Barack Obama's Election Brings Us Into Dawn's Early Light

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Inauguration
By Nicole M. Southern
In shoes of his own but footsteps left behind
Walked first by others expecting and envisioning today…
The beginning
The dawning of a sun so many thought would never rise
Complacently becoming used to cold and dark winters,
Overwhelmed by the first fires of sunrise
Encompassed and then ejected from the ashes,
Seemingly cruel but warm awakenings to spring
An open field encased but yet unfrozen
Delayed and so denied…
So still deferred, undeveloped, and unfinished
Burned at the brink of fruition over and over again
Imprisoning the open mind, strategically daring not to dream
…unspoken, unsupported, and unpursued
Until today
But isn’t it characteristic of hope to rise out of ashes?
Spreading open its wings like the phoenix
So boldly and brilliantly about the sky
As it embarks upon its first flight adventure?
Finally awake, taking in that first breath
New inspiration expanding the lungs of expectation
So thought long overdue and suddenly found impeccably punctual.
It is beginning and also has begun
So long ago before we could remember,
And why the ones who lived to see us here will never forget
The day the waters parted and we walked upon the blessed land of promise.
The golden pavement, its potential legacy to pass
Ahead and seed the fruited plains of majesty to come
In soil that becomes more soft with every tender step
And fertile from the blood of every effort passed
Finally, become the place “for ourselves and our posterity,”
Going back to giving rest for those found truly weary;
Founded in the hope of new beginning, still fragile but forever beating strong…
No longer wallowing in gestation,
Finally delivered and expecting
History in the making of American ways:
The dream delivered, no longer “deferred”
Solely “for the content of his character.”
©2009 Nicole Monique Southern

Nicole M. Southern of PA 1:45PM January 15, 2009

Good job NAACP.....keep stirring everything up so the wedge between the blacks and the whites goes deeper. Until your organization stops throwing the black mans issues in the white mans face, nothing will ever change. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a very wise man that wanted for everyone in this nation and around the world, regardless of color, to walk hand in hand, together, to make this country greater. I don't believe he waned to keep bringing up the past and reliving it constantly and using it as a "social crutch" to get what you want. He wanted to move forward. This "white" generation (i use the word white, because in this country we are all bunched together as one people if our skin isn't quite dark enough) does not deserve the ridicule it receives day in and day out from your organization and others. I have been told on numerous occasions that I owe the "black Community" an apology for what "my people" did to them. Well, here is a little insight to what and who "my people" are. My people came over on a boat 2 generations ago. That's right, my moms side was Sicilian, and my dads side was Irish. No one in my family was even an American when all of this went on, but still I pay the price because my skin is light. Why is this not racism? When will it change? Where will it end with the black community? How much is enough? Why should I pay for the sins of some that I was not associated with? Now that you have a president that is, well, half black if he is that, do you think he is gonna just write every black person a check, pay off all of his/her bills, and give him/her a free ride. Why should the color of his skin matter? Do you know how many "white devils" voted for President Elect Obama? Why not take another look at his acceptance speech, and see how many white (or non dark skinned) people you see. Just as many whites as blacks. You didn't win this election on your own as a single race. Believe it or not, it was won the way Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would have wanted it.....Black & White, standing hand in hand, together.......why cant' we build on that? Or should I ask, WHY CAN"T YOU BUILD ON THAT AS AN ORGANIZATION? Why not put that in a press release with a title that says..."....Racial barriers broken for a common cause ! Congrats Obama!
I guess the "white devils" will not get any press for standing with the Black community and making history. But that is o.k., because my creator, Jesus Christ, knows what went into getting our next President elected, and he knows where the hate and the negativity is in this country and we will all answer to that on our judgment day. I will be praying for your organization in the hope it will start trying to put out the fire between our races in this country, instead of constantly adding wood to the already burning blaze!
God Bless!

Mark A. Kingsley of MS 9:03AM December 10, 2008

he's not even black
obamas at least half white.
and why does there have to be an NAACP these days?
seems to me the only thing they're good for is stirring up trouble and causing the racial barrier to WORSEN.
maybe its time for an NAAWP.

Tyler of NC 5:22PM November 18, 2008

Dear Alan L Boles, how long have you stood in lines in America
to be recognized that you were even standing there, or are you an
American citizen? Or how many lines have you stood in, in the military
to collect your bi-monthly pay check? Or maybe I'll ask what have you really done
in this country to make what it is today, but take something "for Granted"?
SSGT James E Taylor,
USAF - Retired
Portsmouth, VA

JAMES E. TAYLOR of VA 8:15PM November 07, 2008

More is being made of this because he is black, than should be. The media has been making more of this, from the onset. Yes he won the election, but only by 6%. Not a landslide by past elections. And once again the media is spinning this out of its true proportion. Remember the last President they did this too. The people had to wait 33 and 1/2 yrs, after his death for the truth to be finally revealed. And in two years when the voters wake up to the facts. The status quo will not have changed enough, to satisfy the instant gratification syndrome. And the love affair will be over.

Alan L Boles of FL 2:27PM November 07, 2008

I must admit, I am gad this election is over, but the sad part is that there had to be a loser. For once in Black America our voice was heard and the results speak for themselves. I hope that President Barack Obama goes down as one of the greatest in presidents in history.

Daniel Walker of PA 12:02AM November 07, 2008

Yesterday's polls showed that 73% of Americans (52% of Dems) admitted that the media was biased toward Obama. So, in addition to spending 3 times more than McCain, Obama had free media endorsement and, beyond that, a free pass on issues that would have destroyed any other candidate.
Further, the intellectual elite professors of the educational establishment preached from their pulpits endorsing this new messiah. The result was parks and streets filled with swaying Obamatrons chanting "change" and "Yes, we can." And other meaningless slogans.
Now the Dems are claiming a mandate... Gee, all that money and bias, and all the "Empty O'Man" can manage is a 3% majority? Gosh, that's an extra 3 voters out of a hundred that were duped by the money, the liberal educational establishment and the media blitz- Doesn't seem to me to be much of a mandate considering the overwhelming forces that were brought to bear against his opponent.
Now don't mind me...Just go on with your chanting and hand holding...

R.L. Schaefer of CA 2:57PM November 06, 2008

How absurd. It always mattered in all the other elections, presidential and otherwise. I'm glad they finally voted, even if I disagree with their choice, but they should have been voting. Honestly, the euphoria in some of the articles written this week is getting ridiculous. Let's see how well he performs in office before we decide if the country made the right decision in electing Obama

Scott of MN 2:54PM November 06, 2008