There will never be another!
Forever President Barack Obama will go down in history books as one of the best presidents ever, and it’s not just because he was the first Black president. No, he brought much more to the office, such as a sense of hope, unity, and more importantly, a sense of dignity. In a world ravaged by divisive rhetoric, oppressive policies, and political mistrust, Obama seemed like his heart was genuinely in the right place; he felt familiar, like a cousin, an uncle, or a friend.
Since he’s been gone, America has been on a bit of a roller coaster ride, and everyday is a push to regain the love we all felt when the Obamas first took office. While we may never get there, we’re happy we still have them cheering us on actively from the sidelines. When we’re in despair, Obama still comes to save the day. More importantly, he and his family are still doing good work and he’s still striving to bring the world we all dream of to fruition. What more can you ask? While we can’t have him back, and we doubt he’d even go back if he could, there’s no harm in wishful thinking!
Here are 5 times Barack Obama made us wish he was still President:
Every time he reminds us he’s Michelle’s husband.
There is just something so touching about Black love and, to be honest, nobody does public displays of adoration like President Barack Obama. No matter what he’s doing in the world, even when it was his job to hold it up, he never missed an opportunity to tell First Lady Michelle how much he loves her. From sweet messages on birthdays, to his most recent anniversary post featuring a throwback wedding photo, a current vacay photo, and an adorable carved heart in the sand that read “Barack + Michelle,” he just never misses.
“Miche, After 30 years, I’m not sure why you look exactly the same and I don’t. I do know that I won the lottery that day - that I couldn’t have asked for a better life partner. Happy anniversary, sweetheart!,” he wrote.
That time he let Detroit voters know that he’s aware of how fine he is!
This one had us in stitches because get y’all auntie! On a recent stop at a rally for Democratic voters in Detroit, Obama was interrupted by one of our second cousins who just could not help but mention how handsome he is. In true Barack Obama fashion, he was the perfect sport, even promising the woman not to tell auntie Chelle!
“I have to admit that sometimes going out on the campaign trail feels a little harder than it used to. Not just because I’m older and grayer…” Obama began his speech at Renaissance High.
Before he could finish, a woman directly behind him yelled out “you finer than a mug,” prompting Obama to stop his entire speech as he smiled wide.
He told the woman to repeat what she said to the crowd before telling everyone, “she said I was still fine,” with a smirk.
As the crowd erupted in laughter and agreement, Obama promised not to tell on the woman although he did note, “Michelle does agree…she knows.”
Come on Unc!
When he shows us that both WuTang and Barack Obama are for the children!
Throughout his presidency and beyond, both Barack and Michelle have made regular stops to local youth in communities around the globe. Most recently, he met with a group of Chicago students, captioning the photos, “I’m so proud of this group, and know they’ll do big things!
There was also that one time a few years back when he showed up to a D.C. youth baseball academy to play with them. The Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy is an affiliate of the major league team, offering youth ages 8-14 academic enrichment, an after-school program that hosts 100 youth annually, baseball and softball coaching, as well as a fresh produce market. Before suiting up for a game of baseball, Obama made sure to drop off some bags of groceries for the market.
When he releases his annual summer reading list and music playlist.
A good president is worth his weight in gold, and Barack Obama is worth diamonds. Not only did he do his very best to keep the country together in and out of office, he did it with style and flair. Part of that regular Obama touch was his annual summer music and reading lists; it gave us a little glimpse into the mind of Barack Obama as a person and made us feel even more connected. I mean, what’s better than knowing that you and the leader of the free world are bumping the same tunes? Priceless!
This past summer, he shared an amazing list of novels to check out and a fire playlist that included everyone from Beyonce and Aretha Franklin to Burna Boy and Vince Staples.
Do not play with our Forever President! He is not one of them!
Each time he stepped in when we needed a President the most.
Let’s be honest, since Obama left, nothing has been the same. Not only did we have to navigate Donald Trump, but we were also thrown into an entire global pandemic that had the economy tailspinning.
Since Kamala and Biden took office, they’ve done their best to clean up, but it’s a lot of work and we’re all still trying to recover. Nonetheless, anytime there has been lawlessness, tragedy, or just downright mess, Obama has stepped in and stepped up. He’s shared his thoughts when he didn’t have to and reminded us of a better, more levelheaded time.
This past summer when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and set women’s rights back a century, Obama stepped in again. This time he let everyone know that he understood the frustration and would be fighting alongside us while simultaneously offering us valuable resources, such as the Feminist Women’s Health Center in Atlanta, which has been leading the charge for reproductive rights for almost 50 years.
“Today, the Supreme Court not only reversed nearly 50 years of precedent, it relegated the most intensely personal decision someone can make to the whims of politicians and ideologies - attacking the essential freedoms of millions of Americans. Across the country, states have already passed bills restricting choice. If you’re looking for ways to respond, @PlannedParenthood, @USOWomen, and many other groups have been sounding the alarm on this issue for years - and will continue to be on the front lines of this fight,” he wrote.
Wow! We really do miss you President Obama! Thanks for everything. Because of you, we can!
5 times Barack Obama made us wish he was still our President. Photo Courtesy of Drew Angerer/Getty Images/Vanity Fair