Inauguration 2013: What They Were Thinking

The mood on Inauguration Day.

A Day to Remember - Tens of thousands gather at the U.S. Capitol to witness Obama's second swearing-in.  (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Hail to the Chief - It's President Obama's big day, but Martin Luther King Jr. also was on the minds of many who came to witness the president's second swearing-in ceremony. His re-election is a sign that the United States truly is moving forward and the embodiment of a dream — 50 years in the making — come true. — Joyce Jones  (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Bobby West, Texas (center) - "I'm reflecting on when Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy were having a discussion through the papers about when we might have a Black president. Kennedy said around 50 years and King said 50, then 25 years. I'm getting to experience their predictions about what would happen with this country and Black leadership. And I'm here celebrating more than just Obama becoming president, but the world's beginning to see that African-Americans can lead the United States.”(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)

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Bobby West, Texas (center) - "I'm reflecting on when Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy were having a discussion through the papers about when we might have a Black president. Kennedy said around 50 years and King said 50, then 25 years. I'm getting to experience their predictions about what would happen with this country and Black leadership. And I'm here celebrating more than just Obama becoming president, but the world's beginning to see that African-Americans can lead the United States.”(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)

Briana Durr, New Jersey - "I'm feeling very excited and overwhelmed. The first time he was inaugurated I was in high school. Now I'm in college and to see all he's done and the whole election process and be a part of that is a great experience."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)

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Briana Durr, New Jersey - "I'm feeling very excited and overwhelmed. The first time he was inaugurated I was in high school. Now I'm in college and to see all he's done and the whole election process and be a part of that is a great experience."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)

Disa Nicholson, New York (center) - "The fact that he's been elected a second time means our country is actually growing as people, as a community. I think it's positive for the kids to know they can actually achieve the things they say they will."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)

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Disa Nicholson, New York (center) - "The fact that he's been elected a second time means our country is actually growing as people, as a community. I think it's positive for the kids to know they can actually achieve the things they say they will."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)

Matano Ismaen, Washington, D.C., via Kenya - "I feel very wonderful and very, very proud to support our first Black president, especially because his dad is from my country, Kenya. I hope in his second term Obama will help Africa to help end corruption and [improve] life for everybody in Africa."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)

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Matano Ismaen, Washington, D.C., via Kenya - "I feel very wonderful and very, very proud to support our first Black president, especially because his dad is from my country, Kenya. I hope in his second term Obama will help Africa to help end corruption and [improve] life for everybody in Africa."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)

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Albert Artis, Washington, D.C. - "I'm very proud especially because of the obstacles and roadblocks he had to go through to get to this second term. Republicans wanted to make him a one-term president but here he is. I hope there will be more partisanship in the second term because we have to work for the good of the country instead of one political party."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)

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Albert Artis, Washington, D.C. - "I'm very proud especially because of the obstacles and roadblocks he had to go through to get to this second term. Republicans wanted to make him a one-term president but here he is. I hope there will be more partisanship in the second term because we have to work for the good of the country instead of one political party."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)

Cameron Smith, Maryland - "It means a lot to me to see Barack Obama be our president for four more years. Seeing him as president shows that white people aren't the only ones who can make a difference in the world. I like seeing an African-American in the office."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)

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Cameron Smith, Maryland - "It means a lot to me to see Barack Obama be our president for four more years. Seeing him as president shows that white people aren't the only ones who can make a difference in the world. I like seeing an African-American in the office."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)

Leac Matelus, Pennsylvania via Haiti (right) - "We came to celebrate Barack Obama being in office for a second term and also to show our kids the American process of voting. We want them to see that when you vote, what you want happens."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)

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Leac Matelus, Pennsylvania via Haiti (right) - "We came to celebrate Barack Obama being in office for a second term and also to show our kids the American process of voting. We want them to see that when you vote, what you want happens."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)

Ken and Tykitcha Lanier, Georgia - We're excited and encouraged by what President Obama's doing and how he's brought hope and change to this country. This is our boy's second time and our daughter's first inauguration. So just to see history in the making is amazing."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)

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Ken and Tykitcha Lanier, Georgia - We're excited and encouraged by what President Obama's doing and how he's brought hope and change to this country. This is our boy's second time and our daughter's first inauguration. So just to see history in the making is amazing."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)

Dana Johnson, New York (right) - "I'm proud. I'm excited. It's also Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I try to impose Black history on these youth. I forced them to come out and stand in the cold with me today because I'm excited. I'm a veteran and I love President Obama and Michelle. It can't get better than this — it's history in the making."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)

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Dana Johnson, New York (right) - "I'm proud. I'm excited. It's also Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I try to impose Black history on these youth. I forced them to come out and stand in the cold with me today because I'm excited. I'm a veteran and I love President Obama and Michelle. It can't get better than this — it's history in the making."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)

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Shirley Washington, Washington, D.C. (right) - "I absolutely love him. He deserves this. He's a wonderful president. I worked in the civil rights movement as a student in the '60s and to think that all of that hard work would bring about somebody like Obama is wonderful. It took three continents to raise this man; he's an international citizen and the world loves him."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)

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Shirley Washington, Washington, D.C. (right) - "I absolutely love him. He deserves this. He's a wonderful president. I worked in the civil rights movement as a student in the '60s and to think that all of that hard work would bring about somebody like Obama is wonderful. It took three continents to raise this man; he's an international citizen and the world loves him."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)

Liane Robinson, Washington, D.C. (third from left) - "We came down [from St. John's University] to do community service in memory of MLK but it's a very monumental day. We're celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King and it's also the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. So to have everyone out here to see Obama's second swearing-in is pretty amazing. I would like him to make everything he's promised come to fruition and more bipartisan collaboration.(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)

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Liane Robinson, Washington, D.C. (third from left) - "We came down [from St. John's University] to do community service in memory of MLK but it's a very monumental day. We're celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King and it's also the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. So to have everyone out here to see Obama's second swearing-in is pretty amazing. I would like him to make everything he's promised come to fruition and more bipartisan collaboration.(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)

Ella Hunter, Washington, D.C. - "I was very moved just being here. History in the making the second time around is even better. It's just really an awesome experience for me to be so moved to see so many different cultures and people and the love here on the Capitol grounds. It's just amazing."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)

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Ella Hunter, Washington, D.C. - "I was very moved just being here. History in the making the second time around is even better. It's just really an awesome experience for me to be so moved to see so many different cultures and people and the love here on the Capitol grounds. It's just amazing."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)

Velma Wells (center), King College Prep Marching Band, Illinois - "It's very exciting to perform for the president. Not a lot of kids from anywhere get the opportunity to perform for such a high official. And the fact that we go to school right down the street from his [Chicago] home, makes us proud to make him proud and show everyone where he came from."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)

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Velma Wells (center), King College Prep Marching Band, Illinois - "It's very exciting to perform for the president. Not a lot of kids from anywhere get the opportunity to perform for such a high official. And the fact that we go to school right down the street from his [Chicago] home, makes us proud to make him proud and show everyone where he came from."(Photo: Joyce Jones/BET.com)