Comments on: DC! I Wanna Be Where You Are! http://www.afrobella.com/2009/01/20/dc-i-wanna-be-where-you-are/ Natural Hair, Beauty, Fashion and Makeup Blog Thu, 24 May 2012 00:11:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Y M Williams http://www.afrobella.com/2009/01/20/dc-i-wanna-be-where-you-are/comment-page-1/#comment-197631 Y M Williams Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:07:26 +0000 http://afrobella.com/2009/01/20/dc-i-wanna-be-where-you-are/#comment-197631 I could not miss this for nothing in the world. I thank God for the opportunity. I was thrilled by the sheer number of people attending. I saw all of those fur coats myself and some were good Dennis Basso faux fur coats. My sister said PETA would have had a field day had they been here. I told her I do not think they would bother with these women. Anyway we drove for 18 hours and stayed with my sister in MD. My mother even had the opportunity to witness this great moment in America's history in the comfort of my sister's church of course. At one moment we thought we were not going to be allowed into the ceremony because of all of the mix-ups but we did. I could not miss this for nothing in the world. I thank God for the opportunity. I was thrilled by the sheer number of people attending. I saw all of those fur coats myself and some were good Dennis Basso faux fur coats. My sister said PETA would have had a field day had they been here. I told her I do not think they would bother with these women. Anyway we drove for 18 hours and stayed with my sister in MD. My mother even had the opportunity to witness this great moment in America’s history in the comfort of my sister’s church of course. At one moment we thought we were not going to be allowed into the ceremony because of all of the mix-ups but we did.

]]> By: heartsandflowers http://www.afrobella.com/2009/01/20/dc-i-wanna-be-where-you-are/comment-page-1/#comment-197148 heartsandflowers Tue, 27 Jan 2009 22:37:50 +0000 http://afrobella.com/2009/01/20/dc-i-wanna-be-where-you-are/#comment-197148 Hi, I did one post and I'm still working on another one. My Big Fat Inauguration Recap http://snipurl.com/ak9dv. I'm still trying to catch up with blog posts from last week. Hi,

I did one post and I’m still working on another one. My Big Fat Inauguration Recap http://snipurl.com/ak9dv. I’m still trying to catch up with blog posts from last week.

]]> By: Jonez http://www.afrobella.com/2009/01/20/dc-i-wanna-be-where-you-are/comment-page-1/#comment-196518 Jonez Mon, 26 Jan 2009 19:34:11 +0000 http://afrobella.com/2009/01/20/dc-i-wanna-be-where-you-are/#comment-196518 Not much pictures to share ... but being there was amazing. I don't think the full magnitude of what I experienced last week has fully hit me yet. Not much pictures to share … but being there was amazing. I don’t think the full magnitude of what I experienced last week has fully hit me yet.

]]> By: muslimahlocs http://www.afrobella.com/2009/01/20/dc-i-wanna-be-where-you-are/comment-page-1/#comment-196298 muslimahlocs Mon, 26 Jan 2009 08:07:59 +0000 http://afrobella.com/2009/01/20/dc-i-wanna-be-where-you-are/#comment-196298 sorry bella. if you are on facebook look me up. i intend to post some of my pictures over there. sorry bella. if you are on facebook look me up. i intend to post some of my pictures over there.

]]> By: Emily Troutman http://www.afrobella.com/2009/01/20/dc-i-wanna-be-where-you-are/comment-page-1/#comment-196235 Emily Troutman Mon, 26 Jan 2009 03:05:36 +0000 http://afrobella.com/2009/01/20/dc-i-wanna-be-where-you-are/#comment-196235 Hi Bella, I hope you'll check out my latest blog, b/c I think it will make you feel like you were here :) Over the past week, I asked hundreds of people to pick a word to describe how they feel about Obama's inauguration. I gave them 26 words to choose from including "Hopeful," "Joyful," "Skeptical" and "Angry." Then I took their portrait with the word. The result is this video/photo essay, which is very moving: http://www.emilytroutman.blogspot.com or directly, http://vimeo.com/2895468. If you like it, feel free to embed it on yr blog. Hi Bella, I hope you’ll check out my latest blog, b/c I think it will make you feel like you were here :)

Over the past week, I asked hundreds of people to pick a word to describe how they feel about Obama’s inauguration. I gave them 26 words to choose from including “Hopeful,” “Joyful,” “Skeptical” and “Angry.” Then I took their portrait with the word.

The result is this video/photo essay, which is very moving:

http://www.emilytroutman.blogspot.com

or directly, http://vimeo.com/2895468.

If you like it, feel free to embed it on yr blog.

]]> By: Nickels http://www.afrobella.com/2009/01/20/dc-i-wanna-be-where-you-are/comment-page-1/#comment-195769 Nickels Sun, 25 Jan 2009 00:23:25 +0000 http://afrobella.com/2009/01/20/dc-i-wanna-be-where-you-are/#comment-195769 I am still glowing! Please view Pics here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2260999&l=b53cc&id=8208577 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2261056&l=1bf23&id=8208577 I am still glowing!

Please view Pics here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2260999&l=b53cc&id=8208577

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2261056&l=1bf23&id=8208577

]]> By: LL http://www.afrobella.com/2009/01/20/dc-i-wanna-be-where-you-are/comment-page-1/#comment-194875 LL Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:42:49 +0000 http://afrobella.com/2009/01/20/dc-i-wanna-be-where-you-are/#comment-194875 I was blessed to have tickets to both the swearing in and the Neighborhood Ball. Tuesday, was single handly one of the best times of my life. I was one of the people in MD who thought I was too above being in the cold and crowds initially, but I realized it made no sense to be so close to the most historic moment and skip out on it.Especially when so many people would have loved to be there. I started calling my "hook-ups" and finally secured those tickets. If I ever have kids, they are going to get tired of " I was there for the first black President" story! I was blessed to have tickets to both the swearing in and the Neighborhood Ball. Tuesday, was single handly one of the best times of my life. I was one of the people in MD who thought I was too above being in the cold and crowds initially, but I realized it made no sense to be so close to the most historic moment and skip out on it.Especially when so many people would have loved to be there. I started calling my “hook-ups” and finally secured those tickets. If I ever have kids, they are going to get tired of ” I was there for the first black President” story!

]]> By: flygyrl72 http://www.afrobella.com/2009/01/20/dc-i-wanna-be-where-you-are/comment-page-1/#comment-194762 flygyrl72 Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:32:53 +0000 http://afrobella.com/2009/01/20/dc-i-wanna-be-where-you-are/#comment-194762 I had inaugural tickets & the whole experience was surreal & effin freezing, but so so awesome, nevertheless. Meant to wake up at 3:30am, but too much partyin the night before, so overslept & got to the Metro station (stayed w/ a friend in Capitol Hts., MD) about 5:45am. Blue line Train was packed. But everyone was so friendly & excited, the atmosphere was definitely kum-bayah... Got off at Capitol South, the line to get out of the Metro station onto the streets took about 10 minutes, it was just folks everywhere. Workers were there once we departed the station to direct ticket/non-ticket holders on where to go & if you did have a ticket, you had to go to the color coded gate entrance on your ticket (mine was in the Blue Standing section West) Once in line, chatted with folks, captured footage on my Mino flip camcorder & just tried to stay warm! Impossible. Now, I'm from Chicago originally, even though I live in LA now & really thought I was prepared, had my thermals on, two pairs of socks, insulated boots, thick gloves, hat, big ass parka, etc. I was still cold, mind-numbingly so, after about an hour. I don't think I've ever been that cold for such an extended amt. of time...LOL... Some people couldn't take it & left, even though they had tickets, I saw one guy just hand his to a passerby & leave. That cold was gripping, man! They started to let people in the gates around 9:15am or so (although it was supposed to start exactly at 9am), but can I tell you, there was NO line/crowd control for all of these people. Seriously, I could've just lifted my feet off the ground & been carried along by the crowd. The sheer number of people all trying to move forward/stay warm/gain entrance just gave all of us ever forward momemtum. So lucky that everyone was just so infused with goodwill for their fellow man, because it was a situation waiting to happen, let me tell you. God forbid if anyone had of fallen, it wouldn't have been pretty... When I heard about all those ticket holders who ended up not being allowed in, I wasn't surprised. Now, I know that there's no way they could ever really prepare totally for such a momentous unprecedented event, especially given the massive amts of people, but still, they really could've done a much better job with controlling the admittance onto the grounds. Oh well, live & learn, I guess. They checked bags at the gate & you had to unbutton your coat & any layers completely (yikes, so cold that part, but necessary, I know). They made a lot of people leave bottled water, etc. at the gate & also, they made folks leave their little American flags that people were waving. Funniest thing though, once I was inside, I wasn't cold anymore. I found a spot on the lawn around one of the jumbotrons, since I could see kind of from the side where I was at, but was still too far away from the stage to make out any facial features, etc of Barack & company... And I can't front, I got such a delicious thrill from hearing everyone boo the hell outta Bush when he was announced. That made me laugh so HARD... Some photog guy there took some photos of me & I returned the favor for him & his wife. He was from Chi too, we exchanged info & he's supposed to email me the photos soon. Look forward to getting them. In all, it was great, the air was just charged with excitement. So so glad & so grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of it all. Still in DC, don't leave out til tonight, but am SO looking forward to getting back to Los Angeles & the mild temps, LOL... I had inaugural tickets & the whole experience was surreal & effin freezing, but so so awesome, nevertheless. Meant to wake up at 3:30am, but too much partyin the night before, so overslept & got to the Metro station (stayed w/ a friend in Capitol Hts., MD) about 5:45am. Blue line Train was packed. But everyone was so friendly & excited, the atmosphere was definitely kum-bayah…

Got off at Capitol South, the line to get out of the Metro station onto the streets took about 10 minutes, it was just folks everywhere.

Workers were there once we departed the station to direct ticket/non-ticket holders on where to go & if you did have a ticket, you had to go to the color coded gate entrance on your ticket (mine was in the Blue Standing section West) Once in line, chatted with folks, captured footage on my Mino flip camcorder & just tried to stay warm! Impossible.

Now, I’m from Chicago originally, even though I live in LA now & really thought I was prepared, had my thermals on, two pairs of socks, insulated boots, thick gloves, hat, big ass parka, etc. I was still cold, mind-numbingly so, after about an hour. I don’t think I’ve ever been that cold for such an extended amt. of time…LOL… Some people couldn’t take it & left, even though they had tickets, I saw one guy just hand his to a passerby & leave. That cold was gripping, man!

They started to let people in the gates around 9:15am or so (although it was supposed to start exactly at 9am), but can I tell you, there was NO line/crowd control for all of these people. Seriously, I could’ve just lifted my feet off the ground & been carried along by the crowd. The sheer number of people all trying to move forward/stay warm/gain entrance just gave all of us ever forward momemtum. So lucky that everyone was just so infused with goodwill for their fellow man, because it was a situation waiting to happen, let me tell you. God forbid if anyone had of fallen, it wouldn’t have been pretty… When I heard about all those ticket holders who ended up not being allowed in, I wasn’t surprised. Now, I know that there’s no way they could ever really prepare totally for such a momentous unprecedented event, especially given the massive amts of people, but still, they really could’ve done a much better job with controlling the admittance onto the grounds. Oh well, live & learn, I guess.

They checked bags at the gate & you had to unbutton your coat & any layers completely (yikes, so cold that part, but necessary, I know). They made a lot of people leave bottled water, etc. at the gate & also, they made folks leave their little American flags that people were waving.

Funniest thing though, once I was inside, I wasn’t cold anymore. I found a spot on the lawn around one of the jumbotrons, since I could see kind of from the side where I was at, but was still too far away from the stage to make out any facial features, etc of Barack & company…

And I can’t front, I got such a delicious thrill from hearing everyone boo the hell outta Bush when he was announced. That made me laugh so HARD…

Some photog guy there took some photos of me & I returned the favor for him & his wife. He was from Chi too, we exchanged info & he’s supposed to email me the photos soon. Look forward to getting them.

In all, it was great, the air was just charged with excitement. So so glad & so grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of it all.

Still in DC, don’t leave out til tonight, but am SO looking forward to getting back to Los Angeles & the mild temps, LOL…

]]> By: Trene http://www.afrobella.com/2009/01/20/dc-i-wanna-be-where-you-are/comment-page-1/#comment-194512 Trene Thu, 22 Jan 2009 04:29:54 +0000 http://afrobella.com/2009/01/20/dc-i-wanna-be-where-you-are/#comment-194512 Absolutely amazing! My family and I rose at 3:30 and began our journey from a suburb in Maryland to DC. We heard the highway was backed up for about 3 miles! Luckily I live right down the road from the subway station. We arrived to a line of people waiting to enter the subway station that had three rows going down a parking lot that is about two city blocks. After about 30 minutes we were on the train. I can't quite explain how excited and joyous everyone was. The train was crowded but there wasn't a stranger among us. Everyone instantly began chatting with the folks around them talking strategy to get on the Mall and tips for staying warm for several hours. I met people from California, Georgia, Chicago, New Jersey and Philadelphia withing four seats of my own. When we finally made it to the Mall the jumbo screens were replaying Sunday's free concert at the Lincoln Memorial. We all sang along and danced to keep warm. I can't say that the fellowship and joy kept me warm but it was a great distraction from the chilly morning. We were all relieved when the sun began to rise and shone brightly across the mall. So many accents were heard! You know people from around the world stood with you as many were in the native garb or carrying halting conversations with new friends. But the pride of Americans was strong and we invited foreigners to join us in song. We sang the Black National Anthem, America the Beautiful and many others. I've never experienced anything quite like it before. The older black men and women had looks of absolute joy. We've had over two months to get used to the idea of Barack as president but yesterday reminded you it was real. So many waved American flags and I heard young people say they had never held a flag before. A surge of new patriots were born! Needless to say, as soon as Arethia began singing the tears began and never stopped! Barack had us in his hand and Rev. Lowery brought it home. You should have heard the cheers as soon as Michelle was on the screen. Men and women admired her and melted as soon as we saw Sasha and Malia with grandma. There was resounding boos for Bush and chants of Obama as soon as his limo arrived. We almost went crazy as he began walking through the Capitol looking so smooth and calm. Yesterday, I became a proud American and I woke up this morning with the feeling swelling inside me still. I really don't ever want to let it go. Here's a picture of my mom, one of the many black women proudly wearing their furs (faux!): http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=33140644&l=95daf&id=8905536 My sisters,boyfriend and an older sister from church: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=33140643&l=96fae&id=8905536 Absolutely amazing! My family and I rose at 3:30 and began our journey from a suburb in Maryland to DC. We heard the highway was backed up for about 3 miles! Luckily I live right down the road from the subway station. We arrived to a line of people waiting to enter the subway station that had three rows going down a parking lot that is about two city blocks. After about 30 minutes we were on the train.

I can’t quite explain how excited and joyous everyone was. The train was crowded but there wasn’t a stranger among us. Everyone instantly began chatting with the folks around them talking strategy to get on the Mall and tips for staying warm for several hours. I met people from California, Georgia, Chicago, New Jersey and Philadelphia withing four seats of my own.

When we finally made it to the Mall the jumbo screens were replaying Sunday’s free concert at the Lincoln Memorial. We all sang along and danced to keep warm. I can’t say that the fellowship and joy kept me warm but it was a great distraction from the chilly morning. We were all relieved when the sun began to rise and shone brightly across the mall.

So many accents were heard! You know people from around the world stood with you as many were in the native garb or carrying halting conversations with new friends. But the pride of Americans was strong and we invited foreigners to join us in song. We sang the Black National Anthem, America the Beautiful and many others. I’ve never experienced anything quite like it before.

The older black men and women had looks of absolute joy. We’ve had over two months to get used to the idea of Barack as president but yesterday reminded you it was real. So many waved American flags and I heard young people say they had never held a flag before. A surge of new patriots were born!

Needless to say, as soon as Arethia began singing the tears began and never stopped! Barack had us in his hand and Rev. Lowery brought it home. You should have heard the cheers as soon as Michelle was on the screen. Men and women admired her and melted as soon as we saw Sasha and Malia with grandma. There was resounding boos for Bush and chants of Obama as soon as his limo arrived. We almost went crazy as he began walking through the Capitol looking so smooth and calm.

Yesterday, I became a proud American and I woke up this morning with the feeling swelling inside me still. I really don’t ever want to let it go.

Here’s a picture of my mom, one of the many black women proudly wearing their furs (faux!):
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=33140644&l=95daf&id=8905536

My sisters,boyfriend and an older sister from church:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=33140643&l=96fae&id=8905536

]]> By: Chanel http://www.afrobella.com/2009/01/20/dc-i-wanna-be-where-you-are/comment-page-1/#comment-194460 Chanel Thu, 22 Jan 2009 01:47:41 +0000 http://afrobella.com/2009/01/20/dc-i-wanna-be-where-you-are/#comment-194460 I was there! It was so damn cold but amazing :) I was there! It was so damn cold but amazing :)

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