Our Nation Makes History
Yesterday was a day for the books. The 44th president elect took office. He's the first black man to run the nation. He also is an agent of change. No wonder millions took to the national mall to celebrate him and with him, and no wonder so many influential groups, luminaries, celebrities and media flocked to fete the occasion in due measure. The Latino community was no exception.
Our colleague Marieli Colon-Padilla was there, in D.C., at the center of the action and tells us that there were more than 10 celebrations put together by Latino groups to celebrate the inauguration. NCLR and other influential groups hosted the most notable event: the star-studded Latino Inaugural Gala. Latino entertainers Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony said “presente” at the Hispanic inauguration pre-celebration at Union Station. Other entertainers at the event included Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi, Mexican singer Lila Downs, Colombian singer Shakira, comedian George Lopez, actress Rosie Perez, actor Edward James Olmos, Chiefs’ tight end Tony Gonzalez, telenovela actress Angelica Vale, and others. Members of Congress filtered in and mixed in with the crowd and the stars.
They also held a Latino State of the Union meeting alongside MALDEF and LULAC, and, as expected, immigration reform figured at the top of the list. Immigration remains a highly divisive political issue, particularly since concerns about terrorism amplified the debate about border security in recent years. The issue was presented as a topic separate from border discussions and presented as an issue of national interest defined by cooperation, rather than confrontation, with Mexico and Latin America.
But we can say now Latinos have “friends in high places” in the Obama administration, like the Interior secretary designate, Ken Salazar; the Labor secretary designate, Hilda Solis; and the White House’s director of intergovernmental affairs, Cecilia Muñoz, formerly a vice president of the National Council de la Raza.
Overall it was clear that the Latino vote is too important to be ignored.
Around Hispanic networks and Hispanic print, the media turned its focus to the story of the day. All the leading correspondents reported from the nation's capital. Impremedia did a terrific job with photos and coverage on the site (check out their El Cambio section), Univision reported live from DC from the swearing in ceremony, even during "Despierta America" and then worked out a deal with Comcast to offer the coverage available on-demand post the event, Telemundo also did a great job of covering the event.
And as the day gets documented and added to the U.S. history book, one Latina will always be close to Michelle Obama on the day she became First Lady: Cubana Isabel Toledo. She designed the dress and coat that Mrs. Obama wore as she stood next to the man who today begins a new chapter for our nation.
