I am certain that most Americans, as I am, have enjoyed the events of this great day in American history and politics surrounding the Inauguration of our 44Th President of the United States, Barak Obama!
As I awakened this morning at 4A.M. to prepare my mind and my body for the days activities, I was in awe as I saw the first snowfall of the year accumulating on my deck off from my home office. I was reminded that the fresh snow was so symbolic of what the day would represent for me and this great nation of ours in my mind. I have always been told that the snow purifies the air and kills germs. How befitting as we were only hours away from not just a changing of the guard but also a shift of policy, procedure and prose that I personally believe has hindered the reconciliation and restoration of this nation to her former glory.
I watched from as many perspectives as I could to assure my viewpoint would also be vantaged and as informed as possible and no matter which of the five selected networks I chose to view simultaneously I was overwhelmed at the enormity of the burden I sensed that has consistently enlarged within my spirit all day........the burden of responsibility that I pray will reside within the minds and spirits of all African-American men and that is, we must all become acutely aware that we must now become worthy of this moment. The American people elected one man but I can't somehow shake this feeling that President Obama's success is the foundation for the success of us all. He has put every African-American male with leadership qualities and aspirations in the spotlight ,and I, for one want to make sure I prove in my place of assignment, that I am worthy of this moment!!!
We must walk circumspectly before our God in this hour as never before. We must dispel the many erroneous myths and fallacies that have been set to ruin us and keep us from rising to the occasion of being successful in the marketplace, in business, industry, politics and religion!! We have the attention of the entire world, we are not just athletes and actors, we are not just preachers and principals, also,we are not just prisoners and protractors of progress. We will, if we rise to the occasion of the hour prove that we are progenitors and prodigies of GREATNESS that has had to fight it's way up through the degradation of slavery, Jim Crowism, segregation and reverse affirmative action!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My freshmen year at NCCU I was so moved when Tony Brown a great activist and motivator said to us since there is already a Seven/Eleven we need to establish a Six/Twelve...opening an hour earlier and closing an hour later. I interpreted Mr. Brown's statement to mean we must redeem the time, for the night has been far spent. We must as men of color now reveal to the world what we have been waiting off-stage and preparing for.
We are the originators of schools of thought that have driven mankind to places of exploration and excellence, now we are privileged to lead from center stage! Let's make our families strong and our communities stronger and our nation to know that beyond the day, we are not just a part of the issues at hand in America and the world globally but we are now the ANSWER!!!!!
