God of Our Weary Years

God of Our Weary Years
Betty Exclusive: The President of Bennett College for Women shares her joy in the day

-Dr. Julianne Malveaux, BettyConfidential.com



A black man could not be served lunch in Washington 60 years ago, Barack Obama said.
Today, his son is President. Controlled, concerned, celebratory and cerebral, the 44th President of the United States honored our history and girded up for our future, promising international cooperation in visual metaphor, "we will reach out our hand if you unclench your fist." Wow!

This inauguration day has been an amazing day for me; I rose thinking that I might just have a front row seat - a seat in front of my television. Why? It is cold. I'm battling laryngitis. I got in at 2 in the morning, banging between blocked streets and tour busses, the 15 minute ride from the District line turning into a nearly 2 hour sojourn. After a few hours sleep, the folk in my house were saying we had to leave if we wanted to get good seats. Front row in front of the television sounded good. For five minutes. Then I thought that a front row to history sounded better. I had an actual seat. A place to sit. And my family had seats inside the perimeter. And so we got up and soldiered into the cold (which really wasn't awful) and the marvel of the inauguration of our 44th president.

There were moments that captured the soul. The San Francisco Boys and Girls Choir was wonderful! Senator Dianne Feinstein made me smile as mistress of ceremonies, as I recalled her days as Mayor of San Francisco. I cheered when Dr. Dorothy Irene Height, President Emeritus of the National Council of Negro Women, was wheeled onto the stage. I was excited as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi came forward. But Michelle, Michelle, Michelle. Wasn't she looking great! The entire family was "representing". I still haven't wiped the smile off my face.

To read more about the President of Bennett College's joy on Inauguration, click here.