Inauguration

"God Bless America". It was a very strange phrase to hear halfway across the world surrounded by Ghanaians. It was the day of Obama's inauguration, and I had just arrived at Accra's largest gathering to watch the inauguration. Over 600 people sat in white chairs watching a projected screen with the inauguration. Every time Obama appeared, people cheered and when he began his oath, everyone stood and jumped and cheered. I looked around and saw two American flags flying in the hands of two Ghanaians and a full crowd of smiles and excitement. It was an amazing moment to witness, the sheer joy and excitement in this building ironically the final resting place of the famed African-American leader WEB DuBois. Speakers drew parallels between Obama's journey and that of WEB DuBois. I sat with a group of 60 Abrunis, white people, that sat at the back of the crowd having arrived a little late with a sea of excited Obibinis, black people.

I remember years back that a professor of mine, Professor Tidd, explained the word globalization as "interconnectedness". We spent the whole semester analyzing different aspects of this level of connectedness, but the definition of this term didn't make much sense to me until I witnessed it at the inauguration. Halfway across the world in the middle of Accra, Ghana I was witnessing the degree to which countries are connected. The degree to which the excitement and achievements of one country are heard and celebrated around the world. At this large gathering of excited, Ghanaian Obama enthusiasts I saw how connected world politics are. The acheivement of this African American was celebrated as progress around the world. An indication of a global struggle for equality that began with whips and abuse years ago have epitomized in the election of a black to the highest office of power in the most powerful country. At every indication of this achievement the crowd would shout, scream AMEN, clap, stand and jump. As one of the countries that lost almost 40% of it's population to slavery across the world, this was a achievement worthy of the excited crowd present.

It was an amazing moment. It marked the end to one of the most exciting events of my generation, America's first black president. I could not have fathomed the excitement and pride that would be reflected halfway across the world. But witnessing this made it clear to me that the world had just reached turning point. After this election, the world will never be the same and what a joy it was to watch the excitement of this small country in the heart of West Africa.