Young eyes are watching President-elect Barack Obama looking for inspiration. On Martin Luther King Junior Day, many are also discovering those who paved the way to his presidency. The Central Arkansas National Historic Visitors Center hosted a Characters of Change program.
Justin Nunn, 14, is here to learn about characters of change while celebrating MLK day. "I'm just so excited. I'm speechless." That's because Tuesday, Nunn is ready to embrace another significant change, the swearing-in of the nation's first black president.
"Several people were thinking this will never happen and all of a sudden, it happened. It's going to be pretty historic to all cultures," Nunn says.
Part of the celebration also includes learning about how people helped shape racial attitudes. "There were only nine black kids who got to go to school in Little Rock, so that's special," says 11-year-old Heather Keisuer.
President-elect Barack Obama says the Little Rock Nine's courage in desegregating has helped make the opportunities in his life possible.
"To see how far we have come it's great for them to be alive to witness this. Minnijean Brown, I was with her when the announcement came down that Barack had won. Just to see the tears rolling down her face, for them to live to see the change they though would never come," says Christian Davis, Central High Historic Visitors Park Guide.
"I'm glad that he became president because that's who I wanted to become president," Keisuer.
"It's very exciting, exciting to be here and be in this city and in this place to witness all this history," says Davis.
"We also discuss how if Martin Luther King were here, you know, he would be so proud. This is only part of the beginning of history,” says Nunn.
The MLK Commission is also throwing a President Inaugural Ball Tuesday night at the Metroplex on Colonel Glenn Road. Tickets are $50. For more information call 501-683-1300.
The Moody Chapel is hosting a watch party from 9am to 2pm.
$10.00 donation
Family Life Center
5630 Mabelvale Pike
Little Rock, AR
(501) 541-7651
St. John Missionary Baptist Church
9am
2501 S. Main St.
Little Rock
Seven of the Little Rock nine are in Washington D.C. President elect Barack Obama invited all nine to be his special guests for the inauguration. Terrence Roberts says Obama's inauguration will change everything. Roberts says he never expected to be able, in his lifetime, to look at a man of color and call him president.
FOX16 will carry the inauguration live from 8am-12:30pm and the coverage will be in high definition. We also have complete coverage here at
fox16.com/inauguration.
