inarguation

Amongst the crowd I stood cold neck up as the steady warmth waved through body heat. These moments before the swear-in I did not realize my position. In fact I was one singular self looking to squeeze past this monstrosity of a pack, one person at a time, in hopes of getting closer to the big screen. We did not have tickets so we chose to push and shove and wait until it all got started. I leaned forward to my toes to see the millions that surrounded me. The forty six I arrived on the mall with was now dispersed randomly and I only counted seven familiar faces behind me. There behind me was a countless amount. How it was amazing to see so many faces of color and life. I knew then I became we. We were all waiting, whether it was patiently or impatiently, for that moment that would soon change us.

When the president elect began his walk they cheered and screamed. Soon I found myself doing the same. Though he stumbled (proving to us that he was just as human as we are) in the beginning he finished his swear-in flawlessly. I was sure to record every word of his speech. Obama said exactly what we needed to hear. I realized that “at this moment -- a moment that will define a generation -- it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.”

And when it was over we realized that it had just begun.

I am pleased to say that I have witnessed history: the kind of history that I can be proud to tell my children and their children about. I will take my pictures, my stories, and these memories with me and hold them to remind me of this moment so that I can share it. Change will come starting now.

an inspiring day

This morning started off in the right way. Everyone woke up to breakfast and then went to work. The bus dropped us off in DC for a volunteer project that provided and collect donations to anyone who was willing to accept. It was nice to get away from the rush of trying to hit deadlines. We could relate and converse to our peers and help others during the same time.

Right after wards we headed toward Howard University to attend a rather interesting forum put together by the Young and powerful group. Basically Established Panel members debated important issues surrounding the inauguration.

One thing I admired about this panel and the audience was the fact that they challenged Obama in a respectable manner. Often times i feel that we are afraid to challenge someone of such stature and relevance to our culture. Here we proposed what should be done and what we will do to better ourselves and communities as a whole. Keys points where:

The imagery of Obama fading and what needs to happen on local level.
Self development as Obama is not a messiah who will put a chicken in every pot.
Improving the erosion of education in communities.

One of my goals is to better my home community in Chicago then move on to other striving communities. Having these conversations of what needs to be done has encouraged to move forward to achieve my goals. I imagined myself in their shoes a couple of years from now young, knowledgeable and ready to revolutionize and empower! That will be me... And you can quote me on it!

a cold 15 hours on the mall

It was pretty cold today. Of course dc can not touch the bitter cold weather of my hometown Chicago but it was still a little nippy.

We all gathered to sit among the hundreds who watched the we are one performance for barack obama. Several artists and actors hit the stage to present their part in this program. Though we were far from the stage the feeling of being around and connected to all of those people supporting one common cause was amazing. The crowd chanted and cheered, climbed trees, and embraced one another. Everyone saw potential in our country as Obama became more synonymous with change.

I was happy to see us grow closer as a group. We learned names, played games and leaned on each other during this time of cold.

I'm not really fond of long drives...

So yesterday was a little long....
okay maybe it it was a lot of long but thats alright :)

All 46 of us were packed on to that illini bus in hopes of making it to pennsylvania in a safe and timely manner. Well lets just say we got there safetly...

I realized that there was a lot about my peers that i did not know before the past two days of this trip. We communicated so much more while traveling (who wouldn't over the period of 15 hours?). Ideas were given and conversation was more than fluid. I can say that I am happy to be apart of this trip with these individuals.

We often engaged in debate and spoke on brief conflict. One of the participants, Femi, experienced an interesting interaction with a curious male in Ohio. This guy asked Femi what basketball team we where with. Femi then replied that he was just apart of this group going to the inarguation. The male then said oh okay, and went about his business. Then later on, a group leader Ashley Davis over heard a maneger of a souvenir store to watch out for "five finger discounts" as we entered their establishment in Pennsylvania.

Many of us questioned why someone would assume Femi was a basketball player and others wondered why it was assumed that we would steal from their store.
It amazing how til this day we still struggle through stereotypes. The only difference is that most of the time people are less verbally blunt about it.

Then some of us argued that we can't always assume that people are prejudice and make racial assumptions. The counterpointed that us making those assumptions about others making assumptions solves nothing in the end.

We must be mindful of what we say and our surroundings. In situations like these I feel as though keeping composure is essential. If we loose our minds and misuse our words we can fall right in to the stereotypes we try to diminish.

packing my bags

Among the nervous chills running through my stomach as the inauguration day creeps closer are curious thoughts of what tomorrow will bring. I'm so anxious for this trip that I haven't fully packed my bags despite the 7 hours I have spent in my dorm. As I continue to look over my things, in fear of leaving anything of importance, I find my true problem. There is no proper preparation for this coming 2oth of January. I will be apart of what my mother and my mother's mother has been waiting for for years. I will witness something unheard of to Americans. An unreasonable idea before now an unmistakable reality. As I ponder on what to fill my bags with I see that my true load is that of my ancestors. A load that I can not carry lightly.

The pressure is here and will be handled by a brilliant African American Man and the hasty decisions of my generation.

What will tomorrow bring? A revolutionary leader! (and a black one none the less)

I might be here packing my bags for another long while...