'There Is Such Jubilation in This County'

For Pr. George's Residents, Celebrating Obama's Inauguration Is Most Personal

Prince George's County was out in full force last week to celebrate the inauguration of President Obama.

For residents of the majority-black county, who campaigned heavily and voted overwhelmingly for Obama (D), the election of the nation's first African American president sparked inaugural celebrations like never before.

Jermaine Crawford, 16, of Mitchellville hosted the H.O.P.E. Inaugural Youth Ball on Jan. 17 at Trinity University in Northeast Washington, near the Prince George's border. The Rev. Faye S. Gunn and her husband, Fred, of Fort Washington, mingled with hundreds of disadvantaged men, women and children brought to the District by Fairfax County businessman Earl W. Stafford at the People's Inaugural Ball at the JW Marriott. Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) made his way to no fewer than five events, including the Ancestors Dream Inaugural Ball at the Gaylord hotel at National Harbor.

County residents hosted casual get-togethers and formal dinners, joining unprecedented numbers of people across the region who celebrated Obama's Jan. 20 inauguration.

"There has never been anything like this," said Ron Walters, a professor of political science at the University of Maryland at College Park. "Bill Clinton's inauguration was the first attempt on the part of a president to include a wider crowd of people than the Washington, D.C., tuxedo-wearing political class. This is the first time anything this expansive was even attempted."

Prince George's residents were caught up in the same enthusiasm that drove what District officials estimated was 1.8 million people to the Mall on Inauguration Day and brought many from Hollywood to the area for inaugural events. The Gaylord hosted comedian and radio personality Steve Harvey, who broadcast live from the hotel Jan. 19 and 20. Patti LaBelle and the O'Jays entertained at the Ancestors Dream ball, event planner Karen Bryant said.

"There is such jubilation in this county," Johnson said. "I've never seen anything like it in the 24 years I've been in public service."

Gunn said participating in the events gave people a chance to connect as Americans.

"It was important to be part of a historical moment, to be able to say, 'I was there,' " she said. "Another reason was to celebrate the moment. You could certainly have done it at home, but when you were able to look into the faces of others, you felt a connection, heart-to-heart."

At the H.O.P.E. ball, the initials standing for Honoring Our President Elect, hundreds of young people in tuxes and pretty dresses and their parents dined on mini-burgers, pasta dishes, sushi and red-white-and-blue cupcakes. Guests danced to music from Mr. Derby Nursery Jam and Show, a hit with the preschool set, as well as hip-hop and R&B.

LaVonn Reedy Thomas of Upper Marlboro, who helped organize the ball, said it was conceived "to give children an opportunity to experience the full electoral process."

"A lot of them did activities in schools, worked on the campaign and then went to the polls with their parents," she said. "We said, 'Nobody is doing anything formal for the children for the inauguration.' So we said, 'Let's do it!' "