My Holiday Invitation from President Obama

Blanche in Blue Room at White House Holiday Reception

On December 3, I received a letter with my name handwritten from The White House.  Initially, I thought it was a Christmas card to thank me for including Tina Tchen and the White House Council on Women and Girls at my Second Annual National Black Women’s Town Hall Meeting held at Howard University in September.

You can imagine my surprise and honor when I began pulling out something that was much more formal and elegant than a holiday card.  It was a beautiful Christmas red invitation with gold lettering that read, ” The President and Mrs. Obama request the pleasure of your company at a Holiday Reception to be held at The White House on Tuesday, December 15, 2009.”

I was speechless and breathless at the same time.  I sat quietly for a moment to reflect on the significance of being invited during the most significant year in the history of the American presidency.  I had also covered him, as a broadcast journalist, in Denver and was front row at his Inaugural. 

What made this special was the fact that I was invited because of and in recognition of my efforts.    The impact of this was humbling and validating, to say the least.  When I arrived, I was able to be present and experience these magical moments as well as capture a few.  I began by writing a wish for our nation and rolling it to be put inside the “Christmas Wish Tree.”  My fellow guests and I were waited on at every corner with champayne, sweets, sushi, chocolate and more.  I met many amazing people, some I knew and admired while others I was pleased to get to know.  The President and Mrs. Obama came downstairs to cheers and were gracious hosts.  I was lucky enough to be front and center for handshakes and a few polite words.  You can see more of my photos and commentary on my personal Facebook page–(Blanche Williams).

Ironically, this Tuesday, there was a replay of Oprah’s Primetime Christmas Special at the White House.  I hadn’t seen it the Sunday before I attended the Holiday Reception.  What I didn’t realize was that Oprah and I were given the same access in the White House.  Her special highlighted and spotlighted many of the places I stood and the things I saw.  Of course, the biggest difference was that Oprah had the President, the First Lady, and Bo, all to herself. 

In the end, sharing this hope-filled Holiday, in this year, in this White House, serves as a fitting and long-overdue gift for the countless ancestors, slaves, freedom fighters, and dreamers, who lived and died believing there would one day be a meaningful season of change in our nation.