The day of January 20, 2008 will go down in history as a historic, inspirational and unforgettable day in United States history. After about 233 years of the United States existence, 43 past presidents, the United States and the world will finally see the day in which an African American man by the name of Barack H. Obama, II will hold the office of the President of the United States.
In 1776, African Americans were for the most part still enslaved and in indentured servitude in the United States. In 1865 the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments gave African Americans the right to freedom, vote and access to public facilities and these rights were not patronized by the majority of America. Hence, in 1896 after the Plessy v. Ferguson case, the Jim Crow or “separate but equal” laws were promulgated and proposed to segregate the black and white population from one another in public facilities. In 1901, when the past African American leader Booker T. Washington was invited to dine in the White House and this evoked a lot of controversy in a lot of circles in American society.
In the 1950s and 60s a lot of African America leaders/ martyrs agitated for African Americans to have freedom, justice and sincere equality in American society. Leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Medger Evers, Dr. James Farmer, Rev Adam Clayton Power, Malcolm X, John Lewis, Fannie Lou Haimer, and others fought for African Americans to have conterminous rights as of whites in America. Through struggle, tenacity and patience, the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1965 were passed to give African American equal voting and civil rights in American society.
To “fast forward the tape”, about 44 years later, after it was controversial for an African American to dine at the white house, for an African American to go to a local restaurant or to cast a vote without discriminative requisites, we now have our first African America president of the United States of America living and working in the White House. January 20, 2009 was indeed a memorable, extravagant and phenomenal day in American history. When Barack Obama took the oath of the President of the United States, it “hit home” for a lot of Americans and specifically African Americans who were subjugated against by racism in the past and the present. Barack Obama’s doctrine of change in America is one that the majority of America is looking forward to. In Obama, inauguration speech, he publicly acknowledged and understood that the problems and serious challenges within the nation are indeed prevalent with the example of this receding economy, destructive wars overseas, poor health care, education, scarce room for prosperity in society and he said that is our time for us Americans to unite in remaking and rebuilding a better America. Obama promulgated an America with technological advances, new industries, new jobs, adequate and equal education, and more international diplomacies. Obama wants us to work swiftly, diligently, boldly, and cohesively in order to make a better America.
In closing, Obama’s speech was an inspirational speech in order to rectify the problems of America and to restore the country as a better place. The speech was also aspiring for African American males who make up over 80% of the prison system and 1% of America’s teaching population that they could succeed and reach the highest position of eminence in America’s society. Obama in office also proves that a change has come to America but in order for this country to experience close to a complete change, that it is a compulsory duty for Americans to unite and put morals and values over money, race, color and creed. Most say that Dr. Martin Luther King’s, dream was achieved but from being a voracious reader in history and preferably in African/ African American history, I know that a large portion of his dream was achieved and that his dream won’t be fully achieved unless America would be a peaceful place with an abundance of unlimited equal opportunities for all Americans of different race, social statuses and cultures. In today’s society it is unequivocal that racism, discrimination, creed, poor education, poor housing, violence and other crimes are still prevalent today as they were in the days of the Civil Rights Movement. Obama stated that it will take time to solve the problems of America’s society but it will happen through unity, hospitality and patriotism. Obama’s speech was indeed motivational and inspirational but in the words of Confucius, “a superior man is modest in his speech and exceeds in his actions” and time will tell to see if his actions will back up his eloquent speeches. I congratulate Obama and I am indeed looking forward to his years in office.
In 1776, African Americans were for the most part still enslaved and in indentured servitude in the United States. In 1865 the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments gave African Americans the right to freedom, vote and access to public facilities and these rights were not patronized by the majority of America. Hence, in 1896 after the Plessy v. Ferguson case, the Jim Crow or “separate but equal” laws were promulgated and proposed to segregate the black and white population from one another in public facilities. In 1901, when the past African American leader Booker T. Washington was invited to dine in the White House and this evoked a lot of controversy in a lot of circles in American society.
In the 1950s and 60s a lot of African America leaders/ martyrs agitated for African Americans to have freedom, justice and sincere equality in American society. Leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Medger Evers, Dr. James Farmer, Rev Adam Clayton Power, Malcolm X, John Lewis, Fannie Lou Haimer, and others fought for African Americans to have conterminous rights as of whites in America. Through struggle, tenacity and patience, the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1965 were passed to give African American equal voting and civil rights in American society.
To “fast forward the tape”, about 44 years later, after it was controversial for an African American to dine at the white house, for an African American to go to a local restaurant or to cast a vote without discriminative requisites, we now have our first African America president of the United States of America living and working in the White House. January 20, 2009 was indeed a memorable, extravagant and phenomenal day in American history. When Barack Obama took the oath of the President of the United States, it “hit home” for a lot of Americans and specifically African Americans who were subjugated against by racism in the past and the present. Barack Obama’s doctrine of change in America is one that the majority of America is looking forward to. In Obama, inauguration speech, he publicly acknowledged and understood that the problems and serious challenges within the nation are indeed prevalent with the example of this receding economy, destructive wars overseas, poor health care, education, scarce room for prosperity in society and he said that is our time for us Americans to unite in remaking and rebuilding a better America. Obama promulgated an America with technological advances, new industries, new jobs, adequate and equal education, and more international diplomacies. Obama wants us to work swiftly, diligently, boldly, and cohesively in order to make a better America.
In closing, Obama’s speech was an inspirational speech in order to rectify the problems of America and to restore the country as a better place. The speech was also aspiring for African American males who make up over 80% of the prison system and 1% of America’s teaching population that they could succeed and reach the highest position of eminence in America’s society. Obama in office also proves that a change has come to America but in order for this country to experience close to a complete change, that it is a compulsory duty for Americans to unite and put morals and values over money, race, color and creed. Most say that Dr. Martin Luther King’s, dream was achieved but from being a voracious reader in history and preferably in African/ African American history, I know that a large portion of his dream was achieved and that his dream won’t be fully achieved unless America would be a peaceful place with an abundance of unlimited equal opportunities for all Americans of different race, social statuses and cultures. In today’s society it is unequivocal that racism, discrimination, creed, poor education, poor housing, violence and other crimes are still prevalent today as they were in the days of the Civil Rights Movement. Obama stated that it will take time to solve the problems of America’s society but it will happen through unity, hospitality and patriotism. Obama’s speech was indeed motivational and inspirational but in the words of Confucius, “a superior man is modest in his speech and exceeds in his actions” and time will tell to see if his actions will back up his eloquent speeches. I congratulate Obama and I am indeed looking forward to his years in office.
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