Wednesday, January 21, 2009

"Hey! That's Me Mum!"

OK, OK, I didn't see my mom on any of the CNN coverage, but she was kind enough to send this photo via her cell phone:

Mamma k

This is my mom, Mamma K if you will, freezing her inaugural balls off in DC yesterday.

Look how happy she looks!
I was happy that she was able to be in DC for the event. This was a big day for her. My mom volunteered and campaigned for Obama in the waaaaay back before he’d even secured the Democratic party nomination. Yep. That's me mum: the eternal optimist. She’s always had high hopes.

From being a Black girl growing up in Iowa in the 1950’s, learning about the world by immersing herself in writings by James Cone, Malcolm X, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr.; to eventually participating in the Black Panther Party morning breakfast programs, I imagine she has always had the hope that this day would be possible. In an article she was working on in 2006 she wrote:

“Hope for the enslaved African was a subversive power that enabled them to survive the cruelties of slavery. And hope remains a subversive power that calls us to live a defiant life that questions the status quo, as it did with our ancestors.”

So yeah, this is a big day for her. A big day for a little tiny woman who has always had a big heart and even bigger hopes.

10 comments:

Shanster said...

That is so AWESOME and WONDERFUL!!

Torie said...

Cudos to your mum! My father feels the same way. He is now 74 years old. (yes he robbed the cradle!) And he never thought he would see this day. Even as a very intelligent, educated black man he just never thought. So, cudos to them for paving the way for our generation and many more to come!

Cherise said...

Beautiful tribute to your mom. She sounds amazing! Smart too. She knew a good thing when she saw him. That's wonderful she could be there for the inauguration. What an incredible day.

Megan said...

Great picture! That is great that she got to be there then.

Unknown said...

She looks so happy! What a day, what an absolutely glorious day.

Lenoxave said...

Your mom is really cute. Glad the was there to witness the moment. Had I not been a slacker McSlackerson, I could've been there freezing my ass off witnessing history as well.

Anonymous said...

as the sign said, O happy day.

Anonymous said...

Mme. K, I just tagged you! Go to my blog to collect your award and homework assignement.
Hugs,Dedene

Anonymous said...

hey, maybe you mom ran into my dad?!?! he was there with my nephews and nieces. also: january 20th was his 76th birthday. how cool is that?!?!

Unknown said...

This is a few months late, but I LOVE that Mammma K adores James Cone! He's one of my favorite professors here at Columbia/ Union and he's such a blessing to the discussion of liberation theology :)