Inauguration in CNY- Shifty’s Bar

Mike Krafcik

The pop of Champagne corks reverberated from across the bar, cheers and laughter ripped through crowd like wildfire.  Chants of “yes we can” echoed across the room.  One man went around taking everyone’s picture with an Obama front page picture from the Wall Street Journal.

Barak Obama’s historic inauguration day provided a gateway to unite all of these people at Shifty’s bar on Burnet Avenue, showcasing the power of Obama’s reach.

“We have a bunch of self-employed, unemployed cross-section of the Syracuse community all here,” Harold Schultz of Syracuse said.

The inauguration of Barack Obama was a moment some Shifty’s bar-goers will never forget.  Mark Edwards was one customer who celebrated in style, sporting a black tuxedo outfitted with a red bow tie. “It’s great to be here with our friends, dressed up,” Edwards said.  “I haven’t worn this tux in 15 years and it still fits.”

But not everyone was formally dressed for the occasion. Billy Doran was hard to miss, wearing his oversized Obama sweatshirt labeled “Yes We Can.”  The Vietnam veteran says he has fallen upon hard times, but remains positive. 

“I am looking forward to what he can do to change the country,” Doran said.

Many black Americans have long waited forthis day, and Walter Eadie was no exception.  The promises of hope and change were especially touching for Eadie.

“You couldn’t help but too feel proud to see how the country is taking itself in a different direction,” Eadie said.

Calvin White shared Eadie’s excitement, and a similar viewpoint.  However, White expressed the black community still needs to take big strides before the day of equality will truly arrive.  He says he is waiting for a time when black people can be American “without all the hyphens.”

“It’s a very joyous day for me,” White said.