Blog #3

            I noticed during the Inauguration that President Barack Obama made a conscious effort to ensure that no one felt secluded during the Inaugural festivities.  For starters, the Inauguration was held on Martin Luther King Day when we are remembering on of the greatest civil rights leaders of the 20^th century.  Similarly, an extensive amount of Obama’s speech explores with the struggle with equality and historical events dealing with equality.  The theme of civil rights even extended to the keynote speakers.  Myrlie Evers-Williams, a civil rights activist and journalist, was one of the first speakers at the Inauguration.  Although the speakers focused on the United States’ history of inequality, the festivities reflected a shift from in equality to equality by giving equal time to different ethnic groups and their interests.  For example, Evers said a Christian prayer at the end of her speech, a choir sang (with mostly African American singers), James Taylor played, an Hawaiian marching band preformed during the parade, etc.  The President’s speech further dealt primarily with this theme of inequality by saying that men and women should earn the same.  I personally found it strange that the Inauguration would be held on a national holiday like Martin Luther King Day.  I feel that is only reason it is acceptable to hold Inauguration Day on Martin Luther Kind Day is because Barack Obama is our first American American president.  I talked to my grandmother following Inauguration Day and she was appalled the Inauguration Day was on Martin Luther King Day and is convinced that Obama had a ulterior motive for doing so.  I feel that by having Inauguration Day on MLK Day Obama’s constituents successfully raise awareness of MLK Day and everyone celebrates, rather than just the African American population.