President Bush made his “farewell address to the nation” last night. Whatever, just go already.
After an interminable transfer of power, the 56th Presidential Inaugural Weekend kicks off tomorrow in Philadelphia, the first stop on the Whistle Stop Train Tour.
I won’t be in DC for the inaugural festivities. I did a test run of sorts last weekend. I checked out the Presidential Reviewing Stand, which was still under construction.
I walked along the parade route to the Capitol Grounds, where workers were setting up chairs for those with tickets to the Inaugural Swearing-in ceremony.
With ten days to go, two of the five flags were hung.
The Inaugural calendar is packed with events, but I strongly recommend taking time to view the “Road to Freedom: Photographs of the Civil Rights Movement, 1956-1968” exhibition at the Ripley Center. The National Museum of African American History and Culture is hosting an Open House on Monday, Jan. 19th from 11 am to 3 pm.
The iconic photographs tell our story of faith and hope. Rep. John Lewis, the subject of several of the photos, observed:
These pictures made a difference to help educate and inspire.
As I viewed the photos, I overhead the security guards talk about the crowds that were expected to fill the galleries. I was reminded of a recent sermon by Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts III, pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. Dr. Butts noted African Americans’ struggle for racial justice propelled them to be a witness to history:
The dignity of our spirit lifted us up. That’s why they’re going to DC. That’s why they’re crying.
I will kick off my inaugural festivities on Sunday at Concord Baptist Church in Brooklyn, where the foundation for my lifelong activism was laid.
