Joined by tens of thousands of well-wishers who gathered at the foot of the evocative Lincoln Memorial, President-elect Barack Obama celebrated his imminent inauguration at a star-studded gala this afternoon filled with the electric sense of history as the nation prepared for its first African American president to take office.
With the theme of “We Are One" meant to reflect the unifying spirit of Obama's presidential campaign and the presidency he has promised, the various celebrities from Hollywood and pop music each tried to capture some part of what this remarkable moment in history represented.
After nearly two hours of performances, Obama took the stage and added his interpretation of the event's meaning: “As I stand here tonight, what gives me the greatest hope of all is not the stone and marble that surrounds us today, but what fills the spaces in between. It is you -- Americans of every race and region and station who came here because you believe in what this country can be and because you want to help us get there."
For instance, musical performers Bettye LaVette, an African American, and Bon Jovi, who is white, performed a duet of one of the most powerful songs of the 1960s civil rights era, “A Change Is Gonna Come," which speaks plaintively of the pain of racial oppression but also of the hope that America would one day progress to the point of justice.
At another point, actress Laura Linney introduced a video of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's inauguration by citing the difficulties he faced. “When Franklin Delano Roosevelt arrived at the inaugural stand on the steps of the Capitol in 1933, 25% of workers had lost their jobs, banks were closed, foreclosures were mounting and the American people were terrified," she said.
She was accompanied on the stage by Martin Luther King III, a living reminder of one of America's most historic moments: his father's “I Have a Dream" speech, which was also made with the Lincoln Memorial as a backdrop. Adding to the poignancy was the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, to be celebrated on Monday.
Bono, of U2, spoke for many when he said, “On this spot where we're standing, 43 years ago, 46 years ago, Dr. King had a dream. On Tuesday, that dream comes to pass." Then he launched into the song “In the Name of Love," the Irish rock group's tribute to King.
The event started with composer Aaron Copland's iconic “Fanfare for the Common Man," after which Vice President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, were introduced. Then came the president-elect and the future first lady, Michelle. The two couples briefly acknowledged the cheers of the vast crowd before joining their families, including Malia and Sasha Obama, in their seats to the left of the stage.
Throughout the performances, Obama often smiled broadly, nodding and rocking his head to the beat of Bruce Springsteen's “The Rising" and Mary J. Blige's “Lean on Me." Meanwhile, Malia, the Obamas' elder daughter, frequently snapped pictures with a small digital camera.
The array of performers was meant to capture the many facets of American culture, with jazz performer Herbie Hancock, country star Garth Brooks, operatic soprano Renee Fleming and folk singer Pete Seeger.
Near the end of the event, Seeger performed “This Land Is Your Land." And Brooks launched into an especially rollicking version of the song “Shout," bringing the entire audience in the National Mall to their feet. The president-elect was seen demonstrating for his daughters how to sing the “Shout" chorus as he danced. Even Marian Robinson, Obama's mother-in-law, began throwing her arms in the air.
