By Dr. Eugene Cain
The New Citizens Press
Traveling from Stockbridge, Massachusetts to Detroit, Michigan via Greyhound on August 28, 1963 was to become a most memorable occasion for me. I was making my way to Detroit for a brief visit with my many aunts and uncles prior to returning home to Birmingham, Alabama and on to historic Talladega College to start my junior year.
My nearly two months stay in Stockbridge was due to my landing a job as a dishwasher at a fine arts camp for largely wealthy Jewish school-aged children. By the way, Stockbridge was located near Great Barrington, Massachusetts, the birth home of W. E.B. DuBois This was my first trip to the eastern part of the United States. I saw and learned a lot about the beautiful Berkshire region, Jewish culture, and the history of people of African descent in the northeast. I count this experience as one of the watershed moments of my life.
The first stop on my trip to Detroit from Stockbridge was Albany, New York. It was there that I encountered an African American female College student from Tuskegee University who like me was heading back home after working in the area. She was highly upset that Greyhound Bus Lines could not get her to Washington D.C. in time for the “Great March”. It was through her that I first heard of the March on Washington. My summer work experiences left me little time to listen to radio, read the newspaper, or view a television, hence, my ignorance of the event was understandable.
Once I got to Detroit I found one of my uncles waiting for me at the bus station and anxious to get back to his home to view the march on television. Upon my arrival to his home I, like so many Americans witnessed this historic event with awe and wonder.
While viewing the march with Uncle Burt I made up in my mind that if an event of this nature were to happened again, I would not be viewing it on television but instead, I would be a participant, actually there to soak in the momentum and presence of people who had a life-long commitment to what I too profoundly believed in: equality, justice, freedom, and civil rights for all people.
This commitment to being present at the next great march led me and my wife (Maxine) and sisters to Washington D.C. in August, 1983 to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the March on Washington. There, we basked in the delight of being among life-long civil rights workers and people from all across American who came to recommit themselves to Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Great Dream”.
Never did I imagine that Dr King’s dream would morph into my seeing an African American being elected President of the United States of America during my lifetime . But it did happen and once again I made a commitment to being a part of history rather than seeing it unfold before me from the comforts of my home.
On the evening of January 19, 2009 we was among approximately 60 people from Grand Rapids and Lansing who boarded a bus at Pattengill Middle School to travel to Washington D.C. to attend the inauguration of Barack Hussein Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America. The trip’s principal organizer was my friend and fraternity brother, Kenny Bey, Vice Principal of Pattengill . He pulled the trip together in less than ten days-quite an amazing accomplishment! Also on the bus was my colleague Haywood Edwards and his sister, Natalie James.
Prior to the arrival of our bus I could not help but compare this trip to D.C. with the one that Maxine and I made in 1983. First, this group seemed more subdued than I remember the 1983 travel group to be. Perhaps it was the cold weather — after all , we left with the temperature hovering near zero. Or perhaps it was the enormity of what we were about to witness, the inauguration of an African American as President of our nation. Whatever the case, I sincerely believe that we were all happy to become a part of history on the next day at noon.
We traveled through the night arriving in Fredericksburg, Maryland around 5AM, January 20, 2009. Here we stopped at the town’s YMCA to freshen up and change into warmer clothing for the day’s big event. The Fredrick County YMCA staff welcomed us with open arms inviting us to partake of their facilities and even provided us with a continental breakfast. Somehow I got the feeling that they too saw the significance of this event and the importance of being good hosts to our group. In short, the welcome mat that they extended us was fantastic and highly appreciated by all .
Around 8:20AM we arrived on K Street in downtown Washington D.C. We were not expecting to park this close to the day’s event but due to the excellent time made by our bus drivers we were allowed to park in a premium parking spot.
Once we bundled up and received directions from our driver and Kenny Bey we branched out into the cold D.C. air heading southwest to the Mall to witness history unfold before our very eyes. As we walked, the cold seemingly did not matter. The crowds swelled as everyone walked briskly in a business-like manner. Regardless of the route you took you were hustled by vendors to buy “Obama” paraphernalia that ranged from cups to pennants, to calendars to hats, etc. It was clear to me that this event was bringing out the best in American “Obama capitalism”!
We took what seemed like an endless walk through a tunnel and down many long city blocks finally arriving on the Mall—- caught up in a sea of people from all over the world. Flags of different nations were enthusiastically waved among a sea of American flags. Small children were hoisted on the backs of friends and relatives so they could get a better view of the happenings. People in wheelchairs, some with canes, and babies in strollers all meshed into this sea of humanity. Smiles adorned the face of almost everyone we encountered. After all, everyone knew without a doubt that this day was worth smiling about.
My wife and I perched ourselves about five hundred yards in front of the Washington Monument. Here we engaged in conversations with strangers about the day’s events while we were, what appeared to be, miles from the swearing in site. However the giant video screens aided us in keeping up with the events that were happening on the capital steps.
At one point, while caught up in taking photos, I looked around and Maxine was no where in sight. Soon I heard her muffled voice coming from below as she used her shawl to cover a lady who had fallen to the ground as a result of feeling faint. Suddenly another lady fell, almost landing on Maxine. Both were diabetics who either had not eaten or had forgotten their medications. They were immediately attended to by an East Indian who identified himself as a medical student. Suddenly the appeal for juice or candy rang out among those nearby. People quickly searched their pockets and eventually found what was needed to get these ladies back on their feet.
At approximately 12:10PM Barack Hussein Obama was sworn in as our 44th President. Yells, shouts, tears, hand claps, dances, and “high fives” came from all directions. A group of Kenyans danced and shouted with joy, Obama! Obama! Obama! An Irish group danced and sang a jig, while others gathered in prayer circles to gives thanks for what they had just witnessed. The cold seemingly didn’t matter to any one at this time; we were all warmed with jubilation and pride !
When President Obama spoke I listened for some memorable phrase or comment, however, none came forth in my opinion. But it really didn’t matter to most of us. What did matter to me was that Maxine and I were there as “stand ins” for our ancestors who like us, never dreamed of this moment.
During Reverend Joseph Lowery’s closing benediction he quoted parts of the Negro National Anthem bringing a fitting close to the swearing-in ceremony . As he spoke I remembered him speaking at the 20th anniversary of the March on Washington. What he said then I did not recall but I shall never forget what he said on Inauguration Day 2009!
As we found our way back to our bus I noticed that I was getting cold. Funny, but the cold weather didn’t bother me as I shouted with joy when Barack Hussein was announced as President of the United States of America!
Finally, while I contemplated the day’s events as we traveled back home I kept thinking about the young lady that I met at the bus station in Albany, New York, in 1963. I wondered if she too were there to witness this important piece of World history. If not, I am sure that her spirit was.
