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."

The Obama Wall on U Street

There's an upscale restaurant on the corner of U Street across the street from the Marion Barry Center that has a European, yet bohemian feel about it. We are told that this is a Belgian restaurant fused with southern cooking. What stops you in your tracks is the outside wall that is blanketed with some dramatic posters of Barack and Michelle Obama. Art is subjective and you have to allow yourself to see the world through some someone else's. eyes. I believe this would be a bigger tourist attraction if more people knew where to find it.

The first piece that captures your attention is the huge Obama "PROGRESS" portrait in bold black, red and blue colors. Next to it is the highly-debated, yet thought provoking, portrait of Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama's faces merged together. The passerbys we spoke to had no idea until I pointed it out to them. Obama has said on many occasions that he feels a kinship with Lincoln. The other provocative print is the vision of Michelle Obama as a radical Black Panther.

In the photo with me is a woman named Janelle who I met on the sidewalk. She is from Tampa and now lives in D.C. She painted a picture of this mural. I will post it when she emails it to me.

If you want to see this wall for yourself, you have to view it soon. Bulldozers and construction crews are already there to construct a new building over the wall.

Reflections

Aloha!

This is our friend Mike Sladyk, a Hawaii native who lives in Orlando. He says Obama's achievements have energized the island state and have made residents truly feel like they are an integral part of the United States. Mike said he considered going to inauguration, but decided to work instead. He said during the past few days, he has heard from several of his friends in Hawaii who currently are making arrangements to make the dramatic cross-country trek to D.C.

Mike now wishes he had packed his bags and was coming with us.

Client Reflects on MLK and Obama

While still on the road, I received an email from one of my clients Thomas K. Equels. He's a top litigation attorney in Florida who devotes a portion of his practice to representing people in civil rights cases. He sent me the following email regarding MLK Day and the Obama inauguration:

Charles,

I'm still in trial -- wish I could be there. Hope you brought your long johns. Its freezing here -- must be bitter cold there.

When I was a boy I was inspired by Dr. King. You may have asked yourself why for so many years I was volunteer counsel for SCLC & the like. When I was ten we had leaders: JFK, Bobby, Dr. King, who I loved to listen to on the radio. I looked for their speeches in the paper. They actually inspired people. Not like today* - that is until President Obama. You are probably too young to remember the march on DC, it was around '63 I think. In a way MLK's dream of an America where we are all equal before God, law, and most importantly one another, has been realized. This is the consummation of that dream.

It teaches us a lot of things, but perhaps the most important is that when we employ what President Lincoln called the "better angels" of our nature we can rapidly change ourselves for the better both as individuals and as a nation.

All the best! Have a great time.

Tom