America 2.0

Welcome to America, where black people are president, gay people are senators and smoking pot is legal. 

President Obama's inauguration into his second presidential term marked a cultural change that was just as deep as the political one, and I was there to see it. From January 17-22 I was in Washington DC with the Close Up foundation and for the first time in my life I gained a whole new perspective on what this country stands for.

As I stood on the National Mall, below freezing weather waiting for Obama to be sworn into office for the second time in a row it dawned upon me just how far we have come as a nation. Only 50 years ago no one would have even thought about putting a black guy in charge, because that would have just been absurd. But there I was, smiling at the one time I was glad to see history repeat itself, also the fact that it was MLK day AND the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation really made it icing on the cake.

It was funny to see what the Republican party put out as a fantasy become a reality; what was seen as a fluke in African American pride and youth enthusiasm made it crystal clear on what this nation wants. Well at least half of the nation.

America is ever changing. The white men, which are the base of the GOP, are becoming a shrinking minority, and those so called hooligans are the people everybody is counting on...Yes, the Democratic party has a long way to go before it can reach that sweeping victory that it's looking for, but our folks on the right side are going to be doing a lot of wandering around looking for that upper hand they need to win in 2016. The future of the GOP now relies on its ability to adapt to the new liberal America...America 2.0.

Let's see how that goes.

I just want to give a Thanks to Close Up for making this the best week ever, and my three room mates Melissa, Claire, and Evelyn who were a blast to stay with!

Follow me on Twitter/Instagram @vivalajamz