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This image from Saturday's commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday captures a moment that instantly became iconic: when the United States' first black president walked hand-in-hand with civl rights heroes whose demands for full equality for African-Americans he knows still haven't been met, even as he spoke to the incredible progress made.
In it, Obama walks alongside Amelia Boynton Robinson, a key organizer of and participant in the march, who's now over 100 years old, Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights activist-turned-congressman, who's said he thought he was going to die on Bloody Sunday, and others who were brutally attacked by police as they attempted to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge in their march from Selma to Montgomery to demand voting rights for African-Americans, on March 7, 1965.
On Obama's other side, a third generation — his two daughters — are marching, too. They are holding hands with their grandmother, Marian Shields Robinson, and their mom, First Lady Michelle Obama.
I thought we could all use a sense of pride this early Monday morning.
And if that picture is not enough to accomplish that, perhaps this will do the trick.
I urge everyone to listen to his speech!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVAZp1j0tKc&app=desktop
Wow. That made me cry.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was born, (same age as you, Gryph) African Americans did not have the right to vote. I know there is still a lot of work to be done, but today I feel that it's so fantastic that we have an African American president.
Also, I got to work on both of his campaigns, and I honestly loved every minute of it.
That picture touched me, and is an inspiration to me.
Thanks Gryphen, for all that you do!
R in NC
G. W. Bush had the nerve to join the march. Repubs. are claiming he was cut out of the photos. The rest of the gop were huddled together signing a document warning Iran not to negotiate with the President, because as soon as he is out of office, they will void any contract he makes!! I have NEVER seen a President as disrespected as our President Obama. Racist bastards will do anything to ruin him.
ReplyDeleteI despise George Bush but I admire the fact that he and Laura Bush decided to participate in the Selma anniversary march. Where were the rest of the current GOP dunderheads? I wouldn't normally applaud GW Bush but I'll give him this one!
DeleteI agree with you, 6:13.
DeleteReally? I don't see him anywhere.
DeleteAt least he stayed out of the way. Just like him to try to take a little away from our current President.
3:58, the nerve?
DeleteIt is absolutely appropriate for any living ex-presidents to attend such events. Do you even realize the paradox of your remark?
I read elsewhere that after the march, the President was swarmed by people wanting hugs, while the Bushes stood nearby, alone, holding hands and looking at the ground. But at least he was there.
DeleteLove this picture, I can actually remember this event in my lifetime. Was only 8 at the time. Thanks Mr President.
ReplyDeleteThe picture of yesterday and today together is stunningly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteYes Nefer, that montage should become iconic, because the melding of the black and white photo from half a century ago and the full color one from this day speaks to both the past and hopefully the future. History will judge this President as a formidable force in this, the beginning of another century. May he remain cool under the pressure of neverending disrespect from regressives of all stripes.
DeleteA bit O/T, but I cannot believe how tall Sasha Obama is! She must have gotten her growth spurt when I wasn't noticing! She and Malia are fabulous young women.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of women, I read that Peggy Wallace - daughter of George Wallace - was also at the march. I'm going to link to an article she wrote for CNN about her father and Obama, that appeared the day after the 2008 election. Just beautiful...
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/03/wallace.kennedy.obama/index.html?iref=allsearch
broody Sunday.ensigns of our times when we struggled for rights and equality for all. altho I was young I remember being shocked that people could treat others so badly just because of the color of ones skin.and now we have the same and even worse wackos trying to do a *rollback to those times. i still love America.(so does our president). in the words of those who marched "We shall overcome!"
ReplyDeletethat would be Bloody Sunday.signs of our times..sorry!
ReplyDeleteWhoever did that photoshopped picture at the bottom; that is awesome. And says so much by saying nothing. The power of an image.
ReplyDeleteI love that bottom photo too!
DeleteThese images make me swell up with pride and fear. Pride for our President and the leaps and bounds that we have made. Fear that close to 50% of this nation could have cared less about that Sunday.
ReplyDeleteWhat does it say about us when there was a large voice wailing that we didn't take part in a march on foreign soil in France yet completely disregard the importance of this march in supposedly their beloved USA. Mindboggeling.
It says that fundraising and whining are more important to the GOP than anything else. Boehner was fundraising at two fancy parties in CA (gee, and you thought he got elected in Ohio, right?) And who knows where Ms. Lindsay and McConnell were hiding..in some closet somewhere. Yes, the GOP is despicable. Now, vote them out!
DeleteI detest Republicans and especially their leaders in the U. S. Congress.
ReplyDeleteThey are out and out racists, obstructionist, haters and evil through and through. I can hardly wait until 2016 to vote their asses out of office - on the national, state and city levels.
Oh, forgot to mention they love our being at war and could care less about killing more of their own just as long as they are not their own sons or daughters!
The fact none of the U.S. Congress leaders were a part, in Selma, speaks volumes! Thank God, President Obama and VP Biden are our leaders!
O's speech was excellent!
ReplyDeleteI love that final picture. As someone said above, it should become iconic. Who will be the first to make a poster of it, I wonder? I'll definitely go there.
ReplyDelete