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THIS DAY IN HISTORY
A Brilliant Light Challenges Bright Future
Barack Obama is inaugurated as President-Jan. 20
It was a historic day as I watched Barack Obama be inaugurated for the first time on Tuesday, January 20, 2009. It is etched in my mind for several reasons. Not only was I fully aware I was watching history unfold, Barack Obama’s inauguration promised an administration of hope and optimism of what America could be.
I would have liked to attend in person, as it was about an hour away. But I couldn’t take time off work to head to Washington, DC. I also wasn’t crazy about the crowds, as this 56th inauguration set records for attendance.
According to Nielsen, 37,793,000 people watched the historic event on TV, and there I was in the teacher’s lounge at Towson Catholic High School where I worked as Admissions Manager. Several other teachers were with me, watching the first Black American man to accept the challenge of leading this country.
It was a strange day in the school, lessons were taking time out for the afternoon. There was electricity in the air, as a very divided election was over and the decision had been made. Barack Obama had an ambitious agenda and he was determined to break glass ceilings all over the administration with hiring women, minorities…
