I saw “Notorious” the night before the Inauguration. Though there were more appropriate films to see in Washington D.C. on Inauguration Eve I watched a Biggie Smalls biopic.
I could have seen “Frost/Nixon” and compared the secretive authoritative ways of past politics against the new dawn of American presidency. But since I watched this film somewhat against my own will I will compare the new President of the United States to Biggie “I love it when you call me Big Poppa” Smalls.
Both figures are black both have mad skills on the mic and perhaps incorrectly in the case of Notorious B.I.G. both have been lauded as heroes. At this point though their roads diverge.
I could not honestly call Biggie a tragic hero because I know better. I know that a black man can gain notoriety and earn praise for something more meaningful than his ability to handle a ball or produce raunchy music videos. While I was growing up people like those were indeed considered successful and they still are today but I knew there were other options. However the role of the president was never among them. Colin Powell was the closest role model for my childhood in the 90s.
When I look at my 9-year-old brother it baffles me to think that he will no longer have to worry about the absence of people who look like him in positions of great power. He will no longer have to hear “You can be President” from the mouths of their teachers while their eyes tell a different story.
I can imagine this is an inkling of what my grandparents feel when they realize that I do not have to worry about firefighters using the blast of fire hoses as assault weapons against the color of my skin.
That sense of security even though it was inspired in part by “Notorious made the Inauguration of now President Barack Obama that much sweeter. If only it made me feel warmer! With temperatures dipping well below freezing, I wished for about 60 more degrees of warmth and some Malibu sunshine.
All I could think was that I’m g-g-going going b-back back to C-C-Cali Cali as the cold air made even my thoughts chatter. In all seriousness, when Obama took the stage at the ceremony Tuesday, so did the sun. I hope that the meteorological wonders of the day are a representation of the new hope that Obama’s presidency will bring.
It is hard to believe that day, a triumphant end to a restless two years of campaigning and hard work, has come and gone. I could say something cliché to mark the occasion: that it is something I will never forget. Though that is true, my awe transcends that sort of statement.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009, created a ripple that will grow into the future, and it will be exciting to find out what that ripple will bring us. I like to think that everyone has a stake in this victory. Extraordinary opportunity lies before us.
In this film about his life, Biggie philosophically says, Before we can change the world we have to change ourselves.” Although that holds little originality or true insight the premise holds true: now that the pomp and circumstance is over it is time to get down to business. Most of us know that we as Americans have not lived up to our potential. It is time that we start doing it. All of us know better.