Martin Luther King and Barack Obama in 2009

Tommorrow, January 19th is our federal holiday, Martin Luther King Day and Tuesday, January 20th our nation's 44th President and first African American President will be inaugurated as President.

"Pelosi: Let's Pay Tribute (Associated Press/1.16.09)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) circulated a statement today in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is Monday. In it, she linked the historic significance of Obama on his way to become the first black president: "Just as Barack Obama's historic inauguration makes this Martin Luther King Day more poignant, our commitment to fulfilling Dr. King's dream must become more powerful."
As Obama stands on the inaugural platform by the Capitol on Tuesday, Pelosi continued, he "will look across the expanse of the National Mall to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, where one of America's most courageous and compassionate prophets of peace -- Reverend Martin Luther King -- called upon our nation to fulfill the promise of its founding dream for all of our people." (end of press release)

It is obviously an amazing two days for all Americans, but especially for African Americans. I read a story yesterday about Martin Luther King's sister taking a group of young students on a tour of the house where he grew up. One can only imagine what those Americans who led and struggled thru the Civil Rights movement with Rev. King will be thinking this week. Also how must the leaders of those more radical leaders of civil right groups, like the Black Panthers, be feeling about our country and about their history and experiences.

NPR did an interview with a retired White House Butler. The White House Butlers over history have been and are mainly African Americans. This gentleman was asked how he believes the current Butlers will feel the when they come face to face with the first African American President of the United States. It was a beautiful and interesting interview.

One wonders about the segregationalists from the Civil Rights era (and today) that are still alive today and how this coming week processes thru their minds and souls. Will it change in their last days how they view America and the issue of race and hatred. Maybe not but it must have an impact. It must be a stunning occurrence.

The other person in our historywho had an huge impact on civil rights, almost equal to that of Martin Luther King, is President Lydon Johnson. The President who hailed from the segragationalist south, Texas, and was the most unlikely political leader in American to bring about intergration and move the civil rights movement forward. He got civil right legislatin thru the Congress that former President John Kennedy could not get passed. He took huge risks for his presidency and did what he thought was right for America. He led housing and school integrration. he changed American society and American law. He used federal troops to make sure people could get into school and universities, ride on buses and move thru our country freely--regardless of their color. He made into law what Martin Luther King and thousands and thousands of other Americans fought for years and years to become law.

The fight for civil rights, for civil liberties and for equal opportunity is not over. It does not end with the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States on Tuesday. However it is interesting to think about what Americans past and present will be thinking about in the next two days as we celebrate two wonderful American events. It is interesting to think about how our country will change after tommorrow.