JSU students witness historic inauguration

Some watch on flat screens while others are among millions

By: Denise Black and Vickey Williams

Posted: 1/23/09

Like many people throughout the country, approximately 150 students, faculty, staff, and members of the Jackson community gathered in the Jackson State University Student Center, Tuesday Jan. 20, to witness a defining moment in history.

While they watched on flat screen televisions located throughout the building as Barack Obama took his oath as the 44th president of the United States of America, another 43 JSU students were standing on the Washington Mall admidst a crowd of millions.

One student, Jamie Bender, who made the nearly 20-hour trip, said everyone was filled with excitement just to be in the nation's capitol. Even though the Jackson State group had to board their bus at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday morning to make it to the inauguration site, they still were glad to be among the crowd.

"Once it was time to unload the bus, everyone was bundled up and prepared to battle the many people that were in the vicinity of the inauguration events," said Bender. "Once in the subway station, the reality that millions of people were in Washington settled in a little more. The trains were so crowded."

Bender said they walked many Washington, D.C. blocks and encountered many people in order to reach their destination. While some were able to get fairly close, others who could not, just listened and took in the sites.

"There were many different types of people from many different backgrounds. They carried signs with various messages that were about President Bush, President Obama, and many other subjects. People did many things in order to attempt to get a glimpse of President Barack Obama, including climbing trees and jumping fences," said Bender, a freshman mass communications major from College Park, Ga.

"Some people from JSU were able to get fairly close to the large screens. Others were not able to get as close, but saw and heard what they could. Throughout the duration of the trip, everyone was a proud American," she added.

Cierra Robinson, who graduated from Jackson State last May and is attending Howard University, said she arrived at the mall at 4 a.m. Tuesday.

"To be able to witness this amazing moment was remarkable. It was exciting to see so many HBCU students witness the swearing in of the nation's first black president," Robinson said.

Excitement and emotion also could be felt throughout the student center and everywhere on the JSU campus.

Brian Hudson, a senior biology major from Pascagoula, Miss. "I am appreciative for being able to witness history, and not only me but the world needs this change," he said.

Doris McPherson, an adjunct professor at JSU from small town, Mount Way, a community near Terry, Miss., grew up in the south in the 1950s and 60s at a time when racism and social injustices plagued the south.

She said: "I saw people, neighbors and friends; I saw them die to try to get us the right to vote. When we finally received an opportunity to vote for someone Black without poll taxes, it was a great day for celebration."

"I promised as long as I lived I would go to the polls and vote and to my greatest surprise, our vote finally counted. It is only the will of God that caused it," she added.

During his inaugural speech Obama addressed many issues such as the weakened economy, our nation at war, education and an inadequate health care system.

Obama said, "Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time but they will be met."

Philemon K. Kirui, a JSU environmental science doctoral graduate student from Kenya, was filled with a sense of pride and hope as he witnessed Obama's speech.

"Given that this country in the past was segregated, I can see why this is important." He added, "I am a little emotional because Obama was a regular guy who had no connections and came from nowhere to being the president," said Kirui.

Hilliard Lackey, a history professor and JSU National Alumni Association president, began his journey at JSU 48 years ago as a freshman.

"I have experienced people from across the world and across lands coming together," he said. "I think this is the greatest thing that has impacted the entire world."