Down South.

Nobody threw an Inauguration party around here. If they did, it was very, very small and subdued. These pictures almost didn’t happen. When I showed up at the community center, nobody was there, forty minutes before the actual Inauguration swearing-in. The night before at a MLK vigil, they said a watch event would be organized at the center. I called up a lady named Johnnie Mae, someone who I have photographed before as a very instrumental person within the black community. Somehow they decided to cancel the event b/c they were afraid only few would show. And they failed to tell us!! Anyway, Johnnie Mae invited me over to her sister’s home where they’d be watching it. So I spent my Obama Inauguration with Edward and Tish Hayes at their home. Several neighbors and family members, including Geraldine (left) and Johnnie Mae (right, daughter) came over and watched it together. To me, Geraldine and Johnnie Mae represent the glue of the black community in Kingsport. For the past three years since I’ve worked at the paper we’ve done countless stories on Rev. Geraldine’s church and soup kitchen, as well as Johnnie Mae’s hand in the community children’s youth activities.

It was interesting to watch this Inauguration in a very Republican area. As one reporter put it, he’s gagging at the “love fest” amongst the media.

P.S. – Dissapointed that the classical number was pre-recorded. But it shows they are human too. I was wondering how they were playing so well in frigid conditions.. and how they were just playing in their suits and all!! I thought to myself, man that is why these guys are the best of the best – they can play in conditions that are not possible!!! The reality was.. frozen fingers and a change in the way the wooden instruments played! But I still love that piece. Here is the link to it.