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MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY & THE INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT BARAK OBAMASHARING THE DREAMAND THE DAYMuriel Glasgowresident Barack Obama and Martin Luther King, Jr,shared the stage on 21 January 2013.PFor the second time in its history, the celebration ofMartin Luther King Jr. Day fell on the same date as thepresidential inauguration: January 21.MLK Breakfast Celebrations, 2013This year heralded the 23rd Annual Dr. Martin LutherKing, Jr. Day and Holiday Breakfast, which was held inMinneapolis and around the country.The Breakfast usually provides an opportunity to celebrate the legacy of service of Dr. King and creates an imperative to live out andexperience his legacy today in our homes, our communities and our world. An advocate for disadvantagedAmericans, founder and president of the Children’sDefense Fund, Ms Marian Wright Edelman delivered theMLK breakfast keynote with the theme – The FierceUrgency of Now.2013 inauguration of President Barack Obama(Schedule: http://www.closeup.org/lib/CUF Inaug info.pdf)The focus, however, was on President Barack Obama'ssecond inauguration (the 57th Presidential Inauguration)at the Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC.To organize the event, there were 550 people whoworked for the Presidential Inaugural Committee; 1,300members of the military in support roles and countlesssecurity officials, including police from multiple agenciesand Secret Service provided security; some tens of millions of dollars in donations were raised to pay for theparade and parties with more than 1 million is appropriated by Congress for the swearing-in ceremony.President Obama revisited the historical context for hissecond inauguration, as evidenced by the Bibles he choseto take the oath of office – one owned by AbrahamLincoln, the great emancipator and one by Martin LutherKing Jr., the leader of the civil rights movement.Their selection was especially symbolic because the second inauguration fell on the federal holiday markingKing's birthday and in a milestone anniversary yearinvolving both men.Fifty years ago MLK delivered the “I Have a DreamSpeech” from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Thechoice of the Lincoln bible symbolized 150 years sinceLincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in1863.President Obama invited Myrlie Evers-Williams, widow ofslain civil rights figure Medgar Evers to deliver the invocation prayer. It was the first time a woman, and a layperson rather than clergy, had done so.The 2013 inaugural poet, Richard Blanco, joined a selectgroup that included Maya Angelou and the late RobertFrost. Blanco’s works is said to explore his family’s exilefrom Cuba and his cultural identity as a Cuban-Americangay man. Blanco, 44, is said to have been the youngestever inaugural poet and the first Hispanic or gay to recitea poem at the ceremonial swearing-in.The inaugural theme, 2013, was "Our People. Our Future,"a reflection of the country’s diversity, strength ofAmericans and their ability to overcome challenges.Diversity had been a focus in choosing participantsthroughout the festivities, with performers and paradeparticipants from all demographics and 50 states.The festivities began on Saturday with the National Day ofService, with a fair in the National Mall, a call forAmericans to serve their communities in all 50 states tohonor King's legacy.Also on Saturday, first Lady Michelle Obama and Biden'swife, Jill, hosted a concert for America's children as theydid four years ago, with popular young artists.The concert paid special tribute to military families as part of thetwo women's focus on supporting their service and sacrifice.At noon on Sunday, Jan. 20, the time the Constitutionrequired the new term to begin, Obama took his officialoath in the Blue Room of the White House with somemedia coverage, with Biden’s officially swearing in at theNaval Observatory.The public ceremony was held thenext day because inaugurations historically have not beenheld on Sundays.Civil rights leaders while at times enduring beatings andrisking lives to promote racial equality and who camealmost 50 years ago for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s March onWashington, were back in D.C. to witness this historicsecond inauguration of President Obama. Notably amongthem was Rev. Otis Moss Jr, who helped organize the busloads of whites and blacks to travel in 1963.Rev. Moss delivered the opening prayer at the NationalPrayer Service, the traditional interfaith service at theWashington National Cathedral.He said "We will feel the presence of Dr. Martin LutherKing Jr., himself, of the four little girls who died in the16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, of aThurgood Marshall; persons who have borne thy burdens in the heat of the day and worked sacrificially forthings to come, knowing that they would perhaps notlive to see the fruit of their labors but neverthelessknew that this day would come."The Inauguration captured again President BarackObama’s unique role in America History and his worldvision, as he shared the Day and the Dream with MartinLuther King, Jr.Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. on-line Magazine5

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY & THE INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT BARAK OBAMA6 Obama’s Second Term:Views from theStreet onInauguration DayAllison SkeeteFour years ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Washington,D.C., for the first inauguration ofBarack Obama as president of theUnited States. I was able to travelalong as the President and Vice President-elect rode the Abraham LincolnWhistle Stop tour down to thenation’s capitol.Excitement was in the air everywhere you looked and everywhereyou turned.Four years later there was still excitement in the air as President Obamatook his oath of office for a secondand final term on January 21. Thistime, the crush of people, thoughoverjoyed at the making of history asthe first African-American presidentwas sworn in once again, was farsmaller and more cautious in theirviews on what was to come.There was much concern aboutchanges that may or may not occurin the next four years. Elliott Stanley,a recent law school graduate, said hedidn’t anticipate major changes thatwould benefit him. The presidentspent the past four years workingthrough the fiscal morass he inheritedfrom the previous administration,Stanley said, and will continue to battlewith the stubbornly partisan legislative before he could make significantprogress in other areas.in his push for administrativegain than conciliatory,” said Stanley, who hasn’t been able to find apermanent job since leavingschool.Joycelin, a Washington D.C. resident who declined to give her lastname, said the first-term sheen hasworn off for the president, addingthat he learned the hard way thatthere may well have been a decision by Republicans in the partisan House of Representatives to“just say no” to any, or many, of hispolicies and proposals.He’s learned that whether he playsgolf or not with the Republicanshe can’t win them over with hisdemeanor,” Joycelin said. And whilePresident Obama, like all presidents,wants to leave a positive legacy, thelooming fights over the debt ceilingand spending cuts as House republicans continue to refuse to “playnice” may derail his attempt to do so,Joycelin said.Others cited persistent unemployment as a major worry. Many saidthey were pleased with the changesto healthcare engineered by thepresident, but fear this would be theonly legacy of his historic presidencyif the agenda of the republicanmajority in the House is to deliberately stymie progress.A group of business owners whotraveled from Florida, Ohio, Maryland and New York to attend theinauguration said President Obamahas already secured his legacy withhistoric healthcare reform. Theyinsisted, however, that in order tohave a broader legacy of success, hehas to ensure that the funding mechanisms to carry through on thisreform are sustainable, and he has tomanage the economy for the nextgeneration, specifically by improvingthe nation’s aging infrastructure, fixing the weaknesses of our educationsystem and immigration policies, andreforming so-called entitlement programs.“I think he should be more decisiveGuyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. on-line Magazine

7President Barack Obamaand Michelle Obama atthe Inauguration Paradeon January 21, 2013Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. on-line Magazine

8Youman NabiGreetingsMawlid Al Nabi or Ma'uled Al-NabiMay Your LifeBe Blessed!

YOUMAN NABI GREETINGSCELEBRATINGTHEBIRTHDAYOF THEPROPHETMUHAMMEDhe Youman Nabi, the word Mawlid, or Milad,depending on the method of transliterationused, comes from the Arabic word for birthand usually refers to the anniversary ofMuhammed's birth.This observance is also knownas Mevlid Serif in Turkish, Mawlūd Sharīf in Urduand Maulidur-Rasūl in Malay.TThe Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca afterthe death of his father Abdullah. He lived up tosixty-three years. It was this prophet that createdthe Holy Quran. He dedicated his life to the teachings of Islam. and showed through his life howwonderful it is to follow Islam.During this time on Youman Nabi, Mulims inGuyana pay tribute to the mighty prophetMuhammad.This day is spent in prayers. A specialservice is kept or this occasion as well as religiousprogrammes is broadcast throughout the day. Onthis day as well they give alms to the poor and persons who are in need.At a critical point in his life, Muhammad received avision of the angel Gabriel who called him into service as a prophet. He later received a second visionof Gabriel who told him to “magnify thy Lord.”Muhammad then began to preach publicly inMecca where he had lived for many years. Manypeople were receptive to his message but othersridiculed him.Because of the opposition of many citizens ofMecca and threats against him, Muhammad fled toYathrib in AD 622.This journey of nearly 200 milesis known as the Hegira and is so important that theMuslim calendar begins with the year of the Hegira.Youman Nabi was first observed around the thirteenth century and was preceded by a month ofcelebration.The actual day of Muhammad’s birthday included a sermon, recitation of litanies, honouring of religious dignitaries, gift giving, and afeast.The festival spread throughout the Muslimworld and is celebrated in many countries today.However, some conservative sects (example, theWahhabiyah) consider the celebration to be anunacceptable ‘innovation’. In Guyana, this point ofview has never been widespread and when in the1970’s, the Muslim community was asked to suggest two of their holidays that would be placed onthe calendar as “National Holidays”,Youman Nabiwas one.In his own lifetime Muhammad was not only a ‘religious’ leader, focusing on the spiritual obligations ofman to God. He was also a leader of a state whodealt with the concrete challenges of the obligations of man to man.“excerpt from article in Guyana Times.Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. on-line Magazine9

CONGRATULATIONS FROM GCA & THE CULTURAL COMMUNITY OF GUYANA10 HENRY MUTTOO HONORED WITH MBEBY QUEEN FOR HIS SERVICE TO ARTAND CULTURAL HERITAGEIn addition to the groundings Henry received in Albouystown, hemaintains that he was ‘lucky’ to meet many people along the way whohelped and influenced him, and to be the recipient of the tremendousbody of work by many people around the region, who sacrificed muchto lay the foundation upon which he stands.Alex NeptuneComplete joy, ecstasy and then pride overcame me onDecember 30, 2012, when I learned that my friend,Henry Muttoo - the lil, loud-mouth bannoh fromAlbouystown, - was being made a Member of The BritishEmpire, MBE, by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. This, forhis services to Art and Cultural Heritage as the long timeArtistic Director of the Cayman National CulturalFoundation.This award, followed within months of Henry receivingCayman’s second highest civilian honor - The Order OfThe Cayman Islands (Officer Class), and being inductedinto the Caribbean Theatre Hall of Fame in November2012.These, and many others, including being honoredin New York by the Guyana Cultural Association of NewYork Inc., go a small way towards recognizing his skill,standards, accomplishments, and the tremendous amountof work he has done in Cayman and the region during anartistic career that spans nearly fifty years, and counting.Many Guyanese will remember Henry for his acting atthe Theatre Guild; particularly as a member of the famous'All Ah We' company founded by Ken Corsbie and MarcMatthews. 'All Ah We' entertained and educated audiencesin Guyana and all over the Caribbean, using all regionalmaterial – poetry, stories and music.They inspired manyyoung performers and today 36 years after the groupceased to exist, their work still reverberates, making usproud of our rich cultural heritage. Thus, by the time heleft Guyana in 1976, to study Theatre Design in the UK,he had already created a name for himself.After graduating as a fully-fledged Theatre Designer,Henry was immediately called to join the staff of theJamaica School of Drama as Technical Director. He spentsix years in Jamaica establishing himself as an educatorand theatre practitioner, winning several awards for hiswork designing settings and costumes and directing.Most importantly, while in Jamaica, he met the love of hislife, the beautiful, bright and talented Marcia King. I wasnot there, but a mutual friend who was, described it theway our iconic folklorist, Wordsworth McAndrews, wouldhave; "He immediately went into a state of ConfusiusRicaticks". For those new to this, that is Wordsworth's9th of his 10 stages of love. 28 years and three lovelysuccessful daughters later, they are still happily marriedand successfully running the Cayman National CulturalFoundation.Henry has always maintained that his artistic sensibilitiesand understanding of human culture and behavior wereforged in the crucible of the Albouystown tenementyards, spaces he says, that are even now defined by systemic poverty, injustice and denigration; working class‘marketplaces’ of ribald contestations that taught him thelessons of survival and the necessity of knowledge, love,compassion, respect, forgiveness, and dignity.In 1989, on the recommendation of Guyanese musicianand cultural icon, Dave Martins, Henry Muttoo moved tothe Cayman Islands after having been offered the opportunity to manage the US 4 Million Harquail Theatre bythe board of the Cayman National Cultural Foundation(CNCF). In selecting Henry for the post, his new employers had tapped into a wealth of cultural street sense,knowledge, theatre experience and creativity that wouldform the blueprint which would take the organizationwell on the path towards meeting the lofty goals prescribed by the CNCF Law, under which the organizationhad been established.Muttoo drew upon every ounce of experience he cultivated in Guyana, England and The Caribbean to understand and work with the Caymanian people and theirstruggles to re-establish their strong sense of identity, ofconfidence in who they were, the things they did andthe unique manner in which they did it.Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. on-line Magazine

11HENRY MUTTOO AND “ALL AH WE” TEAMMany Guyanese will remember Henry for his acting atthe Theatre Guild; particularly as a member of thefamous 'All Ah We' company founded by Ken Corsbieand Marc Matthews. 'All Ah We' entertained and educatedaudiences in Guyana and all over the Caribbean, usingall regional material – poetry, stories and music.Henry thanks his talented and patient wife Marcia, andthree intelligent and beautiful daughters Janelle, Maiaand Anjuli of whom they are proud.Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. on-line Magazine

CONGRATULATIONS FROM GCA & THE CULTURAL COMMUNITY OF GUYANA12Muttoo's Stage Setting for “Moon On A Rainbow Shawl, Opening Night,Nov. 9th 2006; University of South Florida.Alex NeptuneHis mission he says was to create a serious arts and culture discourse and catapult it centre stage – in the publicdomain.His work, especially in the Cayman Islands, he says, is farfrom over.In addition to the groundings Henry received in theAlbouystown, he maintains that he was ‘lucky’ to meetmany people along the way who helped and influencedhim, and to be the recipient of the tremendous body ofwork by many people around the region, who sacrificedmuch to lay the foundation upon which he stands. Helists the work ethic of his late mother who sacrificedeverything she had and was to remain faithful to her children, his talented and patient wife, and three intelligentdaughters of whom they are proud, a host of teachers butin particular, Edgar Wilson, his secondary school headmaster, whose caring and generosity provided focus and narrowed the path of life, Ken Corsbie, who saw in himpotential for growth and mentored it along with DaveMartins, Michael Gilkes, Bill Carr, Eugene Williams,Wordsworth McAndrew, Marc Matthews, Quamina Farrier,Louise Bennett-Coverly, Christopher Laird, Derek Walcott,Peter Minshall. Importantly, his school friends, like yourstruly, Dinkey, Rampy, Seph, Bozun, Roy, Josey people inJamaica, England and many more.Today Henry is happy to be working in Cayman Islands,where the people have accepted him and have allowedhim the scope to do what he does best. He believes it hasmade a difference, but says only time will tell.He would like to see the skills of more of the greatHenryMuttoo.IN ADDITION TO THE LOVE AND SUPPORT FROMHIS MOTHER, WIFE AND CHILDREN, HENRYACKNOWLEDGES HIS SECONDARYSCHOOL HEADMASTER EDGAR WILSON WHOSECARING AND GENEROSITY PROVIDED FOCUS;KEN CORSBIE, DAVE MARTINS,MICHAEL GILKES, MARC MATTHEWS,WORDSWOTH MCANDREW, QUAMINA FARRIER,DEREK WALCOTT, PETER MINSHALLWHO SAW POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH IN HIMAND MENTORED IT, AND FRIENDSLIKE ALEX NEPTUNE AND OTHERSWHO WERE HIS CONSTANT SUPPORT.Guyanese ‘heroes’, both at home and overseas being utilized more for the development of the arts and culture inGuyana. According to him "It is a disgrace that some people at home still see these heroes as foreigners “comingback, after they ran. Now they want to come back andtell us what to do”.Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. on-line Magazine

CONGRATULATIONS FROM GCA & THE CULTURAL COMMUNITY OF GUYANAJohn AgardReceives Queen's GoldMedal for PoetryThe second black poet to receive this medal,Agard, receives the 2012 prize on the basisof his body of work, with emphasis on hismost recent collections Alternative Anthem:Selected Poems and Goldilocks on CCTV(a collection for children)“I am delighted as well as touched to bein the company of such names as CharlesCausley, Norman MacCaig, Gillian Clarke,Stevie Smith and Derek Walcott”.John Agard, who currently resides in theUK, to which he migrated in 1977,is the author of several collectionsof poems for children andadults. His repertoireincludes Laughter isan Egg, No Hickory,No Dickory, No Dock(with Grace Nichols),Eat a Poem, Wear a Poem,We Animals Would Likea Word With You, andMangoes andBullets: Selectedand New Poems.His poem‘Half Caste’has been onthe GCSEsyllabus fornumerousyears.Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. on-line Magazine13

CONGRATULATIONS FROM GCA & THE CULTURAL COMMUNITY OF GUYANA14 John Agardperformed so much more poetry, so muchmore stories to receive the highest awardpossible in England and theCommonwealth.The Queen’s Gold Medalfor Poetry!Johnny’s story is one of perpetual forwardmotion – from playing Capt. Hook in thechildren’s theatre production of Peter Pan,to A levels in English, French and Latin, twobooks of poems while still living in Guyanain the 70’s, joining us in the then popularALL-AH-WE team. In 1977 he immigrated toEngland and quickly establishing himself asKen Corsbie a writer to be noticed and encouraged. Johnand his wife Grace Nichols (herself a well“I’m a fll-blooded West Indian strereotyperespected writer/poet in the literary world) were choYuh see mih straw hat?sen by the educational system to tour every yearthroughout the United Kingdom reading and talkingand mih hot shirt?about their writings to thousands of school children.I’m a full blooded West Indian stereotype.They are prolific and relentless writers – betweenyuh ask if I have riddim i

chosen 2012 theme "Masquerade Lives" was well received supported and portrayed in every sector of our activities. The year end grand finale of our 10th Symposium of the Guyana Cultural Association of New York - the brainchild of our Secretary Dr. Juliet Emanuel was a tremendous suc-cess. We can safely state that Masquerade is alive and well.