Guest Author - Grace D. Dooley

Today we have a new President in office and the Former President is retired some place nice and quiet for a while. We celebrate a milestone this New Year.

This is surely a historical event watched by the entire world. During the campaign trail all eyes were on America once again. As being African AMERICAN myself and part of the black community. I am elated but also cautious about what is to come.

Our world still seems to be uncertain at this time. The economy is unstable and families are having a hard time making ends meet. It is not a matter of color but of survival. We definitely live in uncertain times. There are no guarantees, even from our new president. He can only do what he can do.

Yesterday, we as a nation, celebrated Martin Luther King Day only to have it followed by the inauguration of our new President, Barack Obama. Everything Martin Luther King stood for, fought for and encouraged has come full circle and is complete today. Partly because of what Dr King did in his time we are experiencing his dream in action today.

Dr. King started and led the fight for civil rights. Not just for black Americans, but all Americans who are alien to this land. It just so happen as being a black man and oppressed at the same time he had a vision of a world that did not exist in his time. His vision was for the future. The future is here and it is now.

What does this mean for us? What is in store for the future of this nation? Will it get better? Will we make great strides in the name of progression? How does this historical event change the course of our nation and also time? Will we see significant changes in the years to come? Will we have to wait until the dust settles to really find out what can be done?

What does this mean for the African American communities through out the nation? This is a great victory for a race of people who have strived and struggled against oppression, depression and recession. While we maybe in a recession now, the oppression and depression could be worst but it’s not.

There were many who followed Dr. King’s dream and many kept it alive as best they could. Without the people before Barack Obama this presidency would not be possible. African American people whether they want to admit it or not have come a very long way and it could not have been done with out help and a visionary to lead the way. “Barack I commend you on being a visionary. And now you have the sources and resources to follow through.”

We have experienced two great historical events back to back. One celebrates the long road of victory and freedom for all minorities in this country and around the world. What do you think Dr. King would say about today's inauguration of an African American President for the first time in the history of this nation. It’s times like these it’s great to be an American. It’s also times like these it’s great to be Black in a free country too.

There are still many questions to be asked and answered. But one thing still remains and that is hope. Dr. King gave us hope, inspiration and encouragement as a people, race and nation. The same hope of yesterdays gone by now rests on a new leader. That new leader just happens to be our new President of the United States of America.

Now is the time for real hope, real change and a better future for the generations to come. It will not be accomplished over night. And some of us may not see it happen in our life time just as Dr. King. But the hope of knowing we have a chance or at least our children’s children do is a good legacy to leave behind.

So today we as a people belonging to a great nation make global history once again. From slavery to the civil rights movement to obtaining equality in a world where there was none. This is a great day for a great people in a great nation at a great time.

Congratulations President Obama! Job well done. This is just the beginning, though.