people go by, and he said, ‘It’s like watching the whole world walk past.’ You have all these people packed into this confined space, but he said there’s just like this perfect joy.”
Osler also noted the wide-reaching impact of Obama’s election, extending well beyond the black community and the nation, due to Obama’s international heritage.
“I’ll tell you, this is probably the biggest deal in Kenya in a long time, with (Obama’s father) being from Kenya,” Osler said. “And that’s one of the things that’s fascinating about this, it truly is, that a person with an international background (could be elected president).”
Michael Farley, a program manager at L-3 Communications, said this year’s inauguration carried deep importance for him, not because Obama is black but because America needs healing.
“This one is particularly special to me because of the historical significance and the opportunity for our nation to be renewed,” he said.
Farley said he has mighty aspirations for Obama’s presidency.
“First and foremost, I’d like the country to come together, and I expect Obama to be successful in bringing the country together and addressing the economic issues to bring us back into prosperity as a nation,” Farley said.
Staff writers Wendy Gragg and Tim Woods contributed to this story.
rdennis@wacotrib.com
757-5755
Comments
By Realist
Jan 23, 2009 11:59 AM | Link to this
Cathy
Well said!
Petey
This is from Audacity of Hope:
"Whenever I appear before immigrant audiences, I can count on some good-natured ribbing from my staff after my speech; according to them, my remarks always follow a three-part structure: "I am your friend," "[Fill in the home country] has been a cradle of civilization," and "You embody the American dream." They're right, my message is simple, for what I've come to understand is that my mere presence before these newly minted Americans serves notice that they matter, that they are voters critical to my success and full-fledged citizens deserving of respect.
"Of course, not all my conversations in immigrant communities follow this easy pattern. In the wake of 9/11, my meetings with Arab and Pakistani Americans, for example, have a more urgent quality, for the stories of detentions and FBI questioning and hard stares from neighbors have shaken their sense of security and belonging. They have been reminded that the history of immigration in this country has a dark underbelly; they need specific assurances that their citizenship really means something, that America has learned the right lessons from the Japanese internments during World War II, and that I will stand with them should the political winds shift in an ugly direction." [Page 260-261]
And for the July 2 Speech:
See
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jul/02/text-obamas-speech/#comments
I really fail to see this private army. BTW, that was delivered at Colorado Springs, a bastion of leftists.... :-)
And it is Peetie for the musician. Petey was one of the biggest blaxplotation movies...but I am sure that's a coincidence.
And that is the last thing I will say on this subject, this is like arguing against a holocaust denier....facts don't matter to you. Have a good day...
By Realist
Jan 23, 2009 11:33 AM | Link to this
Petey
No. The canard that Snopes is run by leftist (which of course, are not to be trusted, and right wingers can be) is made up by folks of both sides of the aisle whose favorite conspiracies have been debunked. In order to avoid accusations such as yours they quote the sources -- which you can refer to as well.
He does wear a flag pin. He was wearing one at the inaguration, and he pledge allegiance, he held his hand over his chest, etc. I wear a pin sometimes, sometimes not. I do not need to prove my citizenship all the time. You will find photoes of him and Bush wearing a pin sometimes, sometimes not.
The quotes that you love so, have been taken out of context. Again, do the research. You haven't.
As to why his grandmother says she was there when he was born in Kenya? Who knows. My grandmother towards the end spoke to walls. The fact is that there is a birth certificate which has been verified over and over by both sides and there was a birth announcement that say.
Private army? Again, debunked. Used out of context. Bush also talked about homeland defense and training people...
Petey, good job with febrile.
By cathy
Jan 22, 2009 9:05 PM | Link to this
I can not believe the stuff written by so called intelligent people. Do any of you remember what lies were circulated about McCain when he was trying to get the nomination in 2000. It is easy to circulate lies on the internet. Would hope men and women of good will would research the emails they receive before passing them on.
Obama was born in the United States. From my point of view, he is 1/2 white - He is our president. The mess our country is in is the result of fraud and selfishness on the part of some very powerful people. The deregulation of the financial markets has been one factor that caused many of todays financial problems.
If you are in better financial shape today then you were in Dec 2000, you should support McCain. If not, then maybe the changes Obama has promised will make your life and your children's lives better.
I have a dream - that all people in this country will have access to decent medical care.
I have a dream - that all children will have access to a good education.
I have a dream - that bigotry and hatred will be replaced with love and compassion.
What is your dream?
By Petey Wheatstraw
Jan 22, 2009 8:25 PM | Link to this
Realist, you should follow you're own advice and do the research. For one, you need to research snopes.com and you'll find that the reports on that particular site aren't encouraging. It's run by far left wingers and the data on it, when compared to similar searches on truthorfiction.com, are different as night as day. Second, read Obama's books. By his own hand he made the statements I quoted. His speech, on July 2nd in Colorado, is documented history both in print and news video. And change your screen name because you are definitely hiding from reality and you're fooling yourself about Obama. His refusal to wear the flag and cover his heart during the pledge are also documented in video as are his flippant responses when pressed about it. You see, I do read and research and the only debunking done here is in your own febrile mind.
Regards,
Petey
By Realist
Jan 22, 2009 1:25 PM | Link to this
Petey
You have been posting this drivel in every blog that has to do with President Obama. You need to check
www.snopes.com
As all that has been debunked and proven over and over again to be false and a product of someone's febrile imagination.
Get out and read, and stop this nightmare that you find yourself in, lad...
By cb
Jan 22, 2009 4:17 AM | Link to this
Remember, there have been 43 white presidents, therefore; President Barack Obama is long over-due. Let us celebrate the change in this society and the intelligence of the people to recognize a brilliant, honest man who wants to uplift this country - not matter what color he is - he is what we need now.
Love one another.
cb
By Petey Wheatstraw
Jan 22, 2009 12:28 AM | Link to this
If Obama wasn't born in Kenya then why does his Kenyan Grandmother state that she was there the day he was born? Is she and the rest of the Kenyan Obama family liars? By Obama's own words, he supports socialism and communism. He taught classes in communist ideology in Hawaii and he openly supports wealth redistribution. I'm not jumping with joy at the thought of sharing my paycheck with some bum who's too sorry and too lazy to work. We already have four generations of some families who have spent their entire lives sucking on a welfare teat. He has never admitted to being a Christian. The answers he always gives to the question have all been purely metaphysical in nature. He's played with the media with statements such as "my Christian faith," but has never said, "I'm a Christian" or "I love Jesus", and we will never him say those words either. President Bush did, more than once. Obama pledged that during times of unrest, "I will always stand with the Muslims" over everyone. His words, not mine. He is now demonstrating that pledge by shutting down GITMO and in his own words, "re-organize the facility to more closely adhere to our constitutional rights. I haven't seen the articles that guarantee our constitutional rights to foreigners especially terrorists. Now Obama, a Muslim all his life, is going to guarantee them to his Muslim brothers. Remarkable. Any president of our country must love America over all and Obama doesn't and has demonstrated that also. He won't wear our flag on his lapel, won't cover his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance. He plans on demolishing the morale in the US Armed Forces by forcing them all to serve with openly gay people. I wouldn't want my life to depend on a man who cried during Bengi and wears women's undergarments. He, on July 2, stated his plans to create an armed civilian security force that's "as strong, as powerful and equally well funded as the US Armed Forces." His words, not mine. Why does he need a private army? Because he knows that when he pulls some asinine stunt that puts a few million irate Americans in the street the military will not back him. So, he'll need a force to fight the military, In Our Streets. Many in the US voted for him because he's African American. Obama is 85% Arabian and White and 15% African mix. He's not white for sure but he isn't the Black Knight many take him for. I fear that he's just another benevolent parasite to a misled Black Community in America. Read his books, and study his back ground from 1990 till 2007. If that doesn't give you any doubts then God help you all.
Best Regards,
Petey
By People Lover
Jan 21, 2009 10:28 PM | Link to this
Did you see the trash left behind by Obama's supporters? Sad.
President Hussein to the rescue. We are in trouble folks; better double the prayer output.
By happy as a clam
Jan 21, 2009 9:41 PM | Link to this
Sore loser.
By Reality, Folks!
Jan 21, 2009 7:22 PM | Link to this
Come on, now....If it were not for his race, how many of you would have voted for him? Be honest with yourself....He may prove to be a great President, and I hope that he does, but some of your comments border on stupidity. To the supposed "supporters"...Do you actually know what his beliefs/intentions are? Do you have a clue as to his stance on international policy? My money says that you don't....You voted for him because he is black. Well, so be it. However, he is also half white. Neither should make any difference whatsoever! So, please....educate yourself before making such ignorant posts!
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