The earliest memory I have of realizing President Obama meant something more than just a presidency was seeing my elementary school teacher crying during his inauguration speech. I was only 10 years old, I knew he would be our first black president but until then I did not know how impactful that truly was. Even then, my young mind could not fully grasp everything that having the first black president in your lifetime quite meant. But after eight years of countless highs and lows, I’m finally equipped with enough knowledge to fully analyze what President Obama has meant not only for me, but for America as a whole.
At the beginning of President Obama’s first term, I think what Americans expected from him depended largely on what party they were affiliated with. Democrats, for the most part, were in love with his “Yes We Can” attitude but did not exactly hold him to the highest standard. It is foolish to not recognize that President Obama was elected partially because of the symbolism he held as being the first black man to get a major party’s nomination. Because of this, people were not as critical of his actual plans and it showed when people let him get by without much fulfillment on his plans. On the other hand, Republicans were more harsh on President Obama because of their opinion that he was elected without merit and solely on hope and false promises. Of course, there was also a different type of right wing extremist who used the Obama presidency to fuel a hatred towards black people that they had already had. This was a low that was predictable yet still shocking to see play out. I heard the racist rhetoric in the halls of my elementary school from kids who knew nothing about politics. But we also saw this racist rhetoric from political leaders with large followings and great impact. The birther movement, led by now presidential candidate Donald Trump, was an example of this. We had a substantial amount of Americans willing to bet their lives on the fact that our only black president was not born here, with absolutely no evidence of that. It was an ugly reflection of where we were as a country, and how far we needed to go.
President Obama’s lack of tangible change is often excused with not having a majority of The House and Senate. While this is likely true, much of President Obama’s focus during his two terms was trying to get ObamaCare, a health care plan that Congress had repeatedly disagreed with, passed. It is hard to look at President Obama’s unwillingness to stray from this type of health care plan and not see it as selfish. It is as if he knew what he wanted and no matter what the American people said, he was going to get it. This plan was good in theory but in reality, it hurts more than it helps, I can not help but think of all that could have been accomplished if President Obama had not been so caught up in this one plan. Maybe it is cynical to think of the what ifs, but if the what ifs are all that you have then they are impossible not to imagine.
In eight years, we got an economy back on track and a health care plan that will eventually be destroyed. In eight years we did not make gun laws safer. In eight years we did not have any type of police reform (In fact, President Obama signed a law further giving police officers immunity). In eight years we did not tackle mass incarceration. In eight years we did not tackle the wage gap substantially. In eight years we deported more immigrants than any other time. In eight years we killed innocent people overseas. In eight years we, President Obama and the Democrats who failed to push him, did not accomplish what we could have.
Looking back on the past eight years, I would not change who our commander in chief was for one second. President Obama was my president during my entire politically aware life. That will always be special to me. It will always be special to me that I saw two little black girls grow up in the White House. With that being said, I am ready for what lies ahead. I am ready to push our next president to make a change that benefits all of America. I am ready to see our country grow and be apart of that growth. I guess after everything, all that really can be said is… Thanks, Obama.
