There is so much to say about today–inauguration day.  I have spent a great deal of time since before the election and then after thinking about how amazing this moment is for America and for my African American children.  What I have neglected to recognize for give much thought to are those of the last two generations whose sacrifices, suffering, and struggles have made it possible for Barak Obama to become the 44rd president of these united states.  It sees fitting that he is being sworn in on the bible of the man who is responsible for keeping us united.  I am not an Abe Lincoln fan–he was not the enlightened man history has made him out to be but a pragmatic man who saw he needed freed slaves to defeat the south. Okay, that is a entire different subject. 

I was watching GMA this morning and a few of the remaining Tuskegee Airmen were on.  These men broke down barriers that had long kept our society’s perception of African Americans low and somewhat degrading.  It wasn’t that long ago that blacks were not allowed to fight alongside whites, to be educated in the same school as whites, to eat at the same counter, to sit in the same section of the bus, etc.  Those who struggled through these times and fought to prove their humanity, intellect, and value have helped shape a world where we can sit here in our homes and watch a black man take the oath of the highest office in the land.  It moves me and hopes that this small step–because in the grand scheme of color equality it is small–helps to wash away some of the pain endured by those who made this path possible. 

I hope that we all celebrate this moment today and relish the emotion it will bring.  I want to soak up the momentous occasion and savor the history of it. 

I want us to remember that this historic moment is just that a moment and does not mark the end of racism and hate.  It is a signal that we are making progress but we just have to look at our Congress, Governor’s mansions, boardrooms, jails, colleges, and professional coaches–to name just a few instances–and see that there has been progress but it is not nearly enough.  We have to work harder as a country and do better.  We owe it to those who sacrifices, suffered and struggled for this moment and all of those that have yet to come.