Oakland Post photographer Adam Turner took some great photos from the historic event.

Shiretha Jackson, Dorothy Pye and James Pye along with his brother Andrew, all of Nashville, TN.

Regina Davis meets up with her mom Lois Thomas in Nashville.

James Pye, Andrew Pye and Shirletha Jackson

We’re getting close! After we left Tennessee last night after driving though Oklahoma, Santa Rosa NM and Arizona. Here’s whats been going down-We got a taste of southern comfort when After 7 member Keith Floyd, Ellen Fields and Vincent broke out the warm gumbo courtesy of Troy Stovall of Stovall Catering.

Theo Rosenthal

We talked a to Theo Rosenthal a 16yr old junior in high school from Berkeley. He’s on board to video document the trip for his high school saying he wanted “to capture the emotions of the people on the bus as they experienced this historic event. Like so many young people, Theo stated he wasn’t interested in politics until Obama came along and feels like the President-Elect really captured the attention of the younger generation.

We had a little family reunion in Tenn. Kyrha Dahan, one of our riders, coordinated with her brother James from Nashville, TN to have Rev. Fuzz give us a prayer circle on Rosa Parks Blvd when we pulled into the city. When the bus stopped Kyrha and her sister Regina Davis were met by their mom, Lois Thomas, brother Rodney and wife Deborah Davis. James Pye, another rider, was met by his brother Andrew and wife Dorothy.

So far the trip is amazing and love is in the air.

Everyone on board is definitely excited about going to witness history but the reasons for traveling by bus vary from person to person. We’ve had our first “casualty.”

Mr Johnson’s lady friend got on board and sat in her seat and said “no way”. She hopped in her Mercedes and drove away. The seats are smaller then usual and the overhead compartment can only fit a blanket or shoes. unfortunately everyone on board brought along at least two carry ons and huge pieces of luggage.Ace decided to bring 8 bags. The bus is packed head to toe.

As I’m writing this I’m sitting next to Ace with a laptop, blanket and camera on my lap with two bags under my feet. Talk about comfortable! Ladies have purses, bags, extra clothes, computers, books, cookies and everything else.

But on the upside, Our hosts are keeping things in perspective. MacArthur of MacArthur Tours is playing night driver, comedian, historian and host.

He grabs the mike every hours and asks historical questions, tells joke or asks passengers to tell there stories.

There’s a brotha who flew from New Zealand to Oakland to be on the bus. He said he was originally from Oakland, teaches history at the university but recently decided it was time to move back home and be with more Black folks.

He says New Zealand had about 100 Black folks but 4 million sheep.

Another passenger said she’d worked as a nurse for 22 years but became disgruntled wit the current “third world” health care practices in America. She’s hoping to get a job working with the Change America campaign.

On our first stop the nurse misplaced her wallet, stressed out, called creditors and told everyone on bus, who pitched in and donated funds to replace her losses.

30 minutes later, after checking all her belongings, she found her wallet-in her own lunch box. She was humble enough to come forward and tell all what happened and no love lost. Shirley and Helen, two of the Everett and Jones sisters, are buzzing around, offering snacks, raffling Obama books and merchandise.

There’s lots of media and folks with laptops so I’ve been sharing our wireless internet card. There are two young ladies from the Globe Newspaper writing and taking short videos. I showed them how to upload video via email. Another lady was given a webcam by CBS and they called and went live over the webcam. Moments later the calls started rolling in from friends and family-they’d seen us on the news! We’re famous already!

I’ll be sending more photos and reports-stay tuned.
-Kevin Jefferson

Back row (L to R): Yolanda Maker, Ms. Fort, Lillian Litzsey, Charles Aikens, Betty Calvin, Helen Bellamy, Dorothy King, Lynette Pryor. Front row (L to R): Dwayne McArthur of McArthur Tours, Ace Washington-Post reporter, Diedra Booker, Shirley Everett, Joe Johnson, Annie P. Everett Jones, Carolyn Hunt. Photos by Ace Washington, graphics by Alapi Bhatt.

Inspired by the success of the grassroots campaign of the Obama committee, and a dream to get to DC and witness history, The Bay Area Inaugural Team (B.A.I.T) was formed and recently hosted a meet and greet mixer before the holidays at Santa’s Crib in the Fruitvale District of Oakland.

The turn out was great.  Reporters from the San Francisco Chronicle, the Globe and the Post attended.  The highlight of the evening was when the chartered luxury bus taking the group, “We Believe, Get on the Bus” to Washington showed up and guest where allowed to board and choose their seats for the trip to Barack Obama’s historic Inauguration, January 20, 2009.

According to Yolanda Alexander-Maker, owner of Financial Freedom Security, a committee member and the treasure of the group, “We began to mobilize the day after the election.  Our goal had been to fill a bus of 50 like minded people who share the same dream, to fellowship with churches along the way for prayer, moral support and possibly a meal.  The response has been great, seats are going fast and only fifteen seats remain”.  Barbara Miller and Stephen Lewis learned of the bus trip by reading the Post newspaper.  They immediately got in touch with the committee, were invited to the meet and greet mixer, paid their deposits to reserve their seats, and are now on their way to witness history.

The Carlyle Club, an upscale club, in Alexandria , Va. will be the central meeting and drop-off location for the group.  The club is located across the street from the Metro, four stops away from DC.  Anyone who wants to can stay and watch the inaugural events on the Jumbo television screens for free.

The Bus package includes a seat on the luxury chartered bus and hotel accommodation for 3 nights (double occupancy) at the Hilton Hotel in Harrisburg , Pennsylvania .  The Bus departs Everett & Jones Barbeque-Jack London Square in Oakland on Friday, Jan.16th and returns on Friday, Jan.23rd.  The price for the trip is $700 dollars.  A non-refundable deposit of $475 dollars is required to reserve your seat.  Contact Helen (510) 290-0094 or JSHCLegal@aol.com

Barack Obama and Michaelle Jean

When both of the heads of state of Canada and the United States happen to be Black, it is a rare convergence of leadership for the North American Continent.

Michaelle Jean, became the first Black Canadian Governnor General in 2005 and Barack Obama, President-elect of the United States of Amerca will become first Black President in 2009.

Both heads of state are facing severe economic crises. Both have roots outside of their countries. She is a Haitian refugee and an accomplished journalist. He has roots in Kenya through his father.

Jean, like Obama, came to power at age 47. And she has raised her 12 year-old daughter out of the lights of press attention. She could advise Michelle Obama on how to raise children in the White House away from the white hot glare of the media.

Her Excellency Michaelle Jean stands as titular commander in chief of the Canadian armed forces and opens sessions of Parliament. By law, every piece of legislation passed in the country must bear her signature or that of her lieutenant. Canada’s cultural ambassador to the world, Jean is fluent in French, English, Italian, Spanish and Creole.

But as with Michelle Obama and her daughters, Jean claims as her primary focus the creation of a loving home for Marie-Eden, who lives with her parents in Rideau Hall, the 88-acre official Governor General’s estate at 1 Sussex Drive in Ottawa, Ontario.

Just last week Jean exercised her power by suspending Parliament. This week, Obama is calling for Illinois Governor Blagojevich to suspend his power by resigning.

Morrie Turner, an Oakland native, created the Wee Pals comic strip in 1965.  The Wee Pals comic strip characters portray a world without prejudice, a world in which people’s differences — race, religion, gender, and physical and mental ability– are cherished, not scorned.

Wee Pals achieved nationwide acceptance in 1968 when the strip appeared in over 100 newspapers nationwide.

Wee Pals continues to reach approximately 25 million readers with his Wee Pals characters. Morrie’s latest book is “Wee Pals Salute African Americans in the Military: Past and Present.”

Joe Johnson, President of the McClymonds Alumni Association, selects his seat on The Bus.

Bay Area residents and businesses are organizing the Obama Presidential Inauguration “Get On The Bus Trip to Washington, D.C.,” hosted by Everett & Jones Barbeque in conjunction with MacArthur Tours and Transportation, Judicial Self-Help Center and Financial Freedom Security Services, Inc.

The Oakland Post and the Post Newsgroup are exclusively providing Media coverage of this entire event.

The bus leaves Everett & Jones Barbeque at Jack London Square in Oakland on Friday, Jan. 16 and returns on Friday, Jan. 23. The price for the trip is $700 (a $250 non-refunded deposit is required to reserve a seat).  The package includes a seat on a luxury chartered bus and hotel accommodation for three nights at the Hilton in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

The next community meeting  to learn move about the trip will be held on Thursday, Dec.18 at Santa’s Crib, 2701 Fruitvale Avenue, Oakland, California.  For further information, email HelenBellamy@JSHCLegal@aol.com or by telephone (510) 290-0094.