Uncategorized
-
Reluctant Hope
Globe staffer Joseph Williams writes: When Eddie Burns, an unemployed musician, describes what the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama means to him as an African-American, he answers in superlatives: historic, amazing, unbelievable. The future president, Burns proudly declares, “has encouraged people to dream.” But as a client of Shepherd’s Table, a suburban Washington charity that…
-
The Hardline's Inaugural Day Mixtape
Rebel Without A Pause – Public Enemy The Cult of Personality – Living Color: “Only you can set you free..” be happy, but Be Cautious. Young, Gifted and Black – Nina Simone When the Revolution Comes – The Last Poets: “You’ll know it’s revolution, because there will be no commercials” Mosh – Eminem: “Don’t matter…
-
The Meaning of the Moment
I can’t help it; I gotta sing. “Aaaah-maayzin’ ger-ace! How su-weeeet thuh sound … ” What an amazing day to be black. What an amazing day to be an American. This is the day we never thought we would live to see, the one our grandparents prayed for, the one that inspired my wife Gayle…
-
Mr. Obama's Washington
“I brushed the boots of Washington.” —-Langston Hughes in “Negro” On the day it became Mr. Obama’s Washington, steam still fogged the windows at Henry’s, a soul food staple not far from the White House. Go-go music still blasted from loud speakers at the corner of 7th and U. The U Street club Republic Gardens…
-
Breaking Through the Clutter
During the presidential campaign, Fox News’ Geraldo Rivera provided a little comic relief when he imagined that political superstars Barack Obama, Deval Patrick and others must have attended some sort of “black genius camp” where they learned the secrets of winning political power. Now it turns out that Geraldo was onto something. The Breakthrough, PBS…
-
Of Thee, I Sing
In 1939, an American contralto singer named Marian Anderson stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and delivered a rousing hymn to her country—even though she was barred, as a black woman, from performing at the nearby Constitution Hall. On Inauguration Day 2009, Aretha Franklin called the same song—”My Country, ‘Tis of Thee”—back from…
-
Inauguration Madness – The Arrival
I made it! After a long and germ-crazy bus ride from Chinatown in New York City to the heart of D.C.’s Chinatown I finally stepped into the beautiful madness. The bus ride was pretty somber. I guess 3am travel will silence even “Obama-giddy-I-took-off-work-and-I-dare-anybody-to-say-anything-I’m-about-to-celebrate-our-first-black-prez” troopers. But once all 57 passengers stepped onto H and 5th Streets…
-
Kid's Inaugural
Miley Cyrus-fever has made its way into politics. Last night, the tween idol had a performance, along with other young stars at the Disney Kids’ Inaugural. MTV notes Cyrus as the kickoff act, but Jamie Foxx got the crowd hype with an Obama cheer, complete with beat box. Malia and Sasha Obama were in attendance.…
-
The Root Had a Ball! test
Speaking with the Speaker: The president-elect sits down with Nancy Pelosi before a meeting with his top economic advisers to discuss his plan for a stimulus package.
-
King and Obama
On what would have been his 80th birthday, Martin Luther King Jr. must be smiling from whatever heavenly vista he was rewarded for giving his life for black justice and American freedom. Forty years after King was gunned down in Memphis, Barack Obama rode the promise of change into the White House. It’s as if…