“Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.” -Martin Luther King, Jr.
It was 4 a.m. Obama fever had hit. Thousands of people, bundled up in layers of clothing and blankets, filled the Metro station headed for D.C. The line was wrapped around the building. Oh my God, I thought to myself. People were not kidding about how many people would be at this event.
My heart was pounding. The excitement and joy in the air had become contagious. When I set my two feet onto that first train, relief overcame my restless body.
I could not afford to miss this day. I had traveled across the nation for it. I had come too far.
In the past three days leading up to the Inauguration of our 44th President, I had observed the people around me in Washington, D.C. There was something amazing about the African Americans I met on this trip. Their spirits were so high. In the midst of a gruesome war overseas, a deteriorating economy, and a hopeless population, their spirits were high. Every single one had a smile on their face. In fact, unhappiness on this day was foreign here, maybe even extinct.
Many expressed what this day meant for their children. America had just opened up to a whole new meaning of freedom and democracy. A race that had been held down in this country for years was experiencing a glorious moment today. Freedom was ringing.
We were not only about to watch history unfold, but make it.
One woman shouted on the noisy train, “Hallelujah sister, we made it. We made it all the way from New York. Hallelujah!” My heart began to race again. Like I said, excitement here was contagious.
Running down the streets of Washington D.C. in the early dawn, was an exhilarating moment. There was no shoving or pushing, just running and screaming for excitement. Police patrol cars and fire trucks were on every corner. Every other street was blocked off. There was only one way to go, so we ran in that direction. We ran far and with no sense of exhaustion.
The next few hours were unexpected torture. It was twenty degrees of cold, five hours of shoulder-to-shoulder interaction with strangers, and thoughts of giving up because our line kept merging and seemed to be pushing us back rather than forward. People grew impatient, but not hopeless. I kept reminding myself, do not give up. It will be worth it. Just suck it up. You came this far.
At 10 a.m., my frostbite was gone. I stood under the sunny, lit up sky. Even in the cold, the sky reflected a bright ball of sunshine. I was now staring at the side of the capital, on the lawn. We were so close. A jumbo screen was up ahead. When I looked at it, and saw the coverage of how many people were all over D.C., I was shocked. I could not believe how many of us had made it here, and how smoothly it was going.
When the time came for the new president, his first lady, and their two daughters to hit the stage, reality started to sink in. I had been right earlier when I said it would be worth the cold hours of waiting. I had been so right.
Nothing will ever compare to hearing Obama’s words echo through the microphone. I felt joy, hope, and victory. Our country which had suffered so long under the reign of an untrustworthy presidency, had found new hope in a new man. I looked around me at the family of African Americans. They were crying. But, these were happy tears they shed. My heart began to fill with love, and tears began to run down my cheeks as well.
This was a moment bringing an entire nation together. Together, this crowd of millions felt hope again. For the first time in a long time, I could happily wave that beautiful flag which stood for prosperity, hope and freedom. America, the beautiful was alive again.
BROADCAST:
BROADCAST SCRIPT:
MILLIONS OF EXCITED AMERICANS SWARMED THE STREETS OF WASHINGTON D.C. ON TUESDAY JAN. 20TH 2009 TO WITNESS HISTORY.
BARACK OBAMA'S SWEARING IN CEREMONY HAD THE LARGEST TURN OUT IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
FROM THE METRO STATION TO THE STREETS OF D.C., CROWDS MADE THEIR WAY TO THE CAPITAL LAWN. MANY PEOPLE WAITED 5 TO 6 HOURS IN THE FREEZING 20 DEGREE TEMPERATURE TO GET TO THEIR SPOT ON THE LAWN.
OBAMA MEMORIBILA WAS BEING SOLD ON EVERY CORNER FROM T-SHIRTS, HATS TO POSTERS AND PINS. IT WAS EVIDENT D.C. HAD BECOME OBAMA CENTRAL THE PAST FEW DAYS.
ONE WOMAN SAID SHE ALMOST GAVE UP WHEN HER LINE BECAME SO DISORGANIZED. BUT HEARING THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH REMINDED HER IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT, THE COLD, AND THE JOURNEY THERE. OBAMA CAPTURED HERATS ALL OVER THE NATION WITH HIS POWERFUL SPEECH.
TEARS OF JOY AND CHEERS OF GLORY SPREAD ALL OVER THE NATION’S CAPITAL.
AMERICA’S FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN PRESIDENT, BARACK OBAMA WAS NO LONGER A DREAM. REALITY HAD SUNK IN AND FOR THOSE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE THERE, IT WAS THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME.
INFO BOX/PICTURES:
Capital Lawn: We made it after enduring 5 hours of the coldest weather of our lives!
Obama's most adorable supporters!
This is the biggest crowd I've ever been a part of.
On the streets of D.C., before the crack of dawn.
