VOA标准英语2013--African Americans Reflect on Obama 2nd Inauguration

 

African Americans Reflect on Obama 2nd Inauguration¹

Some Delta² Sigma Theta sorority sisters are celebrating the second inauguration of President Barack Obama. Francine and Cynthia Blake from Ohio see great significance in the president's second term.

“We have come a long way, a long way. It just touches and warms my heart because for me I may not ever see another African American in office as high as he is,"said Francine. 

“The great significance and importance about it is the fact that he needs to promote and protect the middle class, the middle working class," added Cynthia. 

These women are in Washington to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the sorority - which is the largest African-American women’s organization in the world. The 260,000-member group, along with other black voters, helped propel President Obama to victory last November. 

Political Science teacher Vanessa Kidd-Thomas says the election result illustrates³ the power blacks have at the ballot⁴ box.

“I think when President Barack Obama was reelected it reaffirmed that if African Americans are politically involved and collaborate⁵ and work together with other groups that we can positively⁶ change America," she said. 

Brenda Moncriffe, from Louisiana, lived through violent chapters of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. 

“For years we ((African Americans)) have fought for equal rights, voting rights and all sorts of rights. When Barack Obama is inaugurated for a second time it surely shows what we can do. Not only does it show what we can do, it shows our youngsters what they can do and what they can be," she said. 

Thousands of these women were in Washington four years ago to witness Obama taking the oath of office.

And many will return for the second inauguration, says Gwendolyn Boyd, head of Delta Sigma Theta's centennial celebration. 

“We are excited about the first family. They stand as role models of who we (African Americans) are and who we can become for our children, those yet unborn. They can see the potential within themselves because they see someone who looks like them who has already achieved great things in their lifetime," she said. 

Many here say President Obama will get more accomplished⁷ in a second term and continue to deliver positive changes for the country. 

1 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

2 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

3 illustrates   

给…加插图( illustrate的第三人称单数 )； 说明； 表明； （用示例、图画等）说明

参考例句：

• This historical novel illustrates the breaking up of feudal society in microcosm. 这部历史小说是走向崩溃的封建社会的缩影。
• Alfred Adler, a famous doctor, had an experience which illustrates this. 阿尔弗莱德 - 阿德勒是一位著名的医生，他有过可以说明这点的经历。 来自中级百科部分

4 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

5 collaborate   

vi.协作，合作；协调

参考例句：

• The work gets done more quickly when we collaborate.我们一旦合作，工作做起来就更快了。
• I would ask you to collaborate with us in this work.我们愿意请你们在这项工作中和我们合作。

6 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

7 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。