By Dennis Matanda
At exactly 12:00 Noon, January 20, 2009, Barack Obama became President of the United States of America before he was officially sworn in as Commander in Chief – a time stipulated in the over 200 year old American Constitution. Things were running a little late – but everyone seemed to understand. People watching the proceedings on TV around the world and even those in and around Washington DC were patient; quietly, yet anxiously appreciating the events of the few minutes before 12:00 Noon. On this very cold and windy winter day, the clock struck noon to the beautiful sounds of a cello played by the famously impressive Yo-Yo Ma, a violin passionately torn at by Itzhak Perlman, a clarinet delicately blown into by Anthony McGill and a piano that was masterfully caressed by Gabriela Montero’s semi gloved fingers. The quartet, an Oriental, a Jew, an African American and a Latino, played ‘Air and Simple Gifts’ by John Williams of the Star Wars fame.
While this song was in its dying moments, Michelle Obama, with gloves of green to match her immaculately laid yellow outfit touched her husband’s shoulder – as if to tell him that he was now, whether he liked it or not, Barack Hussein Obama, 44th President of the United States. Then he was sworn in; and the world seemed like a wonderful place.
I watched the festivities in the privacy of my apartment; remembering how embarrassing it can be to get emotional about things. I had, shamelessly in front of my friends, quietly cried when Obama won the election on November 4, 2008 – letting the tears freely flow like the optimism I felt. And although Obama had made me lose more than one bet that first night, he had, then, provided me with a new look at the air that I took for granted; and this, to me, was the simple gift of optimism.
In his inaugural speech, two things touched the core of me: The first was about obscure people – the small people who work each day to contribute to the big changes. Then, he seemed to speak to each and every individual slave who helped build the Sphinx and the Pyramids, those whose sweat and blood went into the Capitol and the White House – and of course, those people around the world that worked each day in their respective countries and were reported only as GDP, GNP, Balance of Payments and other statistics. As he spoke, it was as though he was speaking to me, ordering me to pick myself up, dust myself up and restore myself to my rightful place.
In watching the rest of the festivities and reading different opinions throughout the day, a certain sense cleansing was upon me. It was like a slate had been wiped clean for me and from my vantage point as an African immigrant, I know what hopes and dreams – simple gifts and air – I’d like to feel free to demand from my home country’s leaders.
The point I am trying to make is that it did not take much for Obama to make the rest of the world feel like there was nothing to worry about; and that optimism was something they freely absorbed from the man. He did not come wearing a mask like he was a superhero; no. In fact, on stage, speaking to the world, he was an ordinary man – a man who bungled up his own swearing in – there to play his part in history.
And the question I asked myself was: How difficult is it for African leaders to actually do what they have to do to extend this measure of optimism to their people? Can these leaders not see that it does not take much to inspire people? Of course Obama has charisma – but so do all those leaders that sit in those 53 African countries.
Related to the above, the second part that piqued my interest from Obama’s inaugural speech was when he said: “…To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy…’
He did not say anything about punishing these leaders or ensuring reprisals for them. It was like he was hinting at injecting people all around the world with such optimism for a better life that they would sit in judgment over their leaders who destroyed things. His biggest threat was not to launch the mighty American military machine – but the wrath of the people; people who are always taken for granted by African leaders. He hinted at a day of reckoning for the African leader in such a way that all the threats and all the prizes from people like Mo Ibrahim could not diplomatically hint. It came out like a promise that was long overdue in terms of fulfillment.
In summary, January 20, 2009 was a good day for Barack Obama and his own! But it was an even better day for me. I did not make a New Year’s resolution; but was presented with an amazingly simple gift of an optimistic air. Now, that is more than I need to make it in this country my fellow immigrants and I have decided to make our home.
Dennis Matanda
dmatanda@gmail.com
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