Nightswimming

There's something I do that I basically call "nightswimming." When I have too many complex thoughts or if I am emotionally blocked, I often find clarity by just walking the streets alone at night. I also do this when I am introduced to a new city or like this weekend during a major event. No pictures, no video, just me and my thoughts. It's amazing what you see in the dark when you aren't being shuttled down the street in a car, taxi or limo.

I strolled for an hour around 3 a.m. I started at Thomas Circle and 14th Street and walked all back to the house 13th and U Street.

It was about 20 degrees and the residential neighborhood was nestled snugly among all of the ongoing inaugural festivities. However, the only thing I could hear were the sounds of my own footsteps on the frosty pavement and the breeze whistling through the trees.

The thought of America's first black president became very real to me in the sense that this changes EVERYTHING. The world has forever changed. But what happens now?

10 minutes into my walk I noticed I was passing by the The Mary McLeod Bethune Council House: African American Women Unite for Change.

Like me, she was born in South Carolina and was the descendant of slaves. Without going through her entire history, Mary founded what is know today as Bethune-Cookman University in Florida. I couldn't help but feel a since of pride and responsiblity. It seemed as if my life had taken a similar path as Mary's. In the neighborhood surrounding the house is a diverse mix of residents who seemed to be living in harmony even though the front page of newspapers still showed images of a world plunging into a deep decline.

I felt a sense of responsibility, knowing there are things I should be doing to pull my friends, family and country out of this slump.

Before going home, I walked past the Chili Bowl where there lines of people including women in mink coats and ball gowns quietly shivering in the cold as the overnight crew frantically completed never-ending orders of hot dogs and sandwiches. Across the street families who drove in from Indiana, Illinois, Georgia, New Jersey, Connecticut and Alabama were lining up to get photos taken with a huge poster print of the first family.

I entered the house knowing that when the sun came up in two hours it would be MLK day and the masses would continue to arrive to witness history on Tuesday.

It started snowing as I closed the door.

Sunday Lincoln Memorial Concert - Tiger Woods

While watching the Sunday concert at the Lincoln Memorial from a warm location, I thought of famous contemporary black men who have played a significant role on my consciousness (outside of my father, my uncle Pete, my uncle Kenny, MLK and dozens of others). I've always known what I wanted out of life, all I ever needed were steering currents to point me in the right direction.

Here is my list of black men who came to mind:

1. When basketball player Len Bias died from a drug overdose in the early 90's, this single event frightened me away from even considering experimenting with hard drugs.

2. When Magic Johnson revealed he was HIV positive in 1990, this proved to me that HIV and AIDS were real.

3. O.J. Simpson's never-ending saga continues to show that fall from grace can be swift, unforgiving and unrecoverable. God has the power to take away the very gift he gave you if you squander it.

4. Shaquille O'Neal. I remember the first time I interviewed Shaq was when he played for the Orlando Magic. Despite all of the intense media, the gentle giant was soft-spoken, humble and grounded. I saw him again in Miami two years ago and he still remembered me.

5. And finally Tiger Woods. If I had any idea Tiger Woods would break from his image and make an appearance during the concert at the Lincoln Memorial, I would have rushed the stage. Tiger has had the greatest impact on me spiritually, professionally and intellectually. He is the epitome of excellence. He has complete obedience to his craft and broke through solid walls that shut out minorities for generations. I admire how he has handled every single obstacle and controversy in his life with tactical grace, skill and class.

Tiger Woods is TRANSFORMATIONAL and will go down in history as the best athlete EVER. In addition to inspiring me to take up golf (a sport that I LOVE), I have incorporated Tiger's professionalism into my every day life. I honestly feel I am successful and fulfilled today because in may ways he showed me how it's done.

True Story: When I was reporter at WFTV, Tiger Woods came into the newsroom because he was scheduled to do a live satellite interview for ABC. I kept a box of Wheaties with his face on it on my desk to inspire me to always push through and do my best. According to the weekend assignment desk editor, Tiger sat at the desk next to me and looked at the cereal box with great curiosity. I was working with such intensity on a story that I didn't even notice him sitting there.

I missed my chance to tell him "thank you" in person. For what it's worth, here's my chance now.

"Thank you, Tiger Woods."