“I was alive to witness the pain, and now I’m still alive to witness the glory.”
– Dorothy Williams, 78, of New Orleans
“It’s a big step in America society for African Americans because it shows that we can do anything. I’m also happy because I was ready for a change all my life, and today, we as African Americans made history and now the change has finally come.”
– Kofi Arhin, GSU junior marketing major from Tallahassee, Fla.
“It makes me happy to see that the youth are inspired to do better now that they see that all things are possible. Today marked the beginning of a new revolution.”
— Lisa Stewart, 36, of Monroe
” What I feel the significance of Barack Obama being the nation’s first African American president and the nation’s 44th president is that is that America is finally starting to live up to its promises of equality.”
– Mildred Whitehorn, 59, of Kennett, Mo.
“Presidential candidates make a lot of promises but most don’t succeed in all of them. It will be interesting to see what he can do.”
– Shane Magee, 22-year-old White male Republican, of Mandeville
“A part of history that I can hold on to and tell my children and my grandchildren.”
– Shaunyetta Ashford, 22-year-old Back female, of Crossett, Ark.
“Hope young black men look at this and get something positive.”
– Linda Barnes, 60-something Black woman and Air Force veteran, of Shreveport
“To witness a black man as the leader of our free world that is exemplifying how to unite and be as one is significant in itself. The people that oppose him should stop and look at the bigger picture and realize that it isn’t about race and he is trying to do something special with this country.”
– Rodney Turner, 38, of Euless, Texas
“The inauguration was of great significance to me because the hard work, dedication and even the lives of our forefathers have not been taken in vain. Even though some of them could not witness this precious historical event, their legacy and dreams are still alive and being lived today.”
– Katina Harrison, 36, of Tallulah
“As an African American race I feel that we have reached a milestone in history. Barack Obama is a part of the dream that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. envisioned over 30 years ago. Even through the excitement, Obama realizes the changes that need to be made in order to restore the United States and he is eager to begin the process. Barack Obama is America’s dream realized.”
– Keshia Johnson, GSU senior business marketing major from Atlanta
“I am biracial also, and Barack Obama has given me hope for my future even though my background consists of more than one culture.”
— Blaine Howard, 19, Louisiana Tech sophomore engineering major
“I think it’s great. Obama is a really compassionate and smart young man.”
– Janice Glover, 71-year-old White woman from Hanna
“It displays how you can strip away a person skin, nationality, denomination and race, you can achieve anything you put your mind to. All of those things I just mention mean nothing if you really put your best foot forward and go for your goal. Change is good and we see change in the next four years.”
– 42-year-old man from Atlanta who preferred to remain anonymous because of his job and position
“This is history. This is what Civil Rights Movement fought for and I’m just glad to be a part of history. Change has come. United States was waiting for this moment I’m just ready to see how it all plays out.”
– Anthony K. Whaley Jr., 24, of San Antonio
“He is definitely making history, and I hope he comes forward with everything he has promised us.”
— Linda Keys, 64-year-old White woman from Biloxi, Miss.
“There are no more excuses for brothers not to strive to obtain success.”
— Terrence Moore, 27-year-old Black man from Houston
“The United States is being reborn. Every (one of the) 50 states, regardless of race, ethnicity, rich, poor, middle-class, young and old, came together for the good of our country. It means a great deal that the younger generation went out and voted because we did not always have that privilege and when we did, our African-American community was intimidated from voting. (T)his milestone means there has been some progress within our country.”
— Shirley Williams, 58-year-old African-American woman from Marerro