Inauguration Crowd Huge, Varied and Dancing

People gave up a lot to see the inauguration of Barack Obama — from breathing room to hours at work — but few were willing to give up as much as Johnita Cox.

The 67-year-old African American woman from tiny Jackson, Alabama, her accent thick and voice slow, said with a wink, “Even if my feet got frostbitten, I wouldn’t mind it. But I’m already warm because I’m here to see Obama.”

                      Johnita Cox

Cox swayed and danced to the orchestral music blaring through the speakers set up throughout the Mall to keep warm. While, for many, it was a time for laughter and light-hearted celebration, the gravity of the event pressed hard on Cox’ shoulders.

“I’m gonna write this down so my future grandchildren know that there grandmother was here, in D.C. to see our first black African American president,” she said, her voice cracking as her eyes watered. “I came two weeks early just to be here. I wouldn’t have missed this for nothing.”

Though dancing was a preferred method of warmth for some as enthusiastic as Cox, many opted for layers and layers of blankets. Even for those from the country’s coldest point.

The Hamerly family, who flew down from Alaska, sat on the ground with a thick fleece blanket wrapping them all together in a cocoon of body warmth. Melinda Hamerly, 42, preferred staying close with her daughters Natalie and Stephanie than being crunched in with hundreds of thousands of strangers closer to the front.

                                                                The Hamerly Family

“We were right up at the front of this section being pushed up against everybody. I hear people talk about that but I’ve never been in anything like it,” she said. “More than the entire state of Alaska’s going to out here on the mall today.”

In a crowd estimated by The New York Times to have been between 1.8 and 2 million people, the emotions were both high and varied going into Obama’s inauguration.

Some looked grimly back at the past, some were near speechless at the present and all were upbeat and hopeful towards the future.

“He was very articulate,” said Florida teacher Maggie Cavin of Obama’s inaugural address, during which she jumped and shouted. “He talked about dissent. That really touched me because we’ve been told that dissent is unpatriotic for the last eight years. We’ve had a monkey in office who can’t string a sentence together. Now we’ve got someone who’s gifted and articulate, thoughtful and wise.”

She wasn’t alone in her sentiment. When President Bush and Vice President Cheney were introduced along with former presidents Carter, Bush Sr. and Clinton, widespread booing and chants of goodbye songs could be heard throughout the Mall.

But the negativity was short lived — this day was about Barack Obama. And his hopeful future haircut.

New Jersey barber Antoine Brunson shared a laugh with his childhood friends in the center of the Mall, praising themselves for their good spot.

“My tip for getting a good spot would be to start elbowing. Old ladies, grandmas, anyone,” he joked. “But if I could work on Obama, I’d give him a Mohawk — clean him up around the sides. Something just a little different.”

Reflective of the movement that helped put Obama in office, much of the crowd was made of young people.

Georgetown University senior George Chipev and friend Jeremy Long were ready to party. Armed with a bottle of celebratory champagne, they traded swigs while looking back on the day’s events as the crowd of millions dispersed.

“Our campus gym was open today and I was called in to work,” said Chipev. “I said there was no way in hell I’m coming to guard while old republicans use the pool when I could be here.”

Long spoke with the authority of a man on the edge of ‘young voter’ status.

“I was here four years ago for the inauguration and it was completely different. The environment of Barack has created so much buzz. It hasn’t even materialized — it’s just a buzz,” he said.

And it wasn’t just the champagne.

- Justin Jacobs

-Photos by Michael Heater