01.20.09 A day to remember

Today in each of my classes we discussed and watched the inauguration of President Obama.


I first told them that in '63, the year I was born, John F Kennedy was assassinated a few months after my birth. I told my students that it was an unusual time for one to grow up in since I was smack dab in the middle of the Civil Rights movement, that was fueled by the belief all people should be treated the same.


I then shared with them how a few years later, Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated for peacefully fighting to correct the wrongs that existed in our nation. He had a dream that ALL people, no matter their race, would be treated equally.


I then shared, how in the short 45 years that I have been alive we have come from Kennedy, King to now Obama. Today was a wonderful and memorable day for me and my children and students.

I then asked them how today was important to them.

The students who actually thought about it, and there were quite a few, said: it meant change for more jobs, more financial security, no war, more ecological friendly energy, and hope for the future.

NOT one mentioned it was an important day because of an African American man becoming President of the USA. They saw the man, they saw the hope, they saw his ideals.




I would say the next generation is miles and miles ahead of us when it comes to ALL people being treated fairly. His race was NOT an issue to them, only his ideals...I was humbled by their response and look forward to how the next generation will rock this nation.