By Douglas V. Gibbs
Author, Speaker, Instructor, Radio Host
HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE: BAND WILL MARCH AT INAUGURATION
Talladega College’s marching band will be playing and marching at President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony. They worked hard for the funding, and to overcome the attacks - because Talladega is a black college with a history that includes being formed by two former slaves.
The college in Alabama needed to raise $75,000 for travel, lodging and other expenses. Through a GoFundMe page, more than 7,600 people have donated $420,000 and counting in just 13 days.
The donations starting flowing soon after Talladega College President Billy Hawkins appeared on "The O’Reilly Factor" on Fox News on Thursday. Before the appearance, the band had raised only $57,000.
Hawkins said, "As many of those who chose to participate in the parade have said, we feel the inauguration of a new president is not a political event but a civil ceremony celebrating the transfer of power.".
The pressure not only came from the liberal media and anti-Trump folks in the public eye, but also from Talladega alumni, who said he had “shamed the college” and that he is “a disgrace” to African-Americans.
“It’s been pretty nasty,” he added.
Hawkins, however, has stood firm in his decision.
“It’s about the students to have an opportunity to participate in this national stage, in this inaugural ceremony,” he told host Bill O’Reilly. “It’s a civics ceremony. It’s not about politics.”
Interviews of the band members by Jesse Watters as they arrived in Washington D.C. revealed elated band members, regardless of political affiliation.
They were just happy to have the opportunity.
"I'm excited to be here," one musician told Watters, and even an anti-Trump band member expressed her optimism: "I wasn't too happy about it at first, but everybody deserves a second chance." Watters concluded, "A lot of these band members have never been out of Alabama and they took a bus 13 hours to get here."
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE: BAND WILL MARCH AT INAUGURATION
Talladega College’s marching band will be playing and marching at President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony. They worked hard for the funding, and to overcome the attacks - because Talladega is a black college with a history that includes being formed by two former slaves.
The college in Alabama needed to raise $75,000 for travel, lodging and other expenses. Through a GoFundMe page, more than 7,600 people have donated $420,000 and counting in just 13 days.
The donations starting flowing soon after Talladega College President Billy Hawkins appeared on "The O’Reilly Factor" on Fox News on Thursday. Before the appearance, the band had raised only $57,000.
Hawkins said, "As many of those who chose to participate in the parade have said, we feel the inauguration of a new president is not a political event but a civil ceremony celebrating the transfer of power.".
The pressure not only came from the liberal media and anti-Trump folks in the public eye, but also from Talladega alumni, who said he had “shamed the college” and that he is “a disgrace” to African-Americans.
“It’s been pretty nasty,” he added.
Hawkins, however, has stood firm in his decision.
“It’s about the students to have an opportunity to participate in this national stage, in this inaugural ceremony,” he told host Bill O’Reilly. “It’s a civics ceremony. It’s not about politics.”
Interviews of the band members by Jesse Watters as they arrived in Washington D.C. revealed elated band members, regardless of political affiliation.
They were just happy to have the opportunity.
"I'm excited to be here," one musician told Watters, and even an anti-Trump band member expressed her optimism: "I wasn't too happy about it at first, but everybody deserves a second chance." Watters concluded, "A lot of these band members have never been out of Alabama and they took a bus 13 hours to get here."
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
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