r/BlackPeopleofReddit • u/ateam1984 • 15h ago
Black Excellence May God Bless President Barack Obama
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u/bleepitybleep2 15h ago
oh god how I miss him
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u/BrownSugarBare 14h ago
I've never seen the Santa one!
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u/Grey_sky_guy 13h ago
That was just this last Christmas
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u/MiHoyMinoy420 10h ago
Bruh I'm over here crying in the parking lot watching this video. 😭
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u/TopProfessional8023 7h ago
Same. I started taking an ssri a few months back and that has just about completely stopped my random crying about anything mildly emotional. but this got me. We had it good for a minute didn’t we? 🤦🏻♂️
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u/chromiaplague 7h ago
Someone just started cutting onions in my house, is all. I’m not cryin’. Sniff. I’m not cryin’.
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u/guacamole579 13h ago
Every time I see videos of him I get emotional. We went from Obama to Trump because a whole population of white Americans are too racist and couldn’t cope.
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u/AncientPCGuy 13h ago
Another favor Obama did for me. He encouraged republicans to take the mask off. Their overt blatant racism in the wake of Obama shows that as a POC I should never consider a republican ever again. You don’t join that party with such open racism and not accept it at some level.
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u/onesoulmanybodies 12h ago
So true. My parents tore their mask off, joined the tea party, blamed black people for the 2008 recession, and put the red hat on with ease. I will always be embarrassed by how ignorant I was when it comes to their true character. When you live in a bubble it can be hard to see reality. They went from some off putting comments about affirmative action and having to push 1 for English to straight up being openly racist and claiming they weren’t racist because they had black friends. The reality is they have black coworkers and some black acquaintances. But they didn’t have them over for BBQ’s. They didn’t go to their weddings or funerals. They didn’t have my black friends stay over night for sleep overs. I was so ignorant about the reality of my family and our country. 18 years ago I happily voted for Obama. I had so much hope for our country, but I was truly blind about how deeply the racism was woven into my every day life. I didn’t see myself as racist, I did have genuine friends that are black, and I knew some about the unequal justice system, but man I was still so naive. At that time I was more focused on gay rights and thought we had already fixed the racism. I will never forget how wrong I was. If there is anything positive from Trump being president it’s that it pushed me to educate myself about the truth of the US. To see that this has been us all along, that it never went away the way I was taught it did, but festered in churches, and businesses and people. That those people in the photos screaming at Ruby Bridges didn’t just learn their lesson and stop being racist. The guy that poured acid in the swimming pool didn’t just stop hating black people. That a whole generation of people didn’t just change their minds because of the civil rights movement. They just regrouped and planned. They were the police and judges and teachers and shop owners who let their racism direct every choice they made when interacting with the black community. Trump is the racist response to Obama. He is the epitome of their hatred.
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u/Swordf1sh_ 9h ago
Thank you for taking the time to write and reflect on this. People like you give me hope.
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u/Effective_Tip7748 9h ago
I wish more white people had these revelations. It’s always been this bad. We have to come to grips with that before we can make any actual change
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u/TopProfessional8023 7h ago
I’ve had many revelations since 2008. Now, I grew up in a pretty diverse local community and my parents were social workers, so my experience is a bit different. I was never taught any hatred for people, in fact I was taught the opposite, to love and accept everyone. I knew racism existed because I would see it in the world at large but I didn’t really see it that much in my insular personal world.
I worked, played, partied and slept with a myriad of people (college town bar employee life 🤷🏻♂️).
2008 and the Tea Party really was the first time I realized just how insidious it all truly was. That, reading Howard Zinn’s “A People’s History of the United States” and beginning to learn about socialism really changed my life.
So to all the Tea Party-cum-MAGA bigots out there, I actually thank you for showing me who you really are so that I can stay far, far away from you and also mock you incessantly. Because you deserve it.
And you saved me almost two decades of trying to “reason with and understand” You showed me who you were when you hung stuffed monkeys on a noose…Same as how Donald Trump and the Republicans have recently openly reminded everyone who they are by backing him up for posting Barack and Michelle as apes.
I can’t speak to black voters because I’m white and also not running for any office haha! But it was a little alarming how many black men voted for him (assuming the numbers are true and honestly I don’t trust a single goddamned thing this administration says)
Either way, “We the People” (which these white supremacists love to use) actually means us, and not the screaming vocal minority.
Please, everyone…talk to anyone you can and make sure we CRUSH them in the midterms.::i would say “take back our country” but as I’ve already spoken about, the country was never ours. It was for landowners and merchants, not for the people.
Let’s Make America. Let’s make it work for everyone. And when you work, you get paid. So let’s make it pay while we’re at it.
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u/girlgenesis3 9h ago
Emphasis on teachers! As a Black 2001 baby it was so hard being in the education system. I didn't realize school staff was racist until I got into high school but I had always felt that off putting energy as a child and it felt lonely.
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u/DominicanNerd 10h ago
This was so well-said. I may have to reshare on other platforms! It's awesome that you did the work.
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u/pvhs2008 11h ago
I’m not happy about the direction our country is going but I have felt an odd peace knowing that the rest of the country can finally see a portion of what we’ve been seeing and experiencing this whole time. So many self described “centrists” and “independents” always found a way to criticize POCs for not doing enough coddling of bigots and it’s been so nice having these idiots pipe down for once. I doubt they’ve learned anything but their temporary embarrassment is delicious.
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u/super_sayanything 10h ago edited 8h ago
I've always been an ally of POC irregardless, but reality has been gut wrenching. When family members you know are more interested in minorities suffering than their healthcare and social security benefits.
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u/Cloverose2 14h ago
I smiled the whole time. So much joy from those kids - he was a hands-on Dad and it shows.
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u/Outside_Narwhal3784 13h ago
Class act! I wish we could have another president like him.
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u/Paladjordan 14h ago
I wasn't proud of Obama because he was perfect, I was proud because he owned up to his mistakes, and treated people like people
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u/Available_Guide2423 9h ago
This is a great articulation of what I want in a president or any leader!
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u/Royal-Tumbleweed7885 14h ago
White people lost their gd minds over this guy, both good and bad.
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u/woodenblinds 14h ago
I am sure there are some watching this video and grinding their teeth in rage for some reason
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u/Royal-Tumbleweed7885 14h ago
Black excellence in a space historically occupied by white men sent their insecurities into a tailspin, and we discovered that they are not who their mythology asserts.
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u/ConqueefStador 12h ago
Worse than insecurities. Plenty of people readily acknowledged how over the top Trump was and cited his election as punishment, "well this is what you get."
As if they were being magnanimous for electing whites guys who maintained status quo racism and Trump was retaliation for those who had the nerve to step out of line.
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u/BrilliantCorner 13h ago
I watch it and can't help but smile. I'm old and white and he is BY FAR the best president in my lifetime. And I absolutely adore Michelle. I don't know how anyone can have hate in their heart for those two. Just unbridled racism I guess. It's so sad to think of what this country could have been without it and how many people have been hurt because of it.
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u/TheSpanxxx 13h ago
Oh I am white and I'm grinding my teeth knowing this man may be the last professional educated politician to get into office. I hope we can get someone again with an ounce of humanity who doesn't represent the plutocratic white gerontocracy.
I'm tired, boss.
I didn't agree with every one of his policy decisions, but I liked Obama as a leader and a representative of our country. I pray we can once again have someone like him in office.
You are right though. I still can't believe the number of people who dismissed him as a leader solely because of skin color. People are so stupid. It makes me sad.
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u/woodenblinds 13h ago
"I'm tired, boss" should be the statement in the history books when trumps term sin office are brought up, that and criminal traitor
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u/Panem-et-circenses25 14h ago
Im a white guy. I cried tears of joy in public when he was elected. It’s disgusting what the racist troglodytes have done in reaction to him.
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u/Rundiggity 14h ago
I’m a white guy and I honestly got really nervous when he was elected. I just thought he was such a charismatic speaker that I could be tricked very easily. Was a fleeting thought, but I remember it being pretty strong. I had an Obama sign in my Oklahoma yard, which wasn’t super popular. Sure do miss him now, though.
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u/perpetual_papercut 13h ago
Meanwhile… look at what millions have fallen for and have zero fear or awareness of the grift they’ve become victim to.
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u/bigbaldandbroken 13h ago
I’m also a white guy who got super emotional when he was elected! Being from the south, I honestly didn’t think he had a very good chance (for the record I did vote for him twice). Growing up I saw how poor people, especially minorities were treated so horribly and hoped/prayed that one day it would change. He gave me (and countless others) so much hope, for a better country/world!
Not going to lie, I never thought the world’s most selfish human would ever have a chance becoming president after Obama. I’m still in shock from how racist, sexist, and down right evil so many Americans are. I know we can’t re-elect Obama, but we need someone like him (maybe even a woman) to heal this nation.
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u/Boom-Doc-a-Locka 14h ago
Old white guy here...you're 1000% right. I LOVED him. He felt like the future, he felt like hope, he felt like maybe the country was moving forward. The idea that people didn't see that drives me crazy on a daily basis, given where we are now.
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u/sullythered 13h ago
Fellow old white here. Openly wept on election night when he won the first time, because I never thought it would be possible that a black man would become president in my lifetime. IMO, that was the high point for this country in my 46 years of life. Throughout his presidency, I was often frustrated when he would back off of the progressive policies that he ran on, but in hindsight I think a lot of that was a combination of the Republicans doing everything they could to hamstring the man at every turn, combined with his own desire to make sure he wasn't the LAST black president. But, man, president Obama was such an amazing representative of this country and it's potential. It's often difficult these days to see that potential that I still think exists here for us, even if it is now farther away than it once was. There's not much I would not do to get that man back in office, if I could. I sure would love to see what he could accomplish with even a single term without an adversarial Congress.
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u/Tough-Advice2910 14h ago
I’m white, and cried when he was elected. America did not even deserve the wonder that was the Obamas.
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u/BrilliantPiccolo5220 13h ago
White girl here. Full disclosure I’m 50, and Canadian. Jewish. (Not Zionist, or a supporter of Israel) I absolutely do lose my mind over him. I could list the reasons but I’m sure you’ve heard them all one million times. However, as a teacher, I watch adult-child interactions very closely, they reveal volumes about a person’s character. Obama has had thousands. He is always attentive, and engaged with the child. He speaks to them like equal human beings, but uses language they can understand. He gets down to their level and looks them in the eye. They know he sees them. This alone commands my immediate respect.
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u/UchihaClan_Fav 15h ago
I don’t think we’ll EVERRRRR have another great president like Obama. Love you President Obama
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u/Oatmeal_Raisin_ 14h ago
Damn i looked it up, and even his oldest, malia obama, is only 27 years old. I have to think he has to have some family member or cousin or someone who have similar charisma and compassion who can eventually run
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u/BubbleNucleator 13h ago
We're going to need a Presidential brain trust made up of a dozen Obamas to dig us out of this fascist hole America dug itself.
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u/quadraticcheese 13h ago
Sure we will AOC is gonna be wonderful
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u/AncientPCGuy 13h ago
That is one I would love to see as well. Love her speeches and actual efforts in Congress. I just hope we can actually get her enough support to succeed.
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u/Natural-Coat-3159 13h ago
We can. We have to work harder for that. It's not too late. It's just super challenging right now.
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u/SquisharooNTimbuk2 14h ago
My stress levels just automatically drop when I hear his voice. I love him. He brought us something so special.
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u/MastersOfNoneShow 13h ago
Wow. So do mine!!! I didn't realize it until I watched this video.
He really is a great man.
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u/BusyBit6542 14h ago
I will NEVER worship a politician but I do feel proud that he represented us with such class and charisma.
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u/Gonzo_Gonzalo 14h ago
I honestly believe if congress let him run this country the way he promised, the US would have seen more prosperity than anyone expected. We had our chance, America.
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u/kemistree4 14h ago
If Trump was this close to a young girl I'd call the cops.
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u/r0thar 13h ago
https://npr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com/legacy/sites/michigan/files/201609/21113011-mmmain.jpg
Little Miss Flint was asking for clean water from all the politicians she met.
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u/Krinks1 14h ago
And the nice thing is he seems to genuinely enjoy interacting with the kids.
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u/thismustbtheplace215 14h ago
When he smelled the baby's head! He genuinely loves kids.
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u/EverybodyLovesTimmy 14h ago
and legend says, that ALL of those children walked away completely undefiled
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u/Afroditesrevenge 14h ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/d2lcHJTG5Tscg
Literally me rn and I’m not even joking
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u/LedByReason 14h ago
Hard to believe that half of America is so racist they could not see this decent man was selflessly working to improve their lives.
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u/Dzov 14h ago
Remember when they had to make up scandals to be angry over? Arugula lettuce. Spicy mustard. Tan suit. Fist bump.
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u/rubmysemdog 13h ago
If Jesus came back and ran as a democrat, the right would find a way to smear him. “He’s a woke immigrant! Feeding the poor and washing their feet is all performative bs!”
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u/pay_student_loan 12h ago
I’m pretty sure he doesn’t even need to run as a democrat to be considered woke. His principles alone would make him woke to republicans.
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u/0neirocritica 14h ago
Bro, kids reacted to him like they were seeing SANTA. I've NEVER seen a President have an effect on small children like that.
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u/Pretend_College_8446 14h ago
Love this man. Please Lord, protect him & his family. So thankful we had a model for what this office can be, and hopefully will be again
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u/Pleasant_Expert_1990 14h ago
Any time I feel bad I look for videos with Barack interacting with the public. He's like Mister Rogers but with more energy, just instantly delights the whole room. I want to hang around Chicago just on the off chance of an Obama sighting!
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u/Cloverose2 14h ago
I once worked with a person who was a social campaigner in Chicago. He met Obama before he was president and they talked for about 20 minutes. A few years later, he was at an event during the first election campaign, and Obama called him by his name and asked him about the things they talked about back then.
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u/MichelleEvangelista 14h ago
I literally just shed a tear. We had it good. I hate it here.😞😞😞
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u/Critical_Liz 14h ago
Only complaint is that it didn't have the complete video with the crying baby, I love that.
Still, gonna burst into tears, I miss him.
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u/RodneyRuxin18 12h ago
How in the actual fuck did you guys go from that to where you are now?
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u/SuperThomaja 14h ago
If your skin is darker than a piece of paper, you owe it to yourself as well as the rest of America to accept nothing less than the standard that was created by Barack Obama not just in leadership but in humanity. I did not agree with all of his decisions as president, but at least he wasn't an asshole.
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u/Rasputin_mad_monk 13h ago
I have a great second-hand story I like to tell about Obama. I was on a flight back to DC. I live in Annapolis, and the lady sitting next to me was a government official of some kind, but she had lots of interactions with the White House. We start to talk about general government stuff that was going on, and I asked her about interactions with the Obamas. She said that she met them several times, and then she said she had a great story about Halloween.
They were setting up for Halloween, and someone was there from the Smithsonian, I think, or maybe the National Zoo, with snakes, turtles, and lizards and whatnot. She was standing next to Michelle Obama, talking to her, and President Obama came out to the yard or lawn or wherever they were doing this stuff with the snakes. The girls were there, and he walked up and was talking to one of the people. He picked up a snake and started chasing the girls around with the snake, and Michelle Obama started yelling at him and said, "Can you believe it? He's the President of the United States."
They were laughing about how he's just a father like any other father. It really warmed my heart, and then I watched this video, and it just solidifies even more how he was, just a normal guy who happened to be President of the United States, one of the best presidents, im 56 years old, during my lifetime.
I miss him and the decorum of the Presidency, White House, et cetera, so much.
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u/Salt_Introduction_86 12h ago
How did we end up where we are, I’ll never know. He was the greatest president of my lifetime.
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u/coffee_and-cats 14h ago
What an absolute legend. Intelligent, hardworking, polite, personable, educated, supportive, capable, dignified, charismatic, understanding, attentive, determined. Human, not without flaw, approachable, romantic, family-oriented, humorous and grounded.
To think not just how hard he worked through his career to reach presidency, but how much harder than his predecessors he had to work to even get the role AND maintain it. The pressure and scrutiny was certainly increased simply because of his skin colour and he absolutely held steadfast upholding the values and integrity of the office and with respect of the country's citizens
Its an absolute insult to him personally, his family, friends, community, supporters and democracy itself to see the imbecile who is currently in the presidential office.
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u/Ahkillis 14h ago
He was the first presidential election I could vote in, haven’t stopped since. Was he flawed with his drone policy, yes. Did he inherit decades of US warmongering, yes. He was compassionate, eloquent and gave most of us hope for a brighter future. Unfortunately people suck and a racist to the core.
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u/Griffon2112 13h ago
Evan as a Brit I miss the pure unadulterated class of Barack Obama and his family.
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u/AverageBrilliant4670 12h ago edited 12h ago
As a mid-40s white guy who left the US 20 years ago because of the shit politics there, the only US President during my lifetime I was proud of was Barack Obama. (The only other US President during my lifetime I admire--only in retrospect as I was too young to be aware of him during his term--is Jimmy Carter, who was a great person dealt a really shitty hand of cards while in office.) I'm so happy that what will probably be the last good US President will be who it was.
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u/Famous-Rain8703 15h ago
When it comes to public relation we've never had a better president
But he still a politician
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u/Weekly_Ad4045 14h ago
This makes me teary to watch. Our last GREAT man as president. I fear we will never see his equal again.
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u/tweekinleanin420 14h ago
God im so proud I served under this man! Shout out to one of the best presidents! And semper fi!
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u/DecentClock9031 14h ago
The difference between a naturally good, people person, and something else I can’t even describe.
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u/EntertainmentOk3066 13h ago
Caucasian ally here! None of us ever really understood how amazing he was while in office. We knew, but didnt understand the fundamental base of how great a statesmen he was. Mrs. Obama? Best FLOTUS ever. Mrs. Roosevelt coming in a close 2nd.
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u/Forsaken-Cell-9436 12h ago
Stop I’m gonna cry 🥺😭. I miss when we had a real leader to represent this country.
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u/RadicalOrganizer 12h ago
Ah, a president that wasnt in the epstein files, being nice to children. Wild to think that wasnt too long ago and the biggest upheaval about him was his choice of suit colors and mustard.
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u/Salerrra 12h ago
I grew up in a home that thought this man was the devil, and repeated that rhetoric for a long time. After gaining a conscience, there's a lot about his policies that still will never settle well with me. Still, I can look past that and see a man who is just a normal fucking human and just puts a stupid smile on my face with these little interactions. Still baffles me how American saw this and decided we deserved Trump
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u/Tribe303 12h ago
I'm a white Canadian dad and my daughter was 4 when Obama left office, so she doesn't remember him. I want the black Redditors here to know that I show her clips like this specifically to remind her that not all Americans are assholes who voted for <banned adjectives> Trump. He's literally my example of a good American. Y'all have no idea how popular he was up here. I too, really miss this man.
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u/IceBlackX007 14h ago
Mediocre white men are the dominant demographic in America...for now. The rapid diversification of America doesn't favor the current dominant demographic. A large subgroup of angry jealous hearted mediocre white men have decided they'd rather destroy America than live equally amongst everyone else. We have reached the point of no return, our leaders are mostly corrupt and infinity immoral. America needs a leader. The Trump thing is crashing America. Who's gonna step up?
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u/fieldsports202 14h ago
Always had a good time when I had to work an event that featured President Obama. Whether it was at the White House or anywhere on the campaign trail.
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u/kinghercules77 14h ago
When you used to be proud to say you've met the President
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u/Acornwow 14h ago
Aww the video ended right before the best part where Michelle hands the crying baby to Barack and it immediately stops crying and he gives her that sly joking look of “See? That’s how it’s done.”
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u/soupseasonbestseason 14h ago
imagine trump trying to hit that squat with superman.
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u/Ok_Meat_9938 14h ago
I too couldn't help visualizing extreme contrast between the children's reactions between the two while watching.
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u/soupseasonbestseason 14h ago
obama clearly is a good dad. he is so present with all kids. i just kept thinking, this is what you want your president to behave like with kids.
as opposed to now...i wouldn't let a child near this one.
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u/Youbunchoftwats 14h ago
Come on America. You got it right before. You can do it again.
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u/Left-Thinker-5512 14h ago
Hard to believe it’s been ten years since he left office. I was on The Mall supporting his first inauguration in 2009 with the National Guard. One of the coldest days I ever spent outside but it was such a joyful and amazing experience to be there. Seems like it happened in another lifetime, or maybe, never happened at all.
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u/PL0WKING 14h ago
Miss him so much. This is when our president was actually presidential.
Not some orange idiot.
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u/Beneficial-Category 14h ago
Let's face it Obama loved kids and the people. He had an expressive face unlike a lot of politicians. He was the least politician politician.
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u/Extra_Creamy_Cheddar 14h ago
What the fuck happened to the U.S.? What a ride it's been since these days.
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u/mistergraeme 14h ago
They really are the best of us. Literally, the best of all of us as Americans and the promises America has claimed she was about. One can disagree with his political views, but the hate and vitriol directed at his family tells me how much that promise is not believed and never has been (for many).
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u/d0ctorsmileaway 13h ago
At the time he was president, I was in a super religious and obviously very conservative middle school. People around me were demonizing this man? Really? He's so classy.
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u/Granpa2021 13h ago
His biggest mistake was trying to "work across the aisles" with a bunch of racists who didn't care about what's best for the country, but were hell bent on making the black man's presidency a failure. He could have accomplished so much more if he didn't try to be diplomatic with GOP (Guardians of Pedophiles).
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u/EnvironmentalCut6789 12h ago
Skinny Santa :D This man is a legend. As a white guy from Ireland, I miss the hell outta this guy on the world stage.
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u/Certain-Football-637 12h ago
Oh, how America misses and needs him now. When he was in charge, you went to bed knowing the nation was not headed for a train wreck. Not any more.
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u/FkUp_Panic_Repeat 12h ago
I don’t agree with every decision he made, but I still adore him. Especially in comparison to the current orange dumbo in office.
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u/stayzuplate 12h ago
I'm not going to lie, he looks baked as fuck in the skinny santa segment.
Obama was the best. Such a decent caring human being.
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u/Disillusionmillenial 12h ago
We didn’t deserve them and the slop of bs we have now is reflective of how sick this country is. Obama felt like we had a future; Rump feels like the end is near.
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u/WardenJoshua 12h ago
I wasn't the biggest fan of his but my god he had class and seemed like such a genuinely chill guy, and I very much miss this decorum in the government
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u/Geetzromo 12h ago
Getting choked up at 7am, watching a president show compassion and love for children.
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u/StellarPaladin42 14h ago
Republicans look at this and say this was divisive. Absolute idiots.