What Happened On January 20th?
On January 20th, 2009, America gathered on the West Front of the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. This wasn’t just any Inauguration Day; it was a day etched in history, a day where the first black man became the president of the country.
Barack Obama, the son of a Kenyan father and an American mother, stood poised to become the first African-American president of the United States. His election had shattered racial barriers and ignited a spark of hope across the nation. Over 1.8 million people, a record-breaking crowd, converged on the National Mall, eager to witness history.
The ceremony itself was a tapestry of symbolism, an incredible sight to behold, even on television. Aretha Franklin sung out a rendition of “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,” her voice soaring throughout the air. Reverend Joseph Lowery, a civil rights leader who had marched alongside Martin Luther King Jr., delivered a powerful invocation, reminding the nation of the long and arduous struggle for equality that led to this moment.
And then, the moment arrived. Chief Justice John Roberts raised his hand, and Barack Obama, with his wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha by his side, placed his hand on a Bible once owned by Abraham Lincoln. He recited, “I solemnly swear, I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
“There is nothing magical about this moment,” he said. “The American spirit has always been defined by the notion that everyone deserves a chance, that hard work and sacrifice can lead to a better life.”
His words resonated across the nation, tears streamed down faces, cheers erupted, and a sense of collective possibility hummed in the air.
Questions, Comments, Concerns?
Even though not all Americans do not agree with his policies or political ideologies, the fact that a colored man became a leader of America’s nation is incredible, despite the country’s dark history of discrimination.
Please leave your thoughts or questions down below!
