The part that really impacted me was when Reverend Joseph Lowery was asked to give the inaugural benediction and he said, "Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around ... when yellow will be mellow ... when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen." Personally, I thought that was pretty random and I really didn't understand why he would say that. Perhaps it was a little comic relief, but I did not feel any motivation to be unified in a diverse community. If I was motivated to do anything, I would say I felt like I was separated into a group of yellow mellows, being a "yellow" person. I am also offended with his comment. What in the world did he mean by that any way "when yellow will be mellow." Is he saying that yellow people are not mellow? What is wrong with us now? Perhaps it was just to rhyme, but he should carefully choose his words as he proclaims them in front of the whole world. The inauguration was six days ago, but those words are still clearly imprinted in my brain.
Jocelyn Yuen
