I thought about my grandmothers, who were living at the time and how stunned they were that this option would be available in *their* lifetimes.
I thought about the work I do and how it contributes to a larger ecosystem of work that led to that moment.
I sobbed. It was joy, sadness, pride, worry, indebtedness to the ancestors...It was more than a moment.
I sobbed again at both of the subsequent Obama inaugurations because #representationmatters.
To see my country respond with Trump was a stark reminder that many in the country expect BIPOC folks to mind our social status as less than. The last 4 years has been painful to watch for many of us--certainly not all--but it has been devastating...#400Klost
Last fall, I helped my own daughter complete her voting ballot that included a Black/SE Asian woman on the top ticket. Yep, I sobbed, because I imagine that I felt a little of what my parents & grands felt in 2008. That sense of inclusion, of being seen, of being valued.
So today, after all the absurd & dangerous shenanigans, this nation will inaugurate a woman, a Black/SE woman & I am again overwhelmed w/ the feels as I watch the ceremony w/ my daughter.
*This* is America in her greatness. This country is wildly imperfect; there is oodles of work to be done to advance social justice. But today, I can just breathe a little easier. I can reflect on the efforts of my ancestors & colleagues in the struggle for justice.
I can say I survived a regime that tried to drag us back to a time when this was unthinkable. I can say that fellow citizens openly rejected that effort.
I can say that today, my daughter & I are seen & included in this democracy.
And that's pretty frigging awesome. #RepresentationMatters
In the words of the flawless, goddess that is Michelle Obama, "I am really proud of my country, because it feels like hope is making a comeback..." (BTW--her hair is laid for the gawds today!)