I AM AN AMERICAN! I never thought I could say that sincerely until Tuesday January 20,2009. I must say in the beginning I didn't believe. Yet two women of different backgrounds, one from Colorado raised and the other a declared feminists from California said believe.  Emma and Sara talked to me all summer long on why not to throw in the towel and leave the country. This young generation took the lead and said enough; we will no longer tolerate decisive and we are not apathatic about our country; we care about the environment; education; people- all people; we care about child care; woman rights; rural poverty; urban poverty; they said loudly we care and we want a man of integrity.  They got on the phones and internet and took the lead. Yes they are ready for the torch to be past to them, no they took the torch and showed us what America can be when we believe and look beyond what is different about us. We do have so much in common. I felt it amongst the people surrounding me.  

I'm a voter and a child of integration after the marches and water hoses. I listened to my mother describe Alabama and what it was like during those times but I didn't walk in her shoes.

However on January 20, 2009 I walked and braved the cold for the past, future and today. I thought this is for Mother Vera B. Murphy, Mrs. Gibson, Gran Nonnie, my teacher Mrs. Lane (who said one day there will be a black president; I was in 7th grade giving her hell- forgive me), for my grandmother with her six grade education who put a daughter and nieces through college; this is for ancestors who bones fill the muddy bottom of the Atlantic Ocean; this is for the Asian who came to build our railroads and could not bring his family; this is for Japanese Americans, Mexican Americans; Chicanos; Latinos; Native Americans; the able and disabled, gay. straight; transgender; homosexual; or whatever you call yourselves this is for you.  This day I'm proud to be an American where ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

I rode down with friends I have known from my early years of living in Washington DC.  Marie a great friend said as we drove down the pre-dawn Rhode Island Avenue.  "This is what LOVE can do." Yes over a two million and counting folks braved the cold and stood in lines that redefined the meaning long lines just to witness the 56th Inauguration of our 44th President Barrack Obama.  I cried, laughed and hugged strangers we realizing we had been too long without touch. We had been too long hiding behind words, stereotypes, anger of past transgressions that yearned to be forgiven and slates wiped clean. We have been too long struggling, wishing hoping just to talk; just to dialogue and today I say lets put the color white back into the crayon box.  We people of color stands for all those in the Crayola Crayon Box. Even the hues yet discovered welcome home everyone. Lets work together and tear down every wall that separates; divide and breath this fresh breath called hope this man had brought on the wind.  To the people I met, you are not strangers but just a new member of my growing family- the human race.  

I'm exhaling for the generations of shoulders I stand on like many others who stood on the mall, parade lines and those 1500 who braved the cold marching down Pennsylvania Avenue.

President Barrack Obama welcome home!