Inauguration 2009

Day 1 of the North Carolina Obama Trip

It’s been a long a day! We left at 6 this morning and headed to Durham to pick up a few more passengers on our journey to D.C. There are 2 buses which each hold about 60 people, and I’m in bus #1. The front seat actually.

I’ve met some really interesting people, and they’ve been gracious enough to share their stories with me. I’ve heard some talk about the 50s and 60s when segregation was a part of their lives. Some say racism is STILL a part of their lives, but that they’re optimistic that Obama as president will help improve race relations in this country.

My favorite question to put in front of them is “What do you think you’ll be feeling the moment Barack Obama becomes our 44th president.” Many of the people say they’ll probably break down in tears, others say their still in disbelief that we’re actually going to be witnessing this historic event. My favorite response was from Charlotte resident and long-time civil rights activists Ahmad Daniels, who said he plans on asking his wife to pinch him during the ceremony to reassure him that it’s not a dream.

We’ve got an even longer day ahead of us tomorrow. Up at 4:45, eat breakfast and then head to the epic-enter in downtown Washington.

Interesting side note: I was apprehended by mall security in Colonial Height, Virginia. Apparently you must get permission from the mall prior to doing any sort of recording or videoing. I was not aware. But I told them what I was doing and they let me go with a warning. Lesson learned, I guess.

Marshall Terry

90.7 WFAE