Saluting a Statesman that Represented the US Admirably
In a matter of days,
President Barack H. Obama will pass on the responsibility of leading the United
States and the free world to Donald J. Trump. As previous US Presidents have
done, President Obama and family will board an awaiting aircraft on the White House
lawn, give us their big smiles and wave good-bye. The door will shut, the
aircraft will lift off, and hopefully, the family will be let out to a quiet, unregimented
locale. One of his many distinctions will be that he passes on the baton while
he still has physical vigor to open another active chapter of his life. Obama
was born in 1961 which makes him 55 years old. His two predecessors George
Bush, Jr. and William Clinton were born in 1946.
Many news stories describe
Obama as America’s first Black US President. In truth, he is the seventh Black US
President—two others being Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln—or eighth when
the public considers the period when the United States of America was a
confederation of thirteen states. During that two year period, John Hanson, a
highly melanated man was President.
The 44th
President has led a life of accomplishments. He has authored five books; was a
community organizer for Developing Communities Project (1985-1988); a Civil
Rights lawyer with Davis, Miner, Barnhill, and Galland (1993-2004); an Illinois
State Senator (1996-2004); US Senator for Illinois (2005-2008); and US
President (2009 -2017). Besides documentaries, a romantic drama, Southside With You, was made while he
was still in office. This fan fare or publicity is on the level of John and
Jacqueline Kennedy.
And like Kennedy, Obama has
his fans and detractors. He detractors will say he did not do enough to
directly improve the prosperity of US households though bailing out the banking
industry improved the economy. For every US Presidential candidate, the way to
know his agenda is to query him on US cabinet choices.
Once Obama has reacquainted
himself with family and old friends, the social activism bug will bite him.
Given his eight year effort to substantively address climate change, it is
likely he will sustain the momentum. As a man of the people, his ears will be
open to the concerns of the public. This writer contacted many elected
officials, nonprofit administrators, and community-based organizations to get
their responses to the following question: Once
Barack Obama is fully rested, what do you suggest his next project or mission
be?
Ethel Tyus, Board Member,
General Counsel, and Treasurer for Crown Heights North Association suggests: As a constitutional law professor, President
Obama can help guide State and local legislators in using voting and census
data to reconfigure the gerrymandered districts that gave Republicans control
of both Houses of Congress. This should be done in preparation for the 2020
elections.
Richard Flateau, Brooklyn
Community Board no. 3 President proposes:
His
next order of work is involvement with the My Brother’s Keeper Initiative. He
can serve as an inspirational force and a role model. Barack Obama could do
symbolic and substantive things to uplift Black boys and young men. He can
continue his effort in gun control in the United States or actualize his
interest in developing future leaders—girls and boys—as exemplified by PECASE
awardees and other endeavors [who are new professionals in their respective
fields].
From NYS Senator Jesse
Hamilton (SD 20):
Former
presidents have done great things both at home and abroad in terms of directing
attention to important causes and continuing to help the American people
grapple with tough problems. Leaving the office of President of the United
States does not have to be the end of service to the American people. After his
presidency, and after a well-deserved vacation, I hope President Obama will
continue to lead on mentoring and the My Brother’s Keeper initiative. In
Brownsville, I have seen firsthand the difference mentoring can make in the
lives of our community’s young people. President Obama has a standing
invitation to come and visit "the Campus”, our first-in-the-nation
technology and wellness hub at a public housing site, that has helped so many
young people through mentoring and afterschool education. I am positive that
President Obama will continue to be an inspirational figure and that he will
help lead on youth engagement, education, and ensuring the next generation of
America’s young people have every opportunity to succeed. I look forward to
whatever initiative he puts his mind to in his post-presidency, and I am sure
he will bring the same sense of purposeful commitment to whatever challenge he
chooses to take on. The same applies to our outstanding First Lady Michelle
Obama, she has a record of leadership and inspiring people around the world.
NYS Assembly Member Latrice
Walker (AD 55) offers:
I
think President Barack Obama’s next mission, after he leaves the White House,
should be to champion these three causes; the first being the protection of the
right to vote. The second cause, would be to assist in developing a fair and
equitable system for reapportionment and redistricting that also respects
minority majority districts. Lastly, to mentor and train a new generation of leaders
in the Democratic Party.
Statement from Council Member, Robert
E. Cornegy, Jr. (CD 36):
President Obama’s service has been invaluable. I hope he
will have a larger role within our Democratic Party to ensure the policies we
have worked so hard for, i.e., correcting racial injustices, healthcare for
all, STEM education, etc. will remain intact under a Republican administration.
His next move should also mirror that of his predecessors, such as opening his
Presidential Library, authoring more books, and speaking engagements, particularly
within our urban communities which will benefit so many of our young people.
Whatever pathway he chooses, I am sure our nation will continue to benefit from
his service for many more years to come.
Labels: Barack Obama, Civil Rights lawyer, My Brother’s Keeper initiative, PECASE, presidential library, right to vote
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