barack-obama

Barack Obama recently stopped in Anaheim, California, to campaign for the Democratic congressional candidates running in the 2018 midterm election, and though a lot of the speech was naturally political, one particular moment was made of Disney dreams come true. The 44th president reminisced about the time he was a student at Occidental College in California, according to Mashable. He mentioned he and his friends stopped to check out a Kool & the Gang concert, joking he was "dating" himself with that admission. Obama continued with the story of how he and his friends decided to hit up Disneyland's Magic Kingdom while in Anaheim and decided the rides could be improved by smoking.As soon as the former POTUS said that, the audience cheered.Those cheers died down, however, when Obama clarified he wasn't smoking weed on the rides; he was smoking cigarettes.The scholars thought they'd gotten away with their smoke break when two security officers approached them and told them they had to leave but were "welcome to come back any time." Because the spirit of Disney is magic. "I was booted from the Magic Kingdom." Obama tells California crowd about his rebellious college visit to Disneyland https://t.co/HvrbzYN89C pic.twitter.com/agYVhZowlZ— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 8, 2018After getting laughs with the story, Obama pivoted back to politics and encouraged his audience to get out and vote."All across the country, you can feel the energy. 'We're going to kick off our bedroom slippers and put on our marching shoes,'" he said."Are you ready to get to work?" Obama asked at the end of the speech, repeating the question three times.And the audience was like ...Liking this content? Check these out:Barack Obama Endorses 81 Democrats Running In The 2018 Midterm ElectionsGeorgia Planning To Shut Down 7 Of 9 Voting Locations Ahead Of Midterm Elections In Predominantly Black County11 Black Politicians Running For Office This November To Keep On Your...

Former President Barack Obama returned to the lectern to deliver a highly anticipated speech at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on Friday, according to The Hill.The appearance was a big deal given the former POTUS has largely avoided the limelight since leaving the Oval Office and because Obama directly criticized President Trump, something he has said he's reticent to do in the past.Obama specifically touched the current president's response to Charlottesville. In his remarks on the tragic day, President Trump famously took time to peddle his wine brand and said there were bad actors on "both sides."Obama just called out Trump for his reaction to Charlottesville: "How hard can that be, saying that Nazis are bad?" pic.twitter.com/44J8tXCnUy— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) September 7, 2018The 44th president didn't mince words. "How hard can that be, saying that Nazis are bad?" he asked.Additionally, Obama called out the fearmonger actions politicians have used to energize voters for centuries, calling President Trump a "symptom, not a cause" of this kind of nativist, racist strategy. Obama mentions Trump by name! "He's just capitalizing on resentments that politicians have been fanning for years, a fear and anger that's rooted in our past but it's also born out of the enormous upheavals that have taken place in your brief lifetimes." pic.twitter.com/fmoaPfCiHu— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 7, 2018Obama also took the opportunity to flex a bit on behalf of his party ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, reminding voters he and the Democrats were in charge during the economic recovery following the Great Recession."When I came into office, we were losing 800,000 jobs a month ... by the time I left, household income was near its high, uninsured rates hit an all-time low," 44 said.OBAMA: "When I came into office we were losing 800k jobs a month. Millions of people were losing homes... By the time I left, household income was near its high, uninsured rates hit an all-time low. So when you hear how great the economy is, let's just remember where it started." pic.twitter.com/698WLPLNGr— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 7, 2018"So when you hear how great the economy is, let's just remember where it started," he said, and added, "Actually, those job numbers are the same as they were in 2015."Democratic strategists have promised Obama will be going hard in the paint to turn the Hill blue following this year's elections, and the former president showed signs of doing just that as he wrapped his speech by asking voters to hit the ballot box.Voting, Obama said, is more important than ever because "our democracy depends on it."OBAMA: "And as a fellow citizen, not as an ex-president, but as a fellow citizen, I'm here to deliver a simple message, and that is that you need to vote because our democracy depends on it... a glance at recent headlines should tell you that this moment really is different." pic.twitter.com/XmOovToppX— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 7, 2018Now, check these out: Universities Are Collectively Going '45, Bye' To Trump's Mandate To Drop Obama-Era Affirmative Action GuidelinesThe Constitution/Michelle Won't Let Barack Run For President Again, But Best Believe He's Putting His 2 Cents In 2020's RaceLos Angeles Will Rename This Street After President...

It's official: Rahm Emanuel will not be seeking a third term as mayor of Chicago. The two-term mayor announced his decision at a City Hall press conference on Tuesday morning, according to ABC Chicago."Today, the time has come to make another tough choice. As much as I love this job, and will always love this city and its residents, I've decided not to seek re-election," said the current mayor. JUST IN: Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel says he will not seek reelection: "At the end of the day, what matters most in public life is four more years for our children, not four more years for me." https://t.co/K5876ppdwu pic.twitter.com/IbVwhJeOf0— ABC News (@ABC) September 4, 2018“At the end of the day, what matters most in public life is four more years for our children, not four more years for me.” said Emanuel, using the announcement as a chance to again tout his plan to make having a four-year post-high school plan a graduation requirement for Chicago high school students. Emanuel didn't cite a specific reason for his decision. The Chicago Tribune reports the mayor initially raised $10 million in hopes to seek a third term before deciding to change his mind.  Former president Barack Obama, who was also Emanuel's boss during his time in the White House, issued a statement following Emanuel's announcement. NEW: Former Pres. Barack Obama on Rahm Emanuel: "Chicago is better and stronger for his leadership, and I was a better President for his wise counsel at a particularly perilous time for our country." https://t.co/B8q4fo76wZ pic.twitter.com/DZUgHpA4pp— ABC News (@ABC) September 4, 2018"Chicago is better and stronger for his leadership, and I was a better President for his wise counsel at a particularly perilous time for our country," read the statement.Emanuel has been criticized by many Chicago organizers and activists regarding his handling of public school closings, his gentrification plans, use of city resources and his administration's handling of the city's epidemic of violence.Wow! What a win for Chicago organizers - a majority of whom are Black - and who have been waging some of the most effective campaigns & for the reporters who have done excellent investigative work exposing Rahm & CPD #ByeRahm 👋 #NoCopAcademy https://t.co/JqdqnjnCYA— cℓaudia stєℓℓ✰r ‏ ✂️ (@ClaudiaStellar) September 4, 2018These are just a few out of hundreds (if not more) of photos in my archives showing some of the fierce protests and relentless organizing that has happened to oust #RahmEmanuel over the years. Like @prisonculture says, sometimes we win. #ByeRahm #IBelieveThatWeWillWin pic.twitter.com/HLNNU18Sg8— Love+Struggle Photos (@sarahdashji) September 4, 2018Note to all other candidates in the running to become chicago’s Next mayor: it will not be easier for you, we still have an agenda that is pro-community/public schools/quality jobs and anti-divestment/policing/corruption. #ByeRahm— Charlene Carruthers (@CharleneCac) September 4, 2018Emanuel's announcement also comes the day before police officer Jason Van Dyke's murder trial. Van Dyke shot Laquan McDonald 16 times in 2014, killing him. Despite McDonald's death occurring in 2014, footage of the shooting was released only two years ago. Many believed Emanuel suppressed the footage for political gain.Emanuel has not officially endorsed another candidate, but streets are certainly watching. There are currently 13 candidates in the running to snag that seat, including Black Lives Matter activist Ja'Mal Green and former Chicago Police Department disciplinarian Lori Lightfoot, who would be the city's first black woman and first openly LGBT mayor. "It will fill my eyes with tears to leave a job I love and already my heart is full with gratitude,” said Emanuel. “We've worked together. We've celebrated progress together. And we have grieved together.”Chicago's mayoral election will be held on Tuesday, February 26, 2019. Now, check these out: How Chance The Rapper Fights Crime In Chicago More Efficiently Than The City’s MayorStudents Protest Chicago Mayor For Promoting A $95 Million Police Academy Rather Than Investing In SchoolsRahm Emanuel's New Measure Requires Chicago High School Students To Have A Post-School Plan To...

It looks like Angelinos are about to be able to remix The Carters' "Black Effect" and flip it into the Barack Effect! As the San Francisco Chronicle reports, the Los Angeles City Council voted on Tuesday to rename Rodeo Road after former President Barack Obama. It will now be known as "Obama Boulevard." Last year, Blavity reported on the plans for the name change. Not to be confused with Rodeo Drive of Pretty Woman, high-fashion fame, Rodeo Road is near L.A.'s Crenshaw neighborhood. Council president Herb Wesson suggested the name change as the street was the site of an Obama presidential campaign rally back in 2007. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted the news on Tuesday night. It’s official: our City Council has voted to rename Rodeo Road to Obama Boulevard!We’re thrilled that Angelenos and visitors will forever be reminded of the legacy of President @BarackObama when traveling across L.A. pic.twitter.com/gnVNgBgndn— Mayor Eric Garcetti (@MayorOfLA) August 29, 2018"We’re thrilled that Angelenos and visitors will forever be reminded of the legacy of President @BarackObama when traveling across L.A.," Garcetti wrote. Garcetti and Obama go way back, having served as the California co-chair of the former president's 2008 campaign. The mayor also had the honor of Obama's endorsement during his 2017 mayoral reelection campaign. There was some speculation Garcetti would run for governor of California. However, since the mayor announced he had no plans to run for that office, some have begun tossing his name around as a potential 2020 presidential contender, according to CBS News. Liking this content? Check these out:She Grew Up In The Projects And Was Honored By Obama. Now Jahana Hayes Wants To Represent Connecticut In Congress.Michelle Obama Is Gearing Up To Run Through Your City So We Get To See What Happens 'When We All Vote'Our Favorite Former President, Barack Obama, Gets His Own Day In...

Sen. John McCain has passed away Saturday afternoon at the age of 81 after a battle with brain cancer.The veteran senator from Arizona served in the Senate for nearly four decades and gained a reputation as a maverick for working across party lines and voting his conscious.Last July,  McCain was diagnosed with brain cancer around the time Congress was voting on repealing the Affordable Care Act, the Obama administration's benchmark legislation. He would return after treatment and cast the deciding vote to prevent millions from losing health care, according to the Los Angles Times. McCain survived five and a half years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. He ran for president in 2008 against then young and inspiring Sen. Barack Obama. He lost the election, but he remained an ally to the administration as a senator. This last year was one of conflict for him. President Donald Trump would often trade barbs with the ailing elder statesmen for his defiant repudiation of the Trump administration, reports the BBC. A New York Times interview from earlier in the year revealed McCain had asked former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama to eulogize him at his funeral. Trump, however, isn't welcomed. "His intimates have informed the White House that their current plan for his funeral is for Vice President Mike Pence to attend the service to be held in Washington’s National Cathedral," The New York Times article reads. "... But not President Trump, with whom Mr. McCain has had a rocky relationship."After his passing, major Democratic leaders such as Rep. John Lewis, Rep. Maxine Waters and others praised McCain as a Navy veteran, war hero and American political staple.Our statement on the passing of Senator John McCain: pic.twitter.com/3GBjNYxoj5— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 26, 2018Hero. pic.twitter.com/fyqEB1czRW— Eric Holder (@EricHolder) August 26, 2018Senator John McCain was a warrior for peace. He will be deeply missed by people all around the world.— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) August 26, 2018A true American patriot & hero has passed. John McCain was an example of a public policy maker who fought for what he believed in, and had the character & dignity to stand up for what was right -- even if he had to oppose some of his colleagues to do so.— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) August 26, 2018My colleague John McCain will be remembered as a devoted father and husband, war hero and a conscience of the Senate. Sending my condolences and prayers to his friends and family, and to the American people who have lost a true patriot.— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 26, 2018John McCain so warmly welcomed me to the Senate in ‘13. Our later private meeting in his office remains 1 of my most inspiring moments as a Senator. Death may end a life but it can never end a love. John Loved America: his impact will forever endure. RIP https://t.co/c340f06GzB— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) August 26, 2018Now, check these out: America Needs More Black Male Educators So These Profound Gentlemen Are Doing Something About ItVerdict Declared In 2013 Murder Of 15-Year-Old Hadiya Pendleton, Killed Days After Performing At Obama's InaugurationProposal To Close Majority Of Voting Locations In Predominantly Black County Gets Shut Down In Less Than 60...

It's easy to forget what it's like having a head of state who cares about the educational advancements of the American people. As summer comes to a close, former President Barack Obama has graciously given us some his favorite summer reads to carry with us into the new season. “One of my favorite parts of summer is deciding what to read when things slow down just a bit, whether it’s on a vacation with family or just a quiet afternoon," Obama wrote on his Facebook before delving into the chosen literary ones. “This summer, I’ve been absorbed by new novels, revisited an old classic, and reaffirmed my faith in our ability to move forward together when we seek the truth.”1. Educated  by Tara Westover"A remarkable memoir of a young woman raised in a survivalist family in Idaho who strives for education while still showing great understanding and love for the world she leaves behind," Obama describes the book. 2. Warlight by Michael OndaatjeA book set in after WWII, Obama describes Ondaatje's Warlight as "a meditation on the lingering effects of war on family."3. A House for Mr Biswas by V.S. NaipaulA House for Mr Biswas follows author V.S. Naipaul's life growing up in Trinidad and his trials establishing a post-colonial identity.4. An American Marriage by Tayari JonesThe president isn't the only one singing the praises of Jones' An American Marriage. Obama describes the New York Times bestseller as a "moving portrayal of the effects of a wrongful conviction on a young African-American couple."5. Factfulness by Hans RoslingAs an international public health expert, Rosling gives us a hopeful read about how the world can be a better place when humans rely on facts rather than inherent biases.BRB. Hitting up Barnes & Noble. Thank you, Mr. President!Liking this content? Check these out:The Barack Obama and Joe Biden Fan Fiction Thriller Bromance Book We All Needed Has Been Released9 of Joe Biden's Greatest (And Most Shade-Filled) MomentsJust When You Thought All Hope Was Lost, #Obiden Restores Faith In The...

The midterm moment folks have been waiting for is here: former President Barack Obama has officially endorsed a full slate of candidates running in the midterm elections.Our first black POTUS has kept a relatively low political profile since leaving the White House, but now he's stepping back into the spotlight.According to The Daily Beast, Obama selected 81 candidates to give his full support. Among those chosen to receive his blessing include candidates running for both state offices and Congressional seats in California, Illinois, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Texas, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada and more. Today I’m proud to endorse such a wide and impressive array of Democratic candidates – leaders as diverse, patriotic, and big-hearted as the America they’re running to represent: pic.twitter.com/gWzalQhFas— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 1, 2018I’m confident that, together, they’ll strengthen this country we love by restoring opportunity, repairing our alliances and standing in the world, and upholding our fundamental commitment to justice, fairness, responsibility, and the rule of law. But first, they need our votes.— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 1, 2018One particularly notable name on the list is Georgia governor hopeful Stacey Abrams, who made history to become the first black woman to win a major party nomination for governor. Her win would make her the first black female governor in history.  Notably absent is New York's rising Democratic star Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.According to Politico, Obama's office confirmed he will begin to campaign in several states this fall and will announce his second round of endorsements prior to the November midterm election. Now, check these out:9 Things To Know About Stacey Abrams, The Woman Who May Become America's First Black Female GovernorState Senator Checks White Privilege Of Her Conservative Co-Panelist Who Called Racism A 'Midterm Pitch'Barack Obama Encourages Kenyans To Overcome Ethnic Divisions In Fourth Visit To The...

Barack Obama and Joe Biden didn't just have a relationship as president and vice president; they were bosom buddies. The pair's shenanigans were a breath of fresh air in the sea of complicated politics, and they never failed to entertain. Now that the two men have some time on their hands, they decided to make an impromptu trip to Dog Tag Bakery in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, July 31, to the surprise of everyone inside, GQ reports. The bakery is so-named because the establishment supports veteran empowerment by employing vets with service-connected disabilities.Look who stopped by @DogTagBakery for lunch today! Thank you @BarackObama and @JoeBiden for supporting our mission of empowering veterans with service-connected disabilities, military spouses, and military caregivers! #BakingADifference #veterans #milspouses #caregivers pic.twitter.com/bLHttsgXJF— Dog Tag Bakery (@DogTagBakery) July 30, 2018The two shared a bit of banter while everyone snapped pics. The bakery staff remained professional and promptly took the order, of course. Speaking of which, we know y'all are curious about what they ate. Well, Barack and Joe ordered ham and gruyere on shallot-jam ciabatta, a slice of mint-basil blueberry cake, brownies and coffee, according to staff member Lolly Rivas.Barack Obama and Joe Biden made a surprise visit to a DC bakery. "We were absolutely stunned to see them!” Lolly Rivas of Dog Tag Bakery says. Their order? Ham and gruyere on shallot-jam ciabatta, a slice of mint-basil blueberry cake, brownies and coffee, Rivas says. pic.twitter.com/XPcQjE4Y4k— CNN (@CNN) July 30, 2018Um, we're now we're hungry AF. Maybe that order should be a special at the bakery from now on. It could be called the "Obiden?" Or perhaps the "Bidama?" Alas, the duo's lunch had folks missing them extra hard!omgg @BarackObama and @JoeBiden just ate lunch together in dc. miss them so much 😩 @DogTagBakery pic.twitter.com/kl4Tf8zO8k— Sara Kenigsberg (@skenigsberg) July 30, 2018The Veep’s look when they said “fennel and carrots” is all of us... https://t.co/jzF7i5cKWx— Josh Campbell (@joshscampbell) July 31, 2018Liking this content? Check these out:The Barack Obama and Joe Biden Fan Fiction Thriller Bromance Book We All Needed Has Been Released9 of Joe Biden's Greatest (And Most Shade-Filled) MomentsJust When You Thought All Hope Was Lost, #Obiden Restores Faith In The...

Now that President Obama no longer sits in the White House, he cares not what his haters think!Judge him, criticize him, hate on him, he's still gon' do him!While speaking at a town hall in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Wednesday, July 18, the coolest POTUS ever spoke his mind concerning the current social climate surrounding our hot mess of a country. The 44th American president gave a profound and noteworthy speech to 200 students at the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg. “Women in particular ... I want you to get more involved because men have been getting on my nerves lately," Obama said. "Men have been getting on my nerves lately": Former President Barack Obama called for the empowerment of women across Africa, while hosting a town hall in Johannesburg, South Africa https://t.co/w1HY2hR67E pic.twitter.com/9gkWEQ3zZ1— CNN (@CNN) July 18, 2018The Obama Foundation hosted the town hall, HuffPost reports, and he is utilizing this trip to Africa to engage folks on the organization's purpose "to inspire and empower people to change their world."Sounds like he's inspiring women to change the world and motivating men to get their s**t together.Peep the full video below: Liking this content? Check these out: Obama’s ‘Most Important Speech Since Leaving Office' Honored Nelson Mandela — There’s A Reason For That.Obama Was In Kenya Gettin' Down While We Were Stuck Here With The New GuyShe Grew Up In The Projects And Was Honored By Obama. Now Jahana Hayes Wants To Represent Connecticut In...

On Tuesday, July 17, Barack Obama gave what he deemed his "most important speech since leaving office" to tens of thousands of South African residents. The speech was given in honor of Nelson Mandela's centennial birthday, leaving no better time to address issues about which the activist would have indeed spoken out. Taking a look at the deeply rooted connections between South Africa and the United States, the history behind Obama's speech is profound and essential.The speech, titled "Renewing the Mandela Legacy and Promoting Active Citizenship in a Changing World,” specifically looked at divisive politics — a concept deeply rooted in the fabrics of both the U.S. and South Africa.Both countries have used segregationist laws to service white people and disadvantage black people. Before Obama ever dreamed of becoming president, a speech on apartheid got him interested in politics.According to Time, speaking briefly at an anti-apartheid rally in 1981 at Los Angeles' Occidental College was the first thing Obama ever did that involved an issue or a policy or politics. Moreover, the fight for equality in both countries has been more intertwined than some may have realized.“There’s a struggle going on!” he said in his 1981 speech. “It’s happening an ocean away. But it’s a struggle that touches each and every one of us. Whether we know it or not.”In the early 20th century, America became a destination for black South Africans to come and get an education, Time reports. As more South Africans came to America, those still residing in their native country were able to learn about the plights of African Americans. As political, cultural and communal exchange continued between the black populations of both places, the South African government looked to sever ties. As fewer African Americans were able to come into South Africa, apartheid raged into the 1990s.However, the American civil rights movement of the 1960s continued to give hope that a change would come in South Africa.“Black South Africans who couldn’t go to America idealized the African American position on some level, and saw them as racial role models who came out of hundreds of years of slavery and created some type of advancement for themselves — [whether] as sports heroes or writers — despite Jim Crow,” historian Robert Trent Vinson said.Awareness of the political grief in South Africa reached a peak in the 1980s, and apartheid didn't end until Mandela's release from jail (1990) and election as president in 1994. As more Americans learned of what happened in South Africa, the perseverance and him overcoming, there seemed to be a shift in inspiration.“There’s almost a reversal in the historical relationship,” Vinson said. “Now it’s African Americans looking up to black South Africans like Mandela, people who fought to overturn the worst racial domination in [the] world since Nazi Germany and could replace it with a democratic, non-racial society. Mandela becomes this great example for what African-Americans could possibly do. We in America are still trying to work with the idea of multiracial democracy.”That inspiration of South African perseverance seemed to come full circle in Obama’s first political speech after no longer being in the Oval Office."We have to follow Madiba's (Mandela's) example of persistence and hope. It's tempting right now to give in to cynicism. To believe that recent shifts in global politics are too powerful to push back. That the pendulum has swung permanently,” Obama said in his speech. “Just as people spoke about the triumph of democracy in the '90s, now you're hearing people talk about the end of democracy and the triumph of tribalism and the strongman. We have to resist that cynicism because we've been through darker times."Now, check these out:Obama Was In Kenya Gettin' Down While We Were Here Watching The New Guy Commit TreasonBarack Obama Encourages Kenyans To Overcome Ethnic Divisions In Fourth Visit To The CountryHow The Black Twitter Diaspora Reclaimed Winnie Mandela's Legacy From Media's Biased Coverage Of Her...