There
is going to be so much history made today - in addition to the
history that's already been made, that it will be overwhelming and hard
to fully process - but at least, this time, for the first time in four
years, it will be positive, empowering, uplifting, jubilant history.
HOWARD UNIV WILL BE A PART OF THE INAUGURATION
Howard University’s Drumline To Escort Joe Biden, Kamala Harris After Historic Inauguration
Howard
Universityalumni and students who were likely disappointed that the famousHBCU‘s
annual homecoming festivities were canceled last fall, it looks like they’re getting a second chance at it onInauguration
Dayon Wednesday.
That’s when one of its own,Kamala
Harris, will officially be sworn into office and become the
first Black woman to be Vice President of the United States. Harris—who
studied political science and economics—graduated from Howard in 1986.
But Wednesday is also when the Howard University drumline will escort her and soon-to-be PresidentJoe
Bidento the White House as part of the
historic event’s virtual “Parade Across America,” which is substituting
for the traditional march down Pennsylvania Avenue that can’t be held
this year because ofcoronaviruspandemic
social distancing guidelines.
Howard’s inclusion was announced Monday morning.
Howard’s drumline — another term for the group of percussionists in a
marching band — will be joined by one from the University of Delaware,
Biden’s alma mater.
Both drumlines will be a part of a larger virtual procession that will
include representation from all branches of the U.S. armed forces, such
as the U.S. Army Band, a Joint Service Honor Guard and the
Commander-in-Chief’s Guard and Fife and Drum Corps from
the 3rd U.S. Infantry “The Old Guard,”according
to USA TODAY.
Aside from Howard’s drumline from its “Showtime” marching band, the
“Parade Across America” will have some extra added flavor with Earth
Wind & Fire, Nile Rodgers and singer and actress Andra Day.
Howard’s pride in Harris is not a secret.
Back when she and Biden’s election was confirmed, Howard University PresidentWayne
A. I. Frederickpenned a powerful statement about Harris’
dedication to civic leadership and her relentless fight to advocate for
underrepresented and underserved groups.
“A new dawn has broken in America,” Frederick wrote back in early
November. “Senator Kamala Harris has swung her Howard hammer and
shattered the proverbial glass ceiling into pieces that will not be put
back together. As the new Vice President-elect, we know
she will continue advancing her vision of a nation where all people –
regardless of race, creed, gender, background, or ethnicity – have
access to equitable opportunities to grow and succeed. At a time when
the Black community is coping with the disproportionate
social and economic impacts of COVID-19, a global reckoning with
systemic racism, and the loss of some of our cultural and social icons,
we are proud to call Howard University alumna Kamala Harris a monumental
catalyst for collective joy and positive change.”
Monday also marked the day that Harris will resign her seat, moving her
one step closer to realizing her historic installment of the first Black
vice president of the United States of America.###
Earlier today, Mitch McConnell finally admitted publicly that T-rump had committed crimes against the US.
With that no longer hanging over the head of the congress, America can rejoice that there is some possibility of healing.
While the inauguration will be virtual, it will still be a proud moment for those of us here in the US who actually did the right thing and voted T-rump out and Biden/Harris in. We can now turn to healing the gaping wounds left by the rapacious regime ushered in by a megalomaniac posing as president.
Black women are wearing pearls in honor of Kamala Harris - and will be dressed as though we were literally at the inauguration.
While the ersatz president is skulking off to Mar A Lago, we will be joyously watching him getting into the helicopter and taking his stench with him. The only thing that would make us even happier than Biden's swearing, would be to see T-rump being led away in handcuffs to be incarcerated along with the others who fanned the flames of racism, riots and sedition - proving that no one is above the law.
I want to congratulate us all in the US who got out and voted - Thanks to you - to us all - WE WON - so now - LET THE HEALING BEGIN, and as President-Elect Biden and President-Elect Harris take the oath of office tomorrow, we have to pledge to never again allow ourselves or this country to ever again become so negligent and blind to tyranny and violation of ethics, our rights or the rights of humanity. We must pledge to not be so fascinated by phony monsters on TV that we miss out on the fact that there are monsters right in our midst. And finally, let's make this country into the ideals it pretends to stand for!!
The
ballroom of Treasures on Germantown Avenue was packed to capacity
last Saturday morning, despite the fact that the temperature was a
vicious 16 degrees with vicious whipping winds. The Germantown/Mt. Airy
community turned out to celebrate the re-election of State
Representative Stephen Kinsey, who is now serving his second term
representing the 201st district in Philadelphia.
Stephen Kinsey
Residents
of all ages and economic backgrounds showed up to congratulate him
and let him know how pleased they were with who he was and how he was
representing them.
The
opening ceremony with a color guard from the Boy Scouts and another
local youth organization was followed by a musical rendition of Lift
Every Voice and Sing performed by Darryl McKeever on sax.
Kinsey's
adorable little daughter, Myla Rose Pearl Kinsey, dressed in white
blush, greeted the audience and welcomed them to her dad's
inauguration.
There
was an overwhelming sense of family as you looked around the
capacity-packed room. People spoke with pride about the difference
Kinsey has made since being in Harrisburg. John Odom spoke of his
outstanding character, stating, “What stood out was a man who
treated everybody on the same plane. I am grateful to know him at
this stage of my life. Hope to see you running for president,” he
concluded.
John
Myers, his predecessor, stated that Kinsey had come up under his
leadership. Myers shared his wisdom knowledge and was determined to
make sure he was able to carry on the work of David Richardson (one
of Kinsey's icons).
Per
Myers, “Steve Kinsey is like a political son to me. I had said to
Steve in five years we could make you a leader in Harrisburg. He
said 'no way!' He later had to turn down leadership positions people
wanted him to take. Steve is a soldier for his people. He knows
what is right and when it's right; what to say and when to say it. I
want to make you the 800 pound gorilla. We need an 800 pound gorilla
in this city!” Myers went on to say that Kinsey needed an army to
become the 800 pound gorilla. And that army was made up of community
constituents who can help out by making phone calls, sending emails
and letters and standing with him on the issues.
“I
want you to pledge to be that army,” he continued. Per Myers
Kinsey must have the people behind him willing to do the work
necessary.
Stating
a fact in political math, Myers reminded the audience that a 1500
voter turnout for the most part will get little to no attention; but
when you have 15,000 voters turning out it makes everybody sit up and
take notice. “If we want to see changes made, it continues after
he gets in office. If you look in the mirror and see someone other
than yourself looking back, you need to change the mirror.”
Spoken
word artist, Kirwyn Sutherland's brilliant piece, which started with
– “Generation B has wide wings...there is no stolen history
ritalin can reconstruct – and culminated with “you are not
alone, every single one of us have gravely sinned – we invite every
part of you in,” lent a contemporary basis to the high regard the
so called generation 'z' have for the Representative, who has broad
personal appeal across the age and economic ranges.
The inauguration was as much a lesson in civics and politics as it was the celebration of the re-election of Stephen Kinsey. With many of the who's who in the the Pennsylvania political arena.
State Representative Cherelle
Parker stated enthusiastically, “This is my tenth year. And it took people like John
Myers, Dwight Evans, John White, Jr., Dave Richardson – all of
those people who sort of laid the foundation - to give people like
Steve Kinsey and Cherrelle Parker the opportunity to do what we do.
And to do what we do in a way that is so selfless, that when we get
there - you know when you get elected, people begin to call you,
address you as 'honorable.' And if you're not careful, if you're not
grounded, if you don't come from a place where you realize that if it
wasn't for the Grace of God, that could be me – you could lose
yourself in what we do. And you can get to Harrisburg and you could
forget Germantown. Right? You're walking the halls and people say,
'Oh I want to meet with you!' 'Oh, I want to talk to you!' And all
of a sudden, you just get grand! And don't start reading you press
releases – you start reading your press releases and believing it;
your picture in the paper – and if you are not careful and
disciplined – you get so busy you forget the purpose. He sits next
to me; he hasn't forgotten purpose! John Myers, you know it's easy to
talk about what you believe in in front of this crowd, because you're
home. They feel what you're feeling, and believe what you believe!
But when you go to Harrisburg, and you get inside that conference
room, when you get on that floor, where there are 203 members and
only 25 of us from Philadelphia, and we do not always agree. But I'm
impressed with Kinsey, because when he got to Harrisburg he didn't
mind speaking out, especially when people came from different places.
You can sit there and be quiet and try to make people like you –
but you'll never get anything done. You can speak up about your
concerns – school closings; economic dollars that once helped to
stabilize schools – you can say it or you can be quiet and be
afraid to speak up,” she stated, wanting to make it emphatically
clear that role Kinsey plays in Harrisburg.
Parker spoke of how rare it was to be a part of the appropriations committee
so early in his political career, and how thorough and fair Kinsey
was in his determinations; playing a key role in the effort to ensure
that Germantown has its fair and equitable share.
With
a flair of humor, Rep. Parker stated that she would "like to be fly on
wall of the appropriations committee when Rep. Kinsey was putting
forth his concerns for he budget and its impact on the whole of
Philadelphia." She stated, “You have made a good choice – to
succeed Dave Richardson you sent John Myers. And to succeed John
Myers you sent Stephen Kinsey and my friend represents you well.”
City
Councilwoman Cindy Bass rounded out the accolades by stating that
there has never been a time since Kinsey took office that she has
called and not received the help she needed from him. There has
never been a time when he was unavailable to the constituents she
represents in his district.
“I
can't do the things I try to do in the City Council without Steve's
help. If you're trying to get bills passed in the city, you need
government in the state. You need people who are really able to do
the work. Who are well qualified, but also has the heart about the
work that needs to be done,” she emphasized. “He will always be a
part of my team, and I will always be a part of his team!”
Kinsey's focus has been education, economic empowerment and building a cohesive community. Prior to the inauguration he hosted an open house in his new office at 5952 -54 Germantown Avenue (Corner Harvey) directly across the street from the now shuttered Germantown High School, his alma mater. Kinsey has been supportive of the GCCS - a consortium of community organizations and residents who are working to have the school transformed into a viable sixth through twelfth grade charter school. It was the only high school in Germantown and would have celebrated its 100th Anniversary had it not been shut down in 2013.
Among
the guests and well wishers in the audience for Kinsey's second
inauguration, were members of Kappa Alpha Psi's Philadelphia Alumnae
chapter, members of the Germantown Community Charter School
Coalition, and other community based organizations from the
Germantown area.
Suffice it to say that those in the 201st district fortunate enough to have Kinsey for their state representative have nothing but praise for his first two years and are looking to working with him in making sure that the 2nd term is as successful as the first.
