Today marks Obama’s final full day as President of the United States. I remember standing in line for five hours back in 2008 to cast my vote for him. Five hours! It’s hard to capture the electric atmosphere of that day. Everyone was buzzing with excitement, united by a common belief in a brighter future. When CNN announced that Obama had won Florida that night, my neighborhood in Brooklyn erupted in celebration like never before.
We felt victorious. With Obama, it was never just about him; it was about us. That’s the energy he inspired. People flooded the streets, hugging and high-fiving like we had just won the Super Bowl. Buses struggled to navigate through the throngs of cheering supporters, yet the drivers were all smiles, as if they were part of a grand celebration.
Hope was in the air. Happiness was palpable. It felt like we had reached a turning point—because the man who won was Black, and that was a monumental first. Change was finally on the horizon.
“If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible… tonight is your answer,” Obama declared in his acceptance speech. “So tonight, let us ask ourselves—if our children should live to see the next century, what change will they see? What progress will we have made? This is our chance to answer that call.”
Those words resonate now more than ever. As we brace for tomorrow, it might feel like we’ve taken a gut punch, but we’ll rise up again, reminding ourselves that America is a land of possibilities. Democracy is built on effort, dissent, and protest—not silence. We refuse to fade quietly into the night. We’re kicking off the first full day of Trump’s presidency with a clear message: “Yes, we can.” Remember that? Yes, we can. We can resist an oppressive regime. We will not be silenced or allow our rights to be stripped away.
So thank you, Obama, for igniting the hope we desperately needed. Thank you for your empowering words that pushed us forward. Thank you for being a man of integrity. Thank you for celebrating your wife, Michelle, as the powerful force she is. Thank you for exemplifying what it means to be a great father. Thank you for being the first president in my children’s lives.
And beyond all that, thank you for:
- Enacting healthcare reform
- Creating 15.5 million new jobs
- Implementing Wall Street reform
- Negotiating to prevent a nuclear Iran
- Taking climate change seriously
- Eliminating Osama Bin Laden
- Repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
- Supporting federal recognition of same-sex marriage
- Empowering the FDA to regulate tobacco
- Passing credit card reforms
- Halving veteran homelessness
- Reducing the deficit
- Improving school nutrition
- Signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
- Protecting LGBTQ Americans from job discrimination
- Ensuring states couldn’t defund Planned Parenthood
The list goes on and on. You were a remarkable president.
Just… thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
This article was originally published on January 19, 2017.
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Summary:
As we reflect on the final day of Obama’s presidency, we remember the hope and unity he inspired. His leadership encouraged us to believe in a brighter future and strive for progress. As we move forward, we carry his message of resilience and determination. Let’s continue to fight for our rights and support each other in this journey.