-
President Obama Spurred by MLK's Legacy
It was more than fitting that President Obama’s second inauguration fell on the national day of celebration for Martin Luther King Jr., Earl Ofari Hutchinson writes at his blog. After all, he says, Obama knows that King is a big reason for his political success. … Then Democratic presidential candidate Obama first publicly expressed deep…
-
'Chappelle's Show' Co-Creator's Fave Skits
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 10 years since Chappelle’s Show debuted on Comedy Central. Starring comic Dave Chappelle, the sketch-comedy series featured hilarious, irreverent takes on race (Clayton Bigsby, the black white supremacist), history (world’s greatest wars) and celebrity (R. Kelly‘s sex scandal), among other topics. It created oft-repeated catchphrases (“I’m Rick James,…
-
Guns, Democracy and the Supreme Court
If recent mass shootings have reinvigorated the conversation about gun regulation and access to mental-health treatment, they must also generate a discussion of the Constitution, the role of government and our responsibility to one another, Patricia J. Williams writes at the Nation. As President Obama begins his second term, our hopes and expectations are shadowed…
-
Obama Incorporates Race Into Inauguration
President Barack Obama subtly embraced the legacy of the civil rights movement simply through the selection of the two Bibles used during his swearing-in ceremony, Michael H. Cottman writes at BlackAmericaWeb. When Obama is publicly sworn-in on Monday as America’s 45th president, he will place his right hand on two weather-worn Bibles — one owned…
-
Sasha and Malia Get Colorful for Inauguration Day
First daughters Sasha and Malia wear colorful outfits on Inauguration Day: Malia, 14, sported a magenta J. Crew coat (she also wore one on Inauguration Day in 2009) and violet tights for the big day, while Sasha, 11, opted for a purple Kate Spade coat and a white necklace Monday morning, the Huffington Post reports. Conservative…
-
Scenes From the 2013 Inaugural Ceremony
On Monday, thousands of revelers flooded the National Mall to witness President Obama renew his oath to America. The stretch of bodies was an astonishing sight — so much so that just as President Obama retreated back into the Capitol after the swearing-in, he paused, took one last look at the massive crowd and said,…
-
Scenes From the 2013 Inaugural Ceremony
On Monday, thousands of revelers flooded the National Mall to witness President Obama renew his oath to America. The stretch of bodies was an astonishing sight — so much so that just as President Obama retreated back into the Capitol after the swearing-in, he paused, took one last look at the massive crowd and said,…
-
Obama's Velvet-Glove Inaugural Address
(The Root) — Obama deserves very high but perhaps not superlative marks for his second inaugural address. It had more the character of an inside-the-park home run, not a grand slam. A 9 on my Olympic scorecard, not a full 10. Not a standout, A-plus effort, but certainly a quite solid A-minus. The speech will…
-
The Obamas Walk in Inaugural Parade
Drawing cheers like rock stars, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama exited the limousine for the traditional inaugural walk in the parade from Capitol Hill to the White House. The duo waved to cheering, flag-waving crowds lining Pennsylvania Avenue to celebrate the beginning of the president’s second term, the Associated Press reports. Obama,…
-
Obama Calls on 'We the People' at Inauguration
(The Root) — After a first term that saw fierce partisanship, a struggling economy and widespread disagreement on the principles that define us as a nation, President Barack Obama kicked off his second term with an address calling for unity while celebrating the nation’s growing diversity and insisting that we must respect and look out…
Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude
