We Aren't Just Celebrating the President....

     Women made their presence known through all aspects of Monday's presidential inauguration of Barack Obama. From Michelle's outfit of choice (which needless to say, was perfect as always), to Joe Biden being sworn in by Sonia Sotomayor, and all mentions in between, it was hard to deny that women were not only a driving force in the last election, but have also been that driving force throughout history.
    I want to make special mention of the fact that in Senator Chuck Schumer's opening speech, he mentioned that "from John Adams to Elizabeth Cady Stanton, to Martin Luther King," we are pushing for a more equal society.  Politically speaking, I think this was a well-thought-about part of the production of this ceremony for the fact that just the mention of her name awards recognition to the women's rights movement that has gained so much momentum because of her.Again, with Sonia Sotomayor, a Latino woman and influencial Supreme Court Justice, making her presence known, and with the selection of Myrlie Evers-Williams to give her speech on civil rights, women were a huge part of the inauguration this year. Again, very strategic for these women, both of color, to be asked to speak on MLK day at the inauguration of the first black president. Irony or calculated? Not tough to figure that one out. I find these women to be incredibly important in the women's rights movement and to American history as well, but I do also think that while their identities and their impacts are important to our culture, they were also important to the production of this ceremony for the simple fact that they are of color.
     It's hard to say why the chosen speakers are the chosen speakers, but it was clear as day to see that the different minorities present at the ceremony were shown. From the production side of things, nearly all of the crowd shots showed people of color, he soloist from the choir was a black woman, and with the combination of the speakers and topics of the speeches, giving viewers the change to see minorities and those who are marginalized gaining the opportunities that so many have strived to give them throughout history.