The USA and the world celebrated Barack Obama’s inauguration just a few moments ago. What a wonderful event to see an African American man become the most powerful person in the world. A person who has accomplished this against unbelievable odds and with discipline, strategy and organization that will be written about for years. It was thrilling to see the event live with some colleagues in our faculty commons. The normally sedate room was fixated on the flat screen showing the events and I could feel a real sense of hope and excitement amongst my colleagues
However, for me this day is very special as it marks the rebirth of hope in this country. Hope as distinct from blind optimism. Hope that recognizes that accomplishment and service require hard work, dedication and discipline. As I was watching the inauguration two songs kept going through my head. Chuck-D kept imploring me to fight the power and the hard work required ahead:
1989 the number another summer (get down)
Sound of the funky drummer
Music hittin’ your heart cause I know you got sould
(Brothers and sisters hey)
Listen if you’re missin’ y’all
Swingin’ while I’m singin’
Givin’ whatcha gettin’
Knowin’ what I know
While the Black bands sweatin’
And the rhythm rhymes rollin’
Got to give us what we want
Gotta give us what we need
Our freedom of speech is freedom or death
We got to fight the powers that be
Lemme hear you say
Fight the power
As the rhythm designed to bounce
What counts is that the rhymes
Designed to fill your mind
Now that you’ve realized the prides arrived
We got to pump the stuff to make us tough
from the heart
It’s a start, a work of art
To revolutionize make a change nothin’s strange
People, people we are the same
No we’re not the same
Cause we don’t know the game
What we need is awareness, we can’t get careless
You say what is this?
My beloved lets get down to business
Mental self defensive fitness
(Yo) bum rush the show
You gotta go for what you know
Make everybody see, in order to fight the powers that be
Lemme hear you say…
Fight the Power
Elvis was a hero to most
But he never meant —- to me you see
Straight up racist that sucker was
Simple and plain
Mother—- him and John Wayne
Cause I’m Black and I’m proud
I’m ready and hyped plus I’m amped
Most of my heroes don’t appear on no stamps
Sample a look back you look and find
Nothing but rednecks for 400 years if you check
Don’t worry be happy
Was a number one jam
Damn if I say it you can slap me right here
(Get it) lets get this party started right
Right on, c’mon
What we got to say
Power to the people no delay
To make everybody see
In order to fight the powers that be
At the same time I kept hearing John Newton Amazing Grace and the opportunity for redemption for the country on so many levels and how this signifies hope:
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ’d!
Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.
While I have many questions about divine grace – this song captures the spirit of hope for me. Here is hoping for a succesful presidency for BHO and the hope that all Americans will come together and make this country and the world whole again.
Mubaraki Americans!