The President's Inauguration on MLK Day

Yesterday was an important day in history: not only was it MLK Day, but it was the day of the second  presidential inauguration for Barack Obama. America has really came a long way from the days of MLK; however, it still has a ways to go. There is still a lot of bigotry going on, not only toward minorities, but toward homosexuals as well.

In 2009 I sent out a race relations survey to some of my Facebook friends for a book that I am in the process of writing, and one of the questions on it was whether they thought that racism had been eradicated with the election of a black president. Obviously it had not, although one responder claimed it had. Even though the survey responses were anonymous, I have a pretty good idea who that responder was. Apparently, he chooses not to acknowledge racism both blatant and subtle. I tend to believe the contrary: that the election of a black president has made racism more prevalent and recognizable. I've seen the true colors of some of my "friends" and other people that I know with Obama's election and re-election, and it seems to me that even though they may not identify themselves has being racist they may have "racist tendencies."

Putting the bouts of racism aside, I am more proud now than when Obama was first elected four years ago. It shouldn't matter if you agree with his politics or not, you have to be proud of the fact that most Americans were willing to look passed the color of his skin and elect a black man as POTUS not once, but twice! This was MLK's dream. If you are not proud, well (in my opinion) you are un-American and probably racist.