This Sunday, I had a DC moment that I want to share with you
all (wow, this ended up being a long DC moment, but I hope you enjoy it). For
me, it was meaningful and uplifting and purely delightful.
My day started rather early (6 AM), and I made my way into
the city to run the Boo Run for renal cancer—my first 10K. Although I had
signed up somewhat spontaneously with a friend from ICF, Justin, I couldn’t
have picked a better day and place to run. The course bordered a little peninsula along the Potomac so
throughout the race I enjoyed views of the early sun sparkling on the river,
the moon setting above Virginia, and the Washington monument triumphantly
poised beyond the finish line. I
spent my run thinking about SarahLiz, who inspired me to start running this
summer, and my cousin, Skyler, who would have celebrated her 18th
birthday last Friday. It was very meditative.
After the race, Justin and I meandered a few blocks over to
join the growing throng by the memorials. I don’t know how widely the news has
spread, but—as of this summer—there is new memorial on the Mall. This memorial
breaks the precedents of the other memorials commemorating past (white) US
presidents; it is dedicated to Martin Luther King. Although the memorial was completed in August, hurricane
Irene postponed the official dedication ceremony until last weekend. So Justin and I thought, Why not? Let’s
check it out.
As we merged into the crowd, Justin and I became aware of
our race. Being a minority doesn’t make me quite as uncomfortable as it may
have once, perhaps Ghana softened that edge, but it still challenges me. It heightens my sensitivity to my
clothes, my speech patterns, my hair.
And I think the experience is invaluable for me in all my white-ness.
White, black, purple or polka dotted, we were all welcomed
on the lawn the Mall—they even gave us Tommy Hilfiger baseball caps: “Martin
Luther King Jr. Memorial: Celebrate the Life, Dream, Legacy.” Most of us stood, although some families
and elderly came prepared with blankets, picnics, and folding chairs, and we
watched the distant stage (and projections on video screens) as speaker after
speaker shared their hopeful, inspirational, and commemorative words.
John Lewis, a Representative for the state of Georgia, is
the only person still alive who spoke alongside King on the day of his “I have
a dream…” speech. It gave me chills to hear his voice and stand so close to the
reflecting pool where those iconic speeches once rang. Lewis said he is repeatedly asked if
Obama’s election as president fulfilled King's dream. His answer: “it's just a
down payment.”
Actress Cicely Tyson, spoke about passing the torch onto the
next generation, and then invited twelve-year-old actress Amandla Stenberg to
speak. “You see, in Zulu,
Amandla’s name means power,” Cicely
said. Amandla lived up to her name
with a tribute to the four young girls, killed in the 1963 church bombing of
Birmingham, Alabama. I must admit,
I got choked up as Amandla said, “They’re lives were too short, but as Dr. King
said, ‘They lived meaningful lives.’ I intend to live a meaningful life too.”
Then Aretha Franklin stepped up to the microphone! She sang Precious Lord—a song, she
said, that MLK often requested.
Her voice resonated on the Mall without ostentation, glowing from a deep
reverent place. (Need I say goosebumps?)
As each of the speakers and performers inspired and touched
me, the crowd’s energy lifted me in equal measure. They cheered their approval as MLK’s son, Martin Luther King
III, supported the “occupy” economic movement; they quoted the Bible references
along with Reverend Al Sharpton; and then they began to chant: “Four more
years! Four more years! Four more years!” And I knew who our next speaker would
be…
I got to hear OBAMA!
Despite my almost-opportunities
to hear President Obama speak at U of M’s and the Kalamazoo Central’s 2010
commencements, I had never witnessed him live. Obama did not disappoint. His speech honored MLK’s humanity: his
flaws and challenges that don’t appear in the 30-foot stone statute made in his
likeness. Despite these personal and political setbacks, MLK used courage, faith,
and peace to cope. Obama credited
Dr. King for paving his way to the Presidency of the United States.
DC moment: spontaneous trip to the mall, amazing political
and civil rights speakers, a quick visit with the President and his
family. These moments make me
remember that I am in our country’s capital.
Sending my love,
C#
PS. Work picked up a lot this week! A really engaging
project is just starting up right now analyzing the ecological and health
effects of pharmaceuticals in our drinking water.
