Source: nbcnews.com. President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama at today’s 57th Presidential Inauguration.

Seattle Times photo of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

January 21, 2013 – Tears began to flow today during the 57th Presidential Inauguration when Civil Rights Activist Myrlie Evers-Williams recited her prayer covering second-term President Barack Obama, Vice-President Joe Biden, members of Congress and all other elected and appointed leaders of the United States of America. Also, all of those serving in our armed forces.

Hard to not to cry when one man’s dream has become reality (in part at least) with the election and re-election of the country’s first African-American president, celebrated today in his second public inauguration.

Truly a day to remember as the country also celebrated the anniversary of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., American civil rights leader, religious leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner. He fought for justice in areas such as public transportation, voting, social services and politics. King had a dream that one day, people would be judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin.

To have Evers-Williams pray during the presidential inauguration made this day even more special. Her husband, well-known civil rights leader Medgar Evers, was gunned down in the early 60s in front of their home in Mississippi.  She fought to bring his murderer to justice – a fight which lasted 30 years.  Evers-Williams, the first laywoman to give an invocation at a presidential inauguration, also prayed for the spirit of our ancestors (a great cloud of witnesses), expressing thanks that their living was not in vain. 

In the end, it wasn’t about what Michelle Obama wore or who made what blunders in their speech. It was about the opportunity to build on what has been accomplished – together and push the agenda of this president over the next four years.

© Orlando Community News, 2013