Get
there, if you can
Commentary by Michelle
Fitzhugh-Craig
“You can reach me by railway,
you can reach me by trailway,
You can reach me on an airplane,
you can reach me with your mind.
You can reach me by caravan,
cross the desert like an Arab man,
I don’t care how you get here,
just get here if you can …”
— “Get Here” by Oleta Adams
In the good ole’ days,
people who wanted to get across the country for
an important event and were looking to save money
jumped on a Greyhound to get where they needed
to go.
In a little more than two weeks,
the mother of all events, in recent history, will take
place when former Illinois Senator Barack Obama is
sworn in as the 44th president of the United States.
Unfortunately, the airlines have the monopoly on traveling
coast to coast, and if you’ve glanced at the
airfares with the dream you may head to Washington,
D.C., later this month, you woke up quickly with rates
close to $1,000 the last time I checked.
But similar
to Obama’s campaign, there is hope for those
who still want to attend.
A local group of organizers
are telling Bay Area folks they too can participate
in this historical event — if they only “believe” and “get
on the bus.”
“We Believe – Get on
the Bus” grew out of local Obama fans who followed
our first African American president throughout most
of his campaign and election. Led by Helen Bellamy,
owner of Judicial Self-Help Center in Hayward, the
passionate crew of friends and family (who also own
Everett & Jones Barbeque) put together a package
deal that includes bus and hotel and now offers air
and rail options, as well. The goal: “To get
from CAto DC at the lowest possible cost, and take
along as many individuals interested.”
Group
spokeswoman Shirley Everett-Dicko has been working
overtime in preparation for the trip. It is a natural
fit for the 53- year-old Oakland native to be a part
of We Believe with her involvement in educating others
about black history. She is the “curator” of
the Everett & Jones Barbeque gift store in the
Fruitvale district, which this past holiday season
was transformed into a mini-museum of black Santas
and holiday-themed decorations.
Planning this experience,
however, is much more personal for Everett-Dicko. She
sees the similarities between our next president and
her son Hassan “BJ” Dicko, who is half
African (Cameroon), half American.
“I used to
think I’ve burdened this child with a Muslim
name.” She is now grateful and excited about
traveling to the inauguration.
In fact, it’s
not too late if you want to join her and the others.
A final meet and greet to learn more and sign up to “get
on the bus” will take place from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 8, at Everett & Jones’ Jack
London Square location, 126 Broadway. The inauguration
bus trip is from Jan. 16 through the 23, includes a
three-night hotel stay and costs $700 per person.
Dwayne
McCarther, owner of Macarthur Tours & Transportation,
volunteered to work with the We Believe organizers
in making their dream a reality. He likes the idea
of helping those who enjoy giving back to their communities.
And of course, witnessing such a historic event himself.
The 55-year-old Oakland native will be one of three “chauffeurs” to
drive the inaugurationbound bus back east. And this
trip is not about making money.
“It’s a
sense of pride, a sense of empowerment,” McCarther
said of the country electing a black commander- in-chief. “It
gives me a surge of energy to think now the door is
finally open … and anyone can walk through it.”
Although
we will fly the friendly skies to get there, Globe
staff photographer Z’ma Wyatt and I will witness
this year’s inauguration in Washington, D.C.
And for those of you who still can’t make it,
we at the Globe will bring you live online and radio
updates about inaugural happenings and keep you informed
about what your fellow East Bayers are up to in our
nation’s capitol.
Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig
is an award-winning journalist who resides in Oakland.
If you have an individual, organization, issue
or other topic that may be of interest to the Globe’s
readers, contact her at talk2mfc@yahoo.com. Visit
her blog at www.stpminute.blogspot.com. |
