Reflections -- Nora

It is DAY 4! January 20, 2009

WOW...like I don't even know where to start! I feel as if I have to be very strategic with the words I pick through out all these entries, considering there are not many word to describe how I'm feeling.

Okay our day started quite early. We slept at NANA'S house and after a long night of forage through the infamous Uncle TONY'S paraphernalia! lol, I just learned that word, it pretty much means a whole lot of ! Ha!Ha! LOVE IT...But yea as I was saying, this morning was actually one of the better days with the weather and it is the DAY OF THE INAUGURATION. Our original plan was to march with the students of Howard University, but after a long night we woke up too late. But you know how everyone says everything happens for a reason.

Well good thing we woke up late because we would not have had the amazing experience of watching the INAUGURATION from the Crampton Theatre at the university with many students and parents. We met some very nice people, that were very welcoming, such as Victoria and Dr. Carr. The energy in the room was astounding. I felt at hoe. The feeling of being in the same room as hundreds of people that are there for the same reason as you is incredible. As CNN live addressed the inauguration, it was on a BIGGG! Screen TV. for us.

The energy in the room started to build up as we saw the most recent president come out. Then FINALLY, the one we were waiting for. BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA!!!!! Mao to explain how the room felt and the energy, is beyond words. It started off extremely loud. Just IMAGINE!!! Soon after everyone was quiet, I guess they were trying to take it all in that it was actually happening. If someone was to walk in at that moment, they would truly feel the energy instantly.

THE TIME FINALLY CAME. As soon as he stepped on those stairs and came down to deliver his speech, WOW! Watching the MILLIONS of people all there and the people in our cozy auditorium, I felt as if we were all one and nothing in the world could break this sense of unity.

As OBAMA was delivering his speech, chills went running up and down my back. TEARS of JOY, SUCCESS and HOPE ran down the eyes of the elderly and the young. Although my time in WASHINGTON DC was UNFATHOMABLE, I would have to say this moment was the most precious and the hardest to describe!!!!!!!!!

I am so happy to be here right now and I wouldn't trade it for the world. With a new year comes GREATNESS!!

Reflections -- Shanning

So unfortunately, on the way to the states my body completely crashed down so i wasn't able to express my feelings towards the trip which i'm so estatic for. This is day 2, also known as Martin Luther King Day! We woke up early today knowing that we'd be staying over at nana's house for the next day,but not much has been revealed to us besides that. So forget what i thought i expected from this trip, i soaked up pure breathing taking information about a world i didn't know existed.

Getting a tour of the Howard University campus from Ms. Codett brought alot of my interest,it was a quick awareness that greatness can be acheived in the black commmunity. At some point during the tour, i was starting to understand my reason for being in the presence of this enviroment. The path that i'm currently on wasn't my full potential and, mentally and physically changing certain things would get me to my objective.

That was just the beginning though, the following day we got the chance to attend a symposium, which in one word was-refreshing! Hearing those women (not only the black women) speak and articulate themselves on certain topics such as gender issues surronding us in the present which havent been fully dealt with us socially. It completely clicked with the inaugural event surrounding us for those days.

Enough said, i fully comphrehend the purpose of my being there for those days with those group of people, i can truely say it had an immense impact on my life, inspiration to say the least.And honestly i want to completley show my gratitude for giving me the chance to experience a one in a life-time trip. I've soaked up so much on this trip that it completely had me thinking of my way back on the bus. Oh and the successful people thay also were on the buswith us gave its final touch. I thank you miss!

Oath of Office!

The introduction begins. Quartet strums, violin sings, the cello sounds leads us into a magical grip. The clarinet takes over and the piano sells the deal as the piece moves with diversity - we all dance together. The stage is set as all smile not onl for themselves but shows that they know what they are contribuing to in this moment.

The crowd goes NUTS as the Ode to the President plays in the backgreound with cannon fire. People flash the Obama gear like they have just joined a new gang, sorority, fraternity, community, vision, way of being that is essential for all of us to stand up to this new accountability and responsibility! We have all drunk the Kool Aid!
"Barack Hussein Obama
"My fellow citizens...".

Hope over fear.

Proclaim the end to petty differences.

The time has come to set aside childish things.

All are equal.

All are free.

All deserve a chance to preserve their happiness.

Starting today we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off to create a new America.

Extend opportunity to every willing heart.
Necessary to our common good!

Friend of each nation.

We are willing to lead once more.

Keepers of this legacy

Our spirt is stronger and can not be broken. We will outlast you.

Our patchwork heritage is our strength.

Mutual interest and mutual respect.

You will be judged by what you build not wha tyou destroy.

Extend a hand as long as you unclench your fist.

Meaning in something greater then themselves

A spirit that must inhabit us all.

Return to truths and a new era of responsibility.

Nothing so satisfying to our spirit.

Mark this day. Who we are and how far we have come.

With hope and virtue let's brave the icy currents.

"Doing Our Spiritual Jobs Towards Our Destiny"
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Wow!

We sit in stifling anticipation. My heart is racing so fast I can hardly type. It feels like glorious torture. The moment creeping closer. "Sometimes you wake up expecting something wonderful to happen. Most of the time it doesn't. But, when it does, it happens for real". Today it's happening for real.

He appears in the doorstep, as thouggh he is at the Door of Return at Cape Coast Slave Dungeon and just like that, the space is transformed! Oh my goodness! He's coming down the stairs. Cool as ice. Not phased. Taking his seat in history representing all of us. ALL OF US!
"Doing Our Spiritual Jobs Towards Our Destiny"
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Obama Mania

It is absolutely crazy out here but the joy of the moment is moving beyond words. Everyone is packed in like sardines but the mood is one of joy, excitement. People are chanting and singing, smiling like crazy while they stand in -10 waiting for the moment they witness history. All of hopes and wishes, dreams and aspirations are rolled into this one experience. Everyone feels like they have a small piece of responsibility for the success of that man who proclaimed that we are the change we are waiting for. It's only just beginning to hit me and I'm holding back tears. More to come!

"Doing Our Spiritual Jobs Towards Our Destiny"
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www.refresheverything.com - Refresh Hip Hop

Refresh Hip Hop NOTES

Panelists: Diddy, MC Lyte, Shaka Zulu, Londell McMillan, Ludacris, Queen Latifah
"We are the change we have been waiting for!"

When did you first fall in love with hip hop?

-How do you take the bone out? You leave it in! DJ Hollywood
- politics is the new Hip Hop

What made you want to be part of the Hip Hop culture?
- it was more than just music and it was a community
- Hip Hop's conscience was deep and it allowed the experiences of a generation to be heard
- cultural continuation of an African culture (slave narratives to street narratives)
- empower and advocate for the culture
- Hip Hop as empowerment because of how it touches young people
- the creative aspects are natural
- Hip Hop = urban news agency
- expression, to tell a story, change people's perception, uniqueness
- "Speak the Words" - Dana Owens
- this is s great way to make a living

Difference between a Rapper and an MC and the difference between Hip Hop and Rap music?
- a rapper raps
- an MC is an artist, understands what they are doing in Hip Hop, opinion leaders, claiming the responsibilty, speaks to one's character
- rapping is the action, MC (Mike Controllor, Move the Crowd)
- rapping is one of the elements
- cycles within Hip Hop and gets redefined through time
- rap is a genre of music
- Hip Hop is a life style, a culture
- evolution of it is the entrepeneurial side
- Hip Hop is business
- global, attitude, fearless (use of creativity as its anchor to the pursuit of freedom)
- black music, black culture spead around the world as our most rescent form of music
- started as music and has become so much more
- bridging people together
- it's a Black Thang!

Has the commercial nature done harm?
- this can't be contained because there are multiple ways to do the thing
- if you're telling the truth, you can't ever sellout
- there has to be a diversity in the Hip Hop so that as it grows it reflects the realities
- can't lose sight on our value system but there is not one value system for everybody

Crazy success of Southern Hip Hop
- part of the cycle
- the South is diverse and embrasses the diversity
- wherever the dances are created, Hip Hop is thriving
- instinctive
- feels good, it's fresh

- the strength and genius comes from your experiences

How has Hip Hop treated woman?
- how does the world treat woman? How does the rest of the world treat african people?
- What is missing is the woman's voice
- we are the hoe in the club but we are also the first lady and there needs to be diversity representing the fullest picture

Is the drug dealer still the paradigm of success (especially after Jan 20th 2009)
- he never was or wasn't fully
- people are attracted to things that never was or are not real
- there must be a moral campus
- BO and AO (before Obama, After Obama)

"Doing Our Spiritual Jobs Towards Our Destiny"
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"Refresh Gender" by Shanning and Salma

January 19 2009

The first segment of the ' Refresh The World Symposium' that just took place is called Refresh Gender. If I were to summerize the heated, yet still very respectful debate in one word, it would be refreshing!
The topics that the nine intelligent and opinionated women discussed and debated on were a wide variety of things. They spoke about women's roles in the world, equality between genders, and breaking the glass ceilling. What struck me the most was when the women on the panel compared the comments Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin received from the media to the ones male polticians received. One of the women said that when either of the female poltician were mentioned in the media; their hair, what designer clothes they were wearing and even their calves were also mentioned. Yet the comments the male politicians received from the media were along the lines of intelligent, experienced and articulate. That made me think, 'seriously?'
The whole coversation and debate was very enlightening and often times humorous, I trully enjoyed the experience.

-Salma S.

On my part, I found that they completely unraveled certain topics that we've been discussing with each other on the political election. Issues like the ones talked about all over the media, Sarah Palin and her pregnant teenage daughter and her political approach versus that of Barack Obama. As well as going into the whole democratic rivalry between a white woman campaigning against black male. It was great to soak in all the opinions of great outspoken women

- Shanning E.

"Doing Our Spiritual Jobs Towards Our Destiny"
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www.refresheverything.com - Refresh the Economy

Refresh the Economy notes:
"We need to act now. We need act transformationally in a big way. "

"There is no good debt and you drank the Kool aid. Obama is not the second coming and we can not continue to live beyond our means." Michelle Singletary

After asking taxpayers for $750 billion, "You have lost the right to lecture me about the economy." - Dr. William Spriggs

"Credit is like oxygen. You don't know you need it until you don't have it" - Warren Buffet

"We privatize the upside and socialize the downside" - Maya MacGuineas

- the issues of healthcare are an economic crisis
- corporate welfare is a great conversation but social welfare (individual) does not get the same focus
-current corporate structure promotes that losses are public and profits are private
- renting does not mean that you are a financial failure
- owning a house is something that is right at the right time
-unemployment should be a national system instead of a state run system

"Doing Our Spiritual Jobs Towards Our Destiny"
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Recovering!

I got up this morning very early considering I am sufferring the effects of Socarama for Obama which got me home in the wee hours of the morning. Killed a plate of spinach rice and hit the sack at about five. Can't sleep through history though so I sprung out of the bed, got dress, and walked across the street for the Refresh the World Symposium sponsored by Pepsi and Spike Lee. Oh my goodness, Steven Spielberg just got out of a Mercedes Benz and is being brought in steps ahead of me. Inside of Crampton auditorium on Howard University campus the vibe is mellow and we are ready to hear the good word.
"Doing Our Spiritual Jobs Towards Our Destiny"
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Only in DC

Today's adventure started with the girls making their way to my house. After showing a collection of Barack paraphernalia that is sitting in my living room we hit the streets to show them Howard university campus. Right away it became evident that the spirit of moment is everywhere. While on campus we met Charles, a Howard sophomore Communication's major on the Howard swim team. He gave an orientation of all of the reasons why Howard campus is a historic and important place to go to school. As well, how that connects to the history of this moment. You can't plan that kind of spontaneity. The blessings didn't end there. While sitting in China Wonder eating carry out two amazing things happened. First, a Howard professor came in and gave us a lesson, 7 reasons why Obama's Inauguration is important to Canadians. It was a lecture. Second, two ladies waiting to pick their carry out asked where we were from. When we said, Canada, one exclaimed, "Oh, can I take a picture of y'all?" Next thin we know her husband went into his car trunk and pulled out a full sized cut out of Obama for us to take our picture. Where else does that happen?

"Doing Our Spiritual Jobs Towards Our Destiny"
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We have arrived!

Well, we have arrived. The city is a buzz. On the radio there are ads for nothing but events and parties for Obama: Reggae for Obama, Mambo for Obama, 'Socarama for Obama', We Shall Overcome for Obama, Yes We Can dance, just to name a few. The American economy will be sparked by Obama events only. There are trinkets, keep sakes, t-shirts, posters, pins, buttons, footwear, track suits etc everywhere as people gear up for Tuesday. .Yes they will! Who ain't got a hustle, will be helping some who got a hustle. Fired up and more than ready to go now. Making the plan of action to take in as much as possible in the short time that we are here. Formulating the plan for exact execution. The plan. There is none. Taking it all in for the glory of the historic moment and hope that I can remember everything that's happening.
"Doing Our Spiritual Jobs Towards Our Destiny"
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Anticipation

As we approach the city, the anticipation of the trip is building. All of the planning to bring us to this moment. Wow! I can't say that I have felt more excited than in this moment. The girls, although a little sleepy, have already been experiencing the joys of riding the bus. The community has embarassed them as children of the community and they have easily slipped into family mood taking each girl under their wing. Our theme song for the drive has been Chris Brown's Forever as we rock the last hour down the hwy. We are just outside of Baltimore. Great jokes. Great laughs. Great company. We lost the bus and are now looking to catch them at Wheaton Plaza, the first drop off spot for passengers not staying at the hotel.
"Doing Our Spiritual Jobs Towards Our Destiny"
Sent with love from a Crackberry Device

Open Letter to Obama from Toni Morrison

Dear Senator Obama,

This letter represents a first for me--a public endorsement of a Presidential candidate. I feel driven to let you know why I am writing it. One reason is it may help gather other supporters; another is that this is one of those singular moments that nations ignore at their peril. I will not rehearse the multiple crises facing us, but of one thing I am certain: this opportunity for a national evolution (even revolution) will not come again soon, and I am convinced you are the person to capture it.

May I describe to you my thoughts?

I have admired Senator Clinton for years. Her knowledge always seemed to me exhaustive; her negotiation of politics expert. However I am more compelled by the quality of mind (as far as I can measure it) of a candidate. I cared little for her gender as a source of my admiration, and the little I did care was based on the fact that no liberal woman has ever ruled in America. Only conservative or "new-centrist" ones are allowed into that realm. Nor do I care very much for your race[s]. I would not support you if that was all you had to offer or because it might make me "proud."

In thinking carefully about the strengths of the candidates, I stunned myself when I came to the following conclusion: that in addition to keen intelligence, integrity and a rare authenticity, you exhibit something that has nothing to do with age, experience, race or gender and something I don't see in other candidates. That something is a creative imagination which coupled with brilliance equals wisdom. It is too bad if we associate it only with gray hair and old age. Or if we call searing vision naivete. Or if we believe cunning is insight. Or if we settle for finessing cures tailored for each ravaged tree in the forest while ignoring the poisonous landscape that feeds and surrounds it. Wisdom is a gift; you can't train for it, inherit it, learn it in a class, or earn it in the workplace--that access can foster the acquisition of knowledge, but not wisdom.

When, I wondered, was the last time this country was guided by such a leader? Someone whose moral center was un-embargoed? Someone with courage instead of mere ambition? Someone who truly thinks of his country's citizens as "we," not "they"? Someone who understands what it will take to help America realize the virtues it fancies about itself, what it desperately needs to become in the world?

Our future is ripe, outrageously rich in its possibilities. Yet unleashing the glory of that future will require a difficult labor, and some may be so frightened of its birth they will refuse to abandon their nostalgia for the womb.

There have been a few prescient leaders in our past, but you are the man for this time.

Good luck to you and to us.

Toni Morrison

Open Letter to Obama from Alice Walker

Dear Brother Obama,

You have no idea, really, of how profound this moment is for us. Us being the black people of the Southern United States. You think you know, because you are thoughtful, and you have studied our history. But seeing you deliver the torch so many others before you carried, year after year, decade after decade, century after century, only to be struck down before igniting the flame of justice and of law, is almost more than the heart can bear.

And yet, this observation is not intended to burden you, for you are of a different time, and, indeed, because of all the relay runners before you, North America is a different place. It is really only to say: Well done. We knew, through all the generations, that you were with us, in us, the best of the spirit of Africa and of the Americas. Knowing this, that you would actually appear, someday, was part of our strength. Seeing you take your rightful place, based solely on your wisdom, stamina and character, is a balm for the weary warriors of hope, previously only sung about.

I would advise you to remember that you did not create the disaster that the world is experiencing, and you alone are not responsible for bringing the world back to balance. A primary responsibility that you do have, however, is to cultivate happiness in your own life. To make a schedule that permits sufficient time of rest and play with your gorgeous wife and lovely daughters. And so on. One gathers that your family is large. We are used to seeing men in the White House soon become juiceless and as white-haired as the building; we notice their wives and children looking strained and stressed. They soon have smiles so lacking in joy that they remind us of scissors. This is no way to lead. Nor does your family deserve this fate.
One way of thinking about all this is: It is so bad now that there is no excuse not to relax. From your happy, relaxed state, you can model real success, which is all that so many people in the world really want. They may buy endless cars and houses and furs and gobble up all the attention and space they can manage, or barely manage, but this is because it is not yet clear to them that success is truly an inside job. That it is within the reach of almost everyone.
I would further advise you not to take on other people’s enemies. Most damage that others do to us is out of fear, humiliation and pain. Those feelings occur in all of us, not just in those of us who profess a certain religious or racial devotion. We must learn actually not to have enemies, but only confused adversaries who are ourselves in disguise. It is understood by all that you are commander-in-chief of the United States and are sworn to protect our beloved country; this we understand, completely. However, as my mother used to say, quoting a Bible with which I often fought, “hate the sin, but love the sinner.”

There must be no more crushing of whole communities, no more torture, no more dehumanizing as a means of ruling a people’s spirit. This has already happened to people of color, poor people, women, children. We see where this leads, where it has led.

A good model of how to “work with the enemy” internally is presented by the Dalai Lama, in his endless care-taking of his soul as he confronts the Chinese government that invaded Tibet. Because, finally, it is the soul that must be preserved, if one is to remain a credible leader. All else might be lost; but when the soul dies, the connection to earth, to peoples, to animals, to rivers, to mountain ranges, purple and majestic, also dies. And your smile, with which we watch you do gracious battle with unjust characterizations, distortions and lies, is that expression of healthy self-worth, spirit and soul, that, kept happy and free and relaxed, can find an answering smile in all of us, lighting our way, and brightening the world.

We are the ones we have been waiting for.

In Peace and Joy,

Alice Walker