'A Homecoming for a Family Member'

[William Joyce]

Which "family", exactly?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/03/us/03washington.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper

Oh... the BLACK family.

Needless to say, anyone who mentioned "the white family" would be mowed down.

“For D.C., this inauguration is less like hosting a visiting official and more like throwing a homecoming party for a family member,” said Ronald Walters, a professor of government and politics at the University of Maryland.

Dr. Walters added that normally the inauguration was an exclusive black-tie affair. “This time,” he said, “it feels like the city has taken ownership of what is becoming a people’s party.”

"Ownership"?

"A people's party"?

Yo, dogs.

 

[random3434]

It took about 40 years,” said Kamal Ali, the owner and son of the restaurant’s founder, Ben Ali. “But in terms of race relations, the celebration that day will bring this neighborhood, this city, full circle.”

In April 1968, four days of race riots here after the King assassination left 12 people dead. Huge swaths of what was then called Black Broadway for its concentration of black-owned clubs and theaters were destroyed. Ben’s Chili Bowl was one of the few restaurants along U Street that was not burned or ransacked.

“What happened here along U Street on election night when Obama won was the exact inverse of those race riots,” said Mr. Ali, recounting how on Nov. 4 the streets filled with racially diverse crowds who were initially kept out of traffic by a large and somewhat jittery police force. Eventually, he said, the police opted to close down the area and let the partyers celebrate freely.

Right WJ, how dare people of all different races celebrate our new president.

THE NERVE!

 

[William Joyce]

Right WJ, how dare people of all different races celebrate our new president.

THAT ISN'T THE POINT OF THE STORY!

The point of the story is that D.C. is ovewhelmingly black, and they quote black person after black person celebrating THEIR new president! "People of all different races" isn't even close.

Sounds like you didn't get past the second paragraph:

The day ushers in hopes and expectations for a president who speaks to local residents and brings with it the excitement of a predominantly black city welcoming the nation’s first black president.