Barack Obama is now president of the United States of America. It is still hard for me to believe. I saw the inauguration on television. Never have I seen so many people come out to see one man, not even the pope. It was like the crowning of a storybook king. Obama put his hand on Lincoln’s old Bible and said the words and now he is president.
It was not as great a moment of joy and wonder as his election victory was back in November. Instead it was more a moment of relief. Relief that he was not killed (I always think about that), that he made it all the way to the inauguration.
And relief too in seeing George Bush get on that helicopter and leave Washington.
Bush left a bad taste in my mouth. He goes back to his little town in Texas seeming to be not one bit sad at all the bad he has done to the country and the world.
They asked him about Katrina the other day and he talked about what? Pulling people off of roofs. It seems that he, like his mother, never got what Kanye West was saying. Sorry, but he must be a profound racist not to be troubled or shamed by what he saw on television in those days.
Everyone makes mistakes and have made decisions they later wish they could take back, but for Bush to still talk like this three years later is sad. Very sad.
Obama’s speech was good, but not great, nothing like the one he gave after he won the election. No phrase rings out from it like Kennedy’s “Ask not”. But time will tell. When Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address no one thought much of it at first, but now it rings down through history.
Even leaving aside the whole first-black-president thing it was still a great moment: never, ever, in all my life has someone won the White House who I felt good about voting for. It has always been the lesser of two evils. You always feel kind of dirty or used after you vote.
A year ago I thought the Democratic Party machine would clank into action and back Hillary Clinton as the “safe” candidate, crushing Obama. Just like all the times before:
- Humphrey over Bobby Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy
- Mondale over Hart
- Dukakis over Jackson
- Bill Clinton over Jerry Brown and even Tsongas
- Al Gore over Bill Bradley
But Obama could not be crushed. It was wonderful and it was amazing. Not only did he win, he won without taking the low road, without cheap shots and dirty tricks. People saw that, that he was a good man and knew deep down in their hearts that he ought to be president.
In history the wrong side wins so many times that it is such a joy and a comfort to see the right side win for once.
– Abagond, 2009.
See also:
- Barack Obama – what I wrote about him two years ago (!!!) when he was just starting out on his campaign
- Obama wins!!! – where I talk about the first-black-president thing
- Obama retrospective – what I wrote about him 8 years later, in 2017, a week after he left office
- Yes, We Can.
- George Bush
- Katrina
- Democrat
Abagond 
What a great moment in History!!!!!!!!
I am so proud to be an American!!!!!!
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i am so happy for our country and proud to be an american. i feel like michelle obama, for the first time i really feel pride
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Now you know what Michelle meant!
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This is one of the greatest, perhaps the greatest, days our nation has seen in my lifetime.
I flatly disagree, by the way, with some of the talking heads I’ve heard on tonight’s news opining that Obama’s inauguration speech was not among his “great” speeches. MSM types like sound bytes and feel-good fluff. Obama’s speech did not yield any of that, but that’s the MSM’s problem, not Obama’s.
The speech was serious and pithy, laden with gravitas and layered with nuance and meaning. Most of all, it was brutally, brilliantly honest. You could tell it was a personal statement directly from the President’s heart. It was exactly what the nation needed on this day.
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I was there!
I was in D.C., right in front of the White House, in the freezing, bone-tingling cold for 6-7 hours, awaiting Obama to be sworn in as our country’s 44th President.
And the freezing cold was worth it. I watched history be made. And most of the turnout to view the inaguration was black. A variety of black folks from all over the country. Them and a bunch of white liberals.
I tell you one thing, Obama can never say that the people never believed in him. Because they came out in droves today. D.C. was PACKED to the wall. Easily, millions of people showed up. Crazy!
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Wow, that is way too cool!!!! I am so glad you made it and had a good time! Some of the bloggers I read who were there were not so fortunate.
On television – I think I was watching ABC – they made it seem like the million or two people who showed up for the inauguration were a good mix of white and black, like maybe 60% white, 40% black.
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Thanks!
Yeah, it was great seeing so many people who truly seemed inspired.
Inspired enough to freeze their butts off for several hours!
He did make a nice racial mix but it was predominately black. It was obvious in their actions that many of the white folks there were uncomfortable of that fact. LOL.
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Obama is no more black than white. This obsession over color is sad.
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John:
He is politically black. And that’s the only reason he is the President right now. Well, that and David Axelrod’s brilliant sales job.
That said, the speech was pretty good, at least some parts of it. Not so, Joseph Lowery’s insulting benediction. The good cop/bad cop routine continues.
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I liked what Lowery said at the end:
Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around … when yellow will be mellow … when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen.
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nonserviam: Given the state of the country and McCain’s choice for vice president, the Democrats were going to win regardless. I think it can be proved that Obama’s blackness, if anything, made the race closer.
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Nonserviam, I feel like we are regressing in some ways. Voting for someone’s “blackness” is just as absurd as voting for someone’s whiteness. I agree with you about Joseph Lowery’s comments. He sounds like he is stuck in a time warp, as if no progress has been made in the last 40+ years. Again, we have this dichotomy: celebrating that a man of color can be President of the United States, but still engaging in outdated and divisive rhetoric.
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I don’t know about Obama’s blackness being a decided “advantage”. And after Bush screwed up his first term, he won again, so there were no certainly that the country would vote Democrat.
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John,
You’re obviously white. I think you’re aware of what kind of country you live in. You know that race determines mostly everything in this kind of society. So, come off it, man. You may not be on the other side of racism, being a white man, but I refuse to believe you are that oblivious.
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LOL – about some commenters, like John, being obviously white.
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How is Lowery being divisive or insulting? He is asking God for help in ending racism. What, you thought racism was already over? Or do you think the best way to fight racism is to not talk about it? Like if we say nothing or lie about what is going on, it will all just go away as if by magic?
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mynameismyname Says:
“John, You’re obviously white. I think you’re aware of what kind of country you live in. You know that race determines mostly everything in this kind of society. So, come off it, man. You may not be on the other side of racism, being a white man, but I refuse to believe you are that oblivious.”
Mynameismyname, I am completely baffled by your comments. Wasn’t a man of color just sworn in as President of the United States? How is that possible if “race determines mostly everything in this kind of society?” That logic escapes me.
Yes, I am aware of what country I live in, the greatest country on earth. Why else are millions of people still coming to America? In the old Soviet Union, they put up walls to keep their citizens from escaping. In America, we have the opposite problem: practically everyone wants to come here and not leave. That is why illegal immigration has been out of control.
Another thing that amazes me is that the people who live in America, but always knock the country, refuse to leave. Nobody is forcing these miserable individuals to stay, but they do stay. Hmmmm…maybe because they know they are very fortunate to be in America!
Regarding being white, is that a bad thing? It almost sounds like an accusation.
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Given the state of the country and McCain’s choice for vice president, the Democrats were going to win regardless.
Probably so, but white Barry Dunham would not have been the Democratic nominee (or indeed, anyone of note).
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abagond Says:
“How is Lowery being divisive or insulting? He is asking God for help in ending racism. What, you thought racism was already over? Or do you think the best way to fight racism is to not talk about it? Like if we say nothing or lie about what is going on, it will all just go away as if by magic?”
As long as humans are sinful and imperfect, there will always be racists, just like there will always be thieves and murderers. You know the saying: “You are preaching to the choir.” Do you automatically suspect anyone around you is a thief or murderer? Likewise, do you automatically suspect they are racist? If I met you, I would not assume the worst of you unless you gave me a reason to. I expect the same respect.
As far as how to fight racism, let me quote one of my favorite actors, Morgan Freeman, from an interview with Mike Wallace:
“How are we going to get rid of racism? Stop talking about it.”
Before you get upset by what he said, he is not saying to pretend it doesn’t exist, as you seem to think, but to stop constantly dwelling on it. You can see for yourself:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/12/14/60minutes/main1127684.shtml
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If Barack’s race doesn’t matter, why was he getting death threats and assassination attempts? Why were major political figures making racial remarks about him? Why were racist political cartoons drawn about him? I could go on but I dont need to. You’re wrong and obviously white or not black, or don’t know any black people.
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Most presidents get death threats.
Obamas race gives a different group of losers a reason to do it. Different group – same lack of brain cells.
Racist cartoons are drawn about obama because they think its a screw they can turn…there were other issues with other presidents that were used. when your in the public eye, they will use anything they can think of to get to you. your race, children, past relationships, its all fair game. Its not right…but what they are doing to obama is no different…just a slighty different tune.
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True, all presidents get death threats, but I think many people believe – and I am one of them – that he is far more likely to get shot than most presidents because he is black. There are violently racist people in America.
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John: Thanks for the link to the Morgan Freeman interview. Please keep in mind that Freeman is very rich. Read about his divorce.
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John: You should read these posts when you get a chance if you have not already:
https://abagond.wordpress.com/2008/03/24/apple-pie-america/
https://abagond.wordpress.com/2008/05/31/colour-blind-racism/
https://abagond.wordpress.com/2008/07/21/barack-obamas-patriotism/
https://abagond.wordpress.com/2009/01/22/will-smith-america-is-not-a-racist-nation/
https://abagond.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/is-racism-in-america-over/
I agree with what BAbygirl said in comment #20.
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How is Lowery being divisive or insulting?
He singles out white people as uniquely blameworthy. Once again, not simply untrue, but a total inversion of the truth.
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Interesting article on Obama as “Rock -Star- In Chief”
Doesnt make a single mention of his race
http://laermer.com/2009/01/21/the-real-american-idols-are-going-to-mess-it-up-for-the-fake-ones/
“With the inauguration yesterday of Barack as rockstar-in-chief, America has seen the merciful end of the vapid celebrity. Let me rephrase that as a question. Is it really possible that the Jennifer Anistons of the world will at least temporarily take a back seat to famous people who – gasp – have something more to say than the line they read from a cue card? “
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Nonserviam is correct that Lowery singled out white people as uniquely blameworthy. For him to say “when white will embrace what is right” clearly implies whites normally embrace what is wrong. That is not only racist, it is totally absurd. There were countless white people who were instrumental in the civil rights movement. He paints all white people with a broad brush, that is obvious.
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Lowery is playing off of an old saying which I have always heard to go like this:
If you’re white, you’re all right.
If you’re brown, stick around,
But if you’re black, stay back!
So it was nice to hear it put some other way for once. Whites do not always embrace what is right, unfortunately.
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Babygirl Says:
Thu 22 Jan 2009 at 03:05:48
“If Barack’s race doesn’t matter, why was he getting death threats and assassination attempts? Why were major political figures making racial remarks about him? Why were racist political cartoons drawn about him? I could go on but I dont need to. You’re wrong and obviously white or not black, or don’t know any black people.”
Babygirl, you are too much! What is with all the “you’re obviously white” comments, as if that is a crime? You don’t know me, so how you can possibly presume that I don’t know black people? That would be news to my friends!
You can’t be that naïve to believe that there is something new about offensive parodies and death threats against political leaders. You should see many of the ugly cartoons and remarks made about George Bush and his Secretary of State, Condi Rice, over the past eight years! And you can’t be that naïve to not understand that there will always be stupid people who say offensive and vile things no matter who is president.
Are you saying you don’t know President John Kennedy and his brother Robert were both assassinated? You didn’t learn President Lincoln was assassinated? You don’t know that President Reagan was shot and almost died after an assassination attempt? To suggest that white presidents are any safer is insane.
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abagond Says:
Thu 22 Jan 2009 at 19:08:08
“Lowery is playing off of an old saying which I have always heard to go like this:
If you’re white, you’re all right.
If you’re brown, stick around,
But if you’re black, stay back!
So it was nice to hear it put some other way for once. Whites do not always embrace what is right, unfortunately.”
Abagond, do non-white people always embrace what is right? Do you want white and non-white people held to different standards? I don’t; I want everyone held to the same standards. I am familiar with that old saying you quoted. That was my point before. This is old and outdated rhetoric. Please reread my previous post about preaching to the choir, because it applies to this.
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old but not (yet) outdated.
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“Is it really possible that the Jennifer Anistons of the world will at least temporarily take a back seat to famous people who – gasp – have something more to say than the line they read from a cue card?”
The author seems to be unaware of the irony.
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in response to comment 32: The irony that when giving a speech every single president has had a speech writer and read off of cue cards?
I agree with the sentiment of picking real peopel for heros though. Holiday and the media is not where I find them though. Its the Men and women in uniform. Those who serve and help without ever being famous.
Re:Loreys comment: I found Lowrey comments offensive. I can often understand why Abagond feels the way he does about racim, while at the same time disagree with him. If the phrase was not “when white will embrace what is right” but something generalizing ANY other race…there would be a huge outcry. The perception that only white people have a problem with racisim is wrong. The idea that Racisim is the only problem this country faces is wrong. Nothing will ever get better until people stop focusing on the symptoms (black and white or hispanic and black etc) and take a step back and look at a larger picture.
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All Americans are racist and all need to embrace what is right. But it is especially important for whites because they hold most of the power, because they pretty much run things, because so many of them are blind to racism or try to play it down.
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Davida and John: All presidents are in danger of getting shot. The same applies to Obama. But in addition to the regular dangers he has the added ones of violent racists.
So he is more likely to get killed because he is black.
I find it odd that both of you tried to play this down, but, come to think of it, it fits in with other comments of yours where you try to downplay race.
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John: being white is not a crime and so far as I can tell no one seemed to be “accusing” you of it either. But some of your comments do make you seem obviously white.
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abagond Says:
“All Americans are racist and all need to embrace what is right. But it is especially important for whites because they hold most of the power, because they pretty much run things, because so many of them are blind to racism or try to play it down.”
Abagond, Davida and Nonserviam found Lowery’s remarks offensive, just as I did. We talked about why his remarks were offensive, but you liked what he said. Do you think you may be “blind to racism?” Think about it.
You think all Americans are racist and you seem completely obsessed with “race,” because almost every single topic in your blog focuses on the subject or at least mentions it.
I have no more power than you. I am a regular guy trying to get by in life, just like most people, black, white or whatever.
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I think the truth matters more than the feelings of white people. Most whites are offended when you call them racist. So what are we supposed to do? Never bring it up? Never talk about it? Never call a spade a spade?
Do you at least understand why I liked what Lowery said and why many white people would not? Does that, in and of itself, make me a racist?
Lowery may not have said it in the best way, but the country only moves forward on race when white people embrace what is right – like many of them did in the civil war and the civil rights movement and in voting for Obama because he was truly the better man.
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It ws offensive because it implyed only white people had to embrace what is right. That everyone else, but omision, already has.
All other racial statements in his speech were positive…the only negative statement was about white people.
The american government (by your definition a white government) has a history of rushing aid to minority third world countries. We have a history of providing rights to women and minorities long before the rest of the world. For 100 years or more america as been the dream of non white people as the place where they can be free and succesful. The first of the super power type countries to elect a black leader and always the first to do this sort of thing, So to say that this white government hasnt gotten it right..is offensive.
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Note: I am not saying their isnt a problem – just the other day I saw a shop keeper ask two black women if she could help them. What she ment was “I am watching you – you better not steal anything”. I spoke up and asked the shop keeper why she hadnt asked me if I needed help…I had been in the store twice as long. I then asked if I had been shoping with the two BWs if she would have felt “safer”. I then told her she was a racist. She was not white.
I simiply think that in this day and age the “big white wolf” is a stereo type of its own. I think all people of all races…are subject to this sickness. And this problem will not be fixed unless addressed as a whole. As long as “whitey” is thought to be the cause…the sickness will not be healed.
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The american government (by your definition a white government) has a history of rushing aid to minority third world countries
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The government also has a history of overthrowing democratically elected leaders in 3rd world countries when they don’t fit American interests.
The government also has a history of supporting dictators in many countries in 3rd world countries that violate Human Rights and leave the masses in poverty. i.e Iraq
The government also has a history of forcing poorer countries to accept cheaper American farm food at the expense of local farmers who can’t compete on the market. (See Nafta) This is the same reason is why millions of Mexicans and others are travelling across the border.
The government also has a history of forcing very bad economic and foreign policies on other countries affecting the local population tremendously and then Americans have the audacity to ask why they hate us.
Lowery called the spade a spade and people like him should continue to speak up because I hope we never fall into complaceny or false security. We still have BIG problems especially with continued disparities between the races. Situations like what happen to Oscar Grant will continue to happen if people believe everything is fine and think minorities should “stop complaining” now.
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I simiply think that in this day and age the “big white wolf” is a stereo type of its own. I think all people of all races…are subject to this sickness. And this problem will not be fixed unless addressed as a whole. As long as “whitey” is thought to be the cause…the sickness will not be healed.
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We do live in a system of white supremacy under which some white people are unwilling participants. I also believe that white supremacy will coninue to exist w/o white people’s help as long as there are enough people of color who are willing to participate and enforce the rules.
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America has made huge progress on race over the past 50 or so years. I have said that in this blog.
A black president is an amazing and wonderful thing, something I thought I would never live to see. I have said that too.
America is a land of opportunity, so much so that blacks from poor countries will put up with the racism in America to make a better life for their families. I know that quite well and have said that too (in a comment the other day about West Indians and in a post about racism in New York).
All that is true. I would not be living a middle-class American life if they were not. But it is also just as true that racism is far from dead in America. America still has a long ways to go before it becomes post-racial.
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abagond Says:
“America has made huge progress on race over the past 50 or so years. I have said that in this blog.
A black president is an amazing and wonderful thing, something I thought I would never live to see. I have said that too.
America is a land of opportunity, so much so that blacks from poor countries will put up with the racism in America to make a better life for their families. I know that quite well and have said that too (in a comment the other day about West Indians and in a post about racism in New York).
All that is true. I would not be living a middle-class American life if they were not. But it is also just as true that racism is far from dead in America. America still has a long ways to go before it becomes post-racial.”
Abagond, I am happy to hear you acknowledge that. It is the generalizing statements that I find the most infuriating. Maybe if you concentrate more on individuals instead of groups, you will have a better outlook overall.
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it will never be completely post racial.
just as it will never stop being sexist
it will never stop being classist
etc
these are all symptoms of the sin that affects the human race…only one cure for it.
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Racism is rooted in sin and it takes some form in most human scoieties – like the Japanese looking down on the Koreans, the untouchables in India and so on – I agree with all of that. But saying it that way seems like throwing up your hands and saying there is little you can do about it. It makes racism a harder thing to fight, not an easier thing.
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Hello abagond! I hope you don’t mind me dropping by and commenting on this post.
I want to say that John and Divida missed the point of what Rev. Lowrey was expressing in his ol skool saying of him “white should do what’s right” is not racist. He switched the words around to make it befitting of this post-racial and harmonious even that is taken place today of 2009. the original saying “White is right” was meaning that white people are infallible and superior because of them being white. “Black should step back” was meaning at the time because of their race, they are prohibit to accomplish. Being yellow that you can’t be mellow. Is saying that you can’t be yourself. If you red than you can’t get ahead. Is very self-explanatory.
He switched the them around as of means to say that we are all human and we can accomplish anything no matter what race. “whites will embrace what’s right” is remaking the saying of means to say that just because you are white no loner applies of you being superior and infallible because of your race. You should embrace what’s right because that is the human thing to do.
I find it funny that John and Divida didn’t argue the if you black should not have to step back” and say should ALL people not step back? lmao. It’s just another way of John to call out reverse racism. When in reality he knows what Rev. Lowrey meant. The point was to remake the old saying of people of color to have us unite and because of our color we no longer have to feel any set backs or guilts but to not ever let our dangerous historical past effect the future. Self-denial sure is a disease I tell you.
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A good explanation. Thanks!
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Yup, this is the first I’ve felt proud too…
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This country was built upon racism. Therefore both blacks and whites are pretty much obsessed with race. So when someone accomplishes something, then of course that person’s race is brought up as either an advantage or hindrance to that accomplishment.
Some things are above race. Obama won because it was time for it. His rise to prominence in a relatively short time to steal the nod from Hillary is a study in itself.
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I don’t think Obama will get a 2nd term!
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We shall see
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four years later we realize how wrong we were
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seven and a half years later we realize how wrong we were
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Abagond @ A black president is an amazing and wonderful thing, something I thought I would never live to see. I have said that too.
America is a land of opportunity, so much so that blacks from poor countries will put up with the racism in America to make a better life for their families. I know that quite well and have said that too (in a comment the other day about West Indians and in a post about racism in New York).
Linda says,
Thank you for saying this Abagond
because based on all the criticism I have read on your blog about Obama from black commenters and you, I thought everyone must have fell, hit their heads, woke up and believed they were white in America for a hot minute
acting as if the USA has had numerous black Presidents, and it’s the same sh’t, different day… as if nothing of importance has occurred with Obama being elected.
after witnessing the political “lynching” Obama took in the last 7 years by all the racists politicians and bitter Betty’s with Agendas, that crawled out of the hole from day 2
it’s clear that Obama will be the first and LAST “African American” President that the USA will have in a very longggg time
“the experiment was great“, says the white Liberals, “but now it’s “back to reality”
so I hope all you black American
Judas’sunbiased critics enjoyed sitting at the white lunch table, where you got to show how much “black people are not a monolith and don’t think alike”because this will be the last black President in your lifetime that you get to criticize
back to the scheduled program of watching Washington work properly and functionally because a white figurehead will once again, be back at the helm of the ship for the unforeseeable future (but I’m sure black Americans will benefit by accident)
and in the meantime, those of us who come from majority black/brown countries, will continue to love, hate or criticize our numerous elected African descended Presidents/Prime Ministers
who we will judge on clear Merit because we do not have a white minority or majority population insulting or OBSTRUCTING progress in the country.
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