The goings ons today

January 20, 2009

By Ebony Horton

Here’s a gist of some of the events we’ll be at today:

8 a.m. Inaugural ceremony gates open
10 a.m. Events begin
- United States Marine Band selections and San Francisco boys’ and girls’ choruses

- Sen. Dianne Feinstein provides call to order and welcoming remakrs
- The Rev. Rick Warren gives invocation
-Aretha Franklin sings
-Vice President Joe Biden to be sworn in
- Musical selections by John Williams, Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Gabriela Montero and Anthony McGill
-President-elect Barack Obama takes oath
-Obama gives inaugural address
-Poem by Elizabeth Alexander
-Benediction by the Rev. Joseph E. Lowery
-National Anthem by the US Navy Band “Sea Chanters”
-After inaugural address, Obama to escort President Bush to departure ceremony

Who said ‘White man can’t dance?“

January 19, 2009

By Ebony Horton

Watch the bus driver, Mr. Robert, get down at an inauguration party at a hotel in Richmond, Va.
Update: I’m having technical difficulties and apparently can’t delete file. Will update later.

One reporter’s sacrifice marks my trip for a lifetime, one man’s sacrifice marks history too

By Ebony Horton

I remember getting a phone call from my editor sometime after the election last year. I was in Ozark, and he wanted me to come to the Dothan office to talk to managing editor Ken Tuck. As most, I tend to always get nervous when I get called into the big boss’ office.
I went ahead and rushed there, finding myself in the corner chair in his office with my city editor to my right and the door closed. It could have been anything - layoffs, promotions, assignment change - but instead, it was something I wasn’t expecting.
Ken told me I might need a suit case and asked if I had any plans for Jan. 20. The rest clicked instantly - the Eagle was sending me to President-elect Barack Obama’s Inauguration!
But I wasn’t first pick, especially with politics not being my beat. It was news feature reporter Lance Griffin (who is an excellent reporter with years of experience) who Ken said stepped down because “he believed it would mean much more to Ebony.“
Wow.
The more I ponder this opportunity the more blessed I feel to have people like Lance who are still willing to sacrifice opportunities for others. I can’t help but to categorize others, like the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. we honor today, who gave his life so that women and men - like Obama - could have the opportunities to aspire to become leaders every day.
If you followed election coverage or get tons of forwards in your e-mail, you probably came across the one that says something like, “Rosa Parks sat so MLK could walk, MLK walked so Obama could run.“
Thanks Lance, for thinking of me for this opportunity to cover one of the most historic events ever.
And thanks, MLK, for helping me believe I could do it.

We made it!

By Ebony Horton

We’ve finally made it to our hotel in Richmond, Va., and whoa, what a ride! We had people passing around chicken and collard greens on the bus, and a few jigging to the “Cupid Shuffle.“
We watched some great movies and got some great sleep. A lot of personalities, but it’s all worth it.
I’m finally grasping hold to the fact that I’m actually here. This is an experience I’ll remember for the rest of my life.

DPD escorts group out of Dothan, next stop Atlanta

January 18, 2009

By Ebony Horton

Right now is somewhat emotional for people as they watch Dothan Police escort the buses out of Dothan. For some, it’s an honor.
All kinds of races are on the bus. Some people are passing around drinks, others are listening to music and some people are just laughing and joking.
It’s a neat experience so far.
The bus driver has asked us not to use the potty unless we have to. You know why.
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