Historic Election Recalled 11/04/2009

I wasn’t born yet when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, but I do remember where I was when the Challenger space shuttle exploded or when planes slammed into the World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, 2001 or when then-Sen. Barack Obama was officially elected the 44th president of the United States of America.

On Election Night ‘08, I was working as an online producer at a Nashville television station. A few weeks earlier, Obama and McCain appeared in Music City for one of a handful of presidential debates held around the country. As an online producer, I was charged with writing stories, taking and editing pictures and video and posting all of them before, during and after four nightly newscasts. On Election Night, everything moved more quickly and thankfully I worked alongside dear friend and skilled colleague Angela Gardenhire.

As the election returns came in – Ohio, the Carolinas, the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia) then the polls across the Midwest and finally the West Coast, people started calling the newsroom. Angela and I hurriedly monitored blog posts and filed updates along with our usual tasks. But, at one point, after ABC anchor Charlie Gibson called the election for Obama, I stopped. I excused myself and went into a conference room and cried. When I returned to my desk among the people who called me was my mother. Initially I didn’t recognize her voice, but the caller ID confirmed the source. She was crying, saying she wished my grandfather was alive to witness this feat. She also said she wasn’t sure months ago if she’d ever see this day, but she was glad for it. I added that I was very proud of fellow Americans who stepped away from fear to elect the nation’s first black president.

Last night, HBO aired a documentary produced by actor Edward Norton  that provided behind-the-scenes access to the Obama campaign. I enjoyed reliving Election Night as well as learning about how the campaign affected staff and volunteers.

Navy Honors Medgar Evers 10/10/2009

 

On Friday, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus  announced that the first ship he names will be the USNS Medgar Evers, a supply ship named after the slain civil rights pioneer. Mabus, a former governor of Mississippi,  made the announcement during a speech at Jackson State University  in Jackson, Mississippi. Evers was the NAACP’s field secretary in the state. He organized voter registration drives and led efforts such as boycotts and nonviolent protests to integrate public facilities, schools and restaurants.

The 37-year-old Mississippi native, who served in the Army in World War II, was assassinated in the driveway of his Jackson home in 1963. His killer, Byron De La Beckwith, was convicted fifteen years ago. His death prompted President John F. Kennedy to ask the Congress for a comprehensive civil rights bill.

“Upon returning to the United States, he took up the cause of freedom, rose to become the Field Secretary of the NAACP in Mississippi, and campaigned tirelessly to end segregation and ensure equal treatment for every American,” according to Mabus in a blog post  on the White House Web site. “No less so than the heroes who have fought and died for our country overseas, he gave his life to defend America and its principles when he was assassinated in his own driveway in June of 1963.”

“The NAACP commends the United States Navy for its tribute to the great civil rights leader and pioneer Medgar Evers and congratulates his widow and member of our Chairman Emeritus Myrlie Evers-Williams,” said NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous in a statement posted on the organization’s Web site.

“Medgar Evers’ lifelong passion for civil and human rights and his selfless sacrifice for his country have inspired millions around the world.   He is a shining exemplar of courage and dedication and a model for generations of civil rights activists, including myself.  It is our hope that the naval troops that ride on this vessel will be inspired – as we are – by the noble life of Medgar Evers,” Jealous said.

His widow, Myrlie Evers-Williams attended the announcement at Jackson State University Friday. She served on the board of directors of the NAACP and was the first full-time chairman of the NAACP from 1995-1998.

“The Navy names ships in the support fleet to honor pioneers, explorers and other notables. The Navy ship honoring Evers is the first named for an African-American since President Barack Obama took office,” according to an Associated Press article. 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Navy Illustration

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Urgent Call for Help to Secure MLK Memorial Permit 09/24/2009

 

In a mass e-mail Wednesday Harry E. Johnson, president and CEO of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, asked supporters to write letters to President Barack Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. 

“We are feverishly working to pressure our government officials to do everything within their power to secure our building permit. The more folks that we can reach out to support us during this critical time will help our effort so much more,” Johnson wrote. Form letters to Obama, Pelosi and Salazar

Last month, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation  applied for a building permit from the National Park Service  to construct a memorial in honor of the slain civil rights leader.

“Please do what you can before it’s too late. We need the National Park Service to issue our building permit without further delay,” he wrote, also noting that without a permit, building the memorial is not an option.

Slated for completion by 2011, the memorial honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will be built on the National Mall and sit beside the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial and in a direct line between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. 

Thirteen years ago, Congress passed authorized a resolution that allowed Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.  to establish a memorial honoring King in D.C. For more information or to make a donation, please visit www.buildthedream.org.  Take a virtual tour

President’s Health-Care Plan in 4 Mins. 09/23/2009