First lady Michelle Obama recently hosted the first ever White House event honoring the art of dance. She dedicated it to highlighting Judith Jamison, artistic director of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, an icon in the dance world and considered one of the greatest choreographers in the country. Jamison will step down next year, after 20 years of running the company following founder Alvin Ailey’s death in 1989.

 The day of an African American President of the United States is no longer coming. That day is here. Witnessing Barack Obama take the oath of office, in the freezing cold with a million other people, is surely one of the seven highlights of my life (along with witnessing the birth of my four children, my second marriage and being present at the Million Man March in 1995). The chests and breasts of black people were bursting out with all “Americans” who shared in this celebration.

Pastor Paul Warren had a vision.

“I wanted to take local youths to witness Barack Obama sworn in as the first African American president of the United States,” said Warren.

Strapped for cash, Warren, founder of the nonprofit assistance organization His Promise Disaster Survivor Agency, appealed to several groups for help.

“This money is so dirty it had to be laundered five times—and it still stinks.” —Gov. Jerry Brown