11 Times President Obama Made Us Proud | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

11 Times President Obama Made Us Proud

One more term, please?

43
11 Times President Obama Made Us Proud

The end of President Barack Obama's presidency is near. I don't know about you, but I'm not mentally or emotionally ready for it to be over.

Obama has endured one of the toughest presidencies in history, but has still found a way to stay positive. From singing Al Green to making school lunches healthier, here are some of my favorite moments of his.

1. In 2012, Obama was campaigning in New York City for re-election and made an appearance at the legendary Apollo Theater.

While he was speaking, he broke out in tune, singing an Al Green classic, "Let's Stay Together." If he's ever looking for another career path, then he can definitely make a living as a singer.

2. Earlier this year, 106-year-old Virginia McLaurin visited the White House to celebrate Black History Month.

She got more than she asked for when Barack and Michelle greeted her and danced in a video that went viral. The woman has lived through over a dozen first couples, but the Obama family is clearly her favorite.

3. Back in 2012, Jimmy Fallon brought out Mr. President to "slow jam the news."

It was a big deal for Fallon as a night show host and it showed the fun side of Obama as he was campaigning. This was entertaining, but not better than when he came back earlier this month and was nothing short of epic. Obama listed some of his many accomplishments in the last eight years with the ad-libs of Fallon and The Roots.


4. There's the time when the Obama family collaborated on the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act in 2010.

The bill called for healthier school lunches in public school, even though it proved to be too expensive for a number of schools in the long run. This goes hand-in-hand with the First Lady's "Let's Move!" campaign to fight childhood obesity. Who wouldn't be a fan of that?

5. Every March, President Obama fills out a March Madness bracket like the rest of the country (well, at least the people that like sports).

He is the first President to do so, but that's part of the reason he is unlike any other leader. His brackets are usually pretty wrong, but the fact that he finds the time to do so is pretty entertaining.

6. Some of the cutest kids have graced the Oval Office since 2008 and Obama has made sure to greet every last one of them.

Amongst the lengthy list of kids, my personal favorite was his meeting with six-year-old on "The Ellen DeGeneres" show. Macey is a presidential expert who has made an appearance on Ellen's show multiple times, shocking the audience with knowledge of the most obscure presidential facts. Her face lit up the second she saw Obama sitting on the couch. This moment was adorable, and thankfully, some of Obama's other kiddie moments were caught on camera.

7. As if Obama wasn't cool enough already, he invited your favorite rappers to the White House to discuss criminal justice reform.

The list of stars included Nicki Minaj, Chance the Rapper, Wale, J. Cole and DJ Khaled. The "My Brother's Keeper Initiative" comes in light of the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown, amongst others. The attendees are all people who are active in their communities when it comes to giving back and speaking out, making them the voices that the nation needs.

8. During last week's first annual United State of Women Summit, Obama gave an astounding speech, declaring once again that he is "what feminism looks like."

This is not new information, but it was another grand example of him supporting Michelle (and Oprah, who also hosted the event) for all the world to see. Not to mention he might be the most feminist president we have ever had.

9. Just last year, the Supreme Court decision ruled in favor of all 50 states recognizing same-sex marriage.

This was something that Obama had been pushing for since his initial campaign, and he called it a "victory for America." Not only was this a huge victory, but it helped his popularity rating for the beginning of 2016.

10. During Black History Month in 2011, there was a special Motown concert held in the White House, featuring Jamie Foxx, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder and Sheryl Crow.

As if this lineup of performers wasn't impressive enough, he followed it up by having a Women of Soul concert a couple of years later that included Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, Ariana Grande and Janelle Monae.

11. Last but not least, my favorite moment of all, Obama's final White House Correspondents' Dinner.

He took some shots at Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, joked about Prince George's bath robe and made an ingenious video with former rival John Boehner. Oh, and did I mention that he dropped the mic after all was said and done?

There will never ever be a President as cool, as in-touch and as outspoken as President Barack Obama. It's going to be a long election season.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Christmas Socks  Fireplace
Wesley Tingey

Christmas is arguably one of the most popular holidays of the year. Whether you think Christmas celebrations should be strictly reserved for December, or you're setting up your tree and lights on November 1st, Christmas time is the best time. Filling an entire month with Christmas activities seems like it could be impossible, but I am here to fix that for you. Here are twenty-five of the best things to do in the twenty-five days leading up to Christmas.

Keep Reading...Show less
smiling girl in pink and white stripe shirt

I'll never forget the day that someone told me these words: "Madison, I think you're a good friend to everyone but yourself." I stood there completely in awe of that statement. Before that day, I never really thought about being a friend to myself, and at the time, I didn't really know what it meant. Now, I realize that you can't fully be there for other people unless you're there for yourself, too. You can't show up for others until you're willing to show up for yourself.

Here are five things everyone should learn in order to be a better friend to themselves. These steps are hard, but they're so worth it.

Keep Reading...Show less
Christmas decorations
YouTube

Finals, exams and papers - oh my! The only thing keeping you sane at the moment is the thought that Christmas break is near. Need a mid-week pick-me-up? Here are some simple things you can do to stay motivated and get into the Christmas spirit.

1. Play Christmas Music

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

21 Things We All Love About Winter

Despite the cold, you might find that there is a lot to love about winter.

841
pine cone winter
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

We all have a love hate relationship with winter, lets be real here. The snow makes people forget how to drive, its cold, the roads are bad, and chances are, you will be spending a lot more money than you do during the other months of the year. If you’re from the Midwest, it seems to be that winter lasts for what feels like forever. But despite the struggles that winter brings, there are so many things to love about it.

Keep Reading...Show less
christmas shopping bags

Shopping for your family and friends can be expensive. So why not make something small and cute while not emptying your bank account?

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments