I spent Tuesday in a hair salon and spa on the South Side of Chicago. It is owned by Laura Williford Williams, and it caters to African-American women. I was there from 10:15AM until 12:30PM, and I loved every minute.
It was the boss' idea to go to regular places and shoot regular people watching PRESIDENT Obama's inauguration. This was one of the coolest assignments I've had so far this year.
I felt pride and emotion swell up as the President first appeared on the TV screen, which was perched in one corner of the salon.
In an instant, all the salon activity froze: the hair weave, the drying under big plastic bubbles and the curler-rolling. Obama walked in with the dignity of a head of state, but also with the warm, easy smile that has endeared him to the masses these past months.
I felt the magnitude of this moment as much as any white girl from the South Side could. But it was nothing compared to the raw, real emotion of this group of women and men. They cheered, hugged and cried as a moment they were sure they would never see in their lifetime took place.
This was an incredible moment for all African-Americans. But it was just as important to our nation as a whole.
We turned a real corner on Tuesday.
And as we've witnessed the past 48 hours, it's time to get to work, together, and make this country great once again.
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1 comment:
That's awesome! I imagine the energy on the South Side was much more inspiring than that of the conference room in "corporate America" where I watched!
Thanks for introducing me to your blog, and for sharing part of your life/struggles. It's always good to not feel alone...
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